Listen

Listening is one of the most important activities one can engage in. We all know that it involves patience, skill, and even a little concentration from time to time. We do it everyday. It may not always be of the highest quality, especially when it comes to your boss, teachers, parents, or spouse, but we still must actively listen to be able to perform our daily tasks. You cannot possibly do your job effectively, pass those difficult exams, or even satisfy your significant other without honing such a skill. Once again, I have learned the importance of listening from my job with GE Plastics in West Virginia. I have to listen closely to the procedures, tasks, and advice given to me by both my supervisor and the engineer with whom I work nearly every day in order to complete my work at a satisfactory level. I often take notes to aid me in remembering these things.

We must also apply this to our spiritual lives. Today, I was reminded of this during the service at Whitney's church and on my drive back to Parkersburg this evening. Mark Hall's sermon would not have had any effect on me had I not listened attentively to his words and payed attention to his gestures and those things which he emphasized. I also would have missed out on those little things being spoken to me during my quiet drive this evening.

This week, I intend to listen to the best of my ability. I am currently praying about whether or not to participate in a Walk to Emmaus this fall. To determine if this is right for me, I must listen. I challenge you to try and listen better in both your daily activities and spiritual life. See if you notice a change.

I'm Right and You're Wrong

I apologize if this turns into a rant, but this subject is near and dear to me. When it comes to a discussion about the differences among Christian faiths (sadly, it is plural), I feel compelled to share my story and strong feelings.

I met Whitney over four years ago. At that time, the chemistry was phenomenal, and our love grew like an unstoppable force. The only thing that ever troubled us was the fact that I was brought up Catholic and she was raised in the United Methodist Church. Now, we could have chosen to take the easy way out and could have just been good friends, but a wise man once told me that everything happens for a reason (thanks Matt). With this in mind, we became determined to learn about one another's faith. One of the best resources we have found is a book titled United in Heart Divided in Faith: A Guide for Catholic-Protestant Couples. It is written by a woman in such a relationship, and she uses numerous facts, experiences, and scripture to help couples work out there differences. The main idea that I want to point out is simply this: The things that we have in common as Christians (by this I mean Catholics and Protestants) greatly outnumber those which divide us.

My experiences with Whitney have caused me to become quite passionate about this issue. The issue is NOT about who is right or wrong. It is not about who reads the correct version of the bible or practices the more important traditions or does the most good works. The problem is that Christians are divided over petty issues which are not part of the foundation of OUR faith. That's right. Yours and mine.

This past weekend, Whitney and I read an online article that troubled us. It talked about a statement by the pope reinforcing the belief behind Jesus' establishment of one church. In a nutshell, he was saying that the Catholic church is the one true church, and all others are merely factions which are in need of salvation. Do not get me wrong. I am not speaking out against anyone. Rather than become angry at such a mindset, we need to become active in uniting Christians. Do not hate those who believe you are not saved. Do not be angry with the pope. I challenge you to be more accepting of all Christian faiths. A Christian would not stand up and say "I am right and you are wrong." He or she would work for the salvation of those whom they believe are in trouble. We are all on the same side.

The next time this issue comes up, take a step back and look at the real problem. Pray about it.

Fools Rush In

I know that I have been posting like crazy. Some of it is due to the fact that it is new and something interesting to do. I realize that there is a chance I will get burnt out eventually. In the meantime, while I have fuel, I shall feed the fire. Subjects, to which I can relate easily, seem to be coming from every direction. As long as this is the case, I will continue to blog until my heart is content.

Today's lesson came from a bookmark that I purchased while at Praises with Whitney a week or two ago. Last night, rather than reading on in the Silmarillion (a Tolkien classic), I decided to read from my bible first. I read an introductory section to the gospel according to Matthew, which was quite lengthy, and when I had finished, I placed my newest bookmark where I left off. Now, it was Sunday night, and I just returned to Parkersburg for work on Monday. Needless to say, I was in need of a pick-me-up because I missed Whitney and home as usual. The many tasks that lay before me at work were also weighing heavily on my mind. So, before I closed my bible and put it in its usual place on my dresser, I read the bookmark. It goes something like this: "The Difference"

I got up early one morning and rushed right into the day;
I had so much to accomplish, that I didn't have time to pray.
Problems just tumbled about me; and heavier came each task.
"Why doesn't God help me?" I wondered. He said, "You didn't ask."
I wanted to see joy and beauty, but the day toiled on, gray and bleak;
I wondered why God didn't show me. He said, "But you didn't seek."
I tried to come into God's presence, I used all my keys at the lock.
God gently and lovingly chided, "My child, you didn't knock."
I woke up early this morning, and paused before entering the day;
I had so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray.

Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. - Philippians 4:6

So, I prayed. You wouldn't believe the difference it made... unless you tried it for yourself.

One Down, Two To Go

At last, Matt and Chelsea have been united in marriage. I couldn't be happier unless it was my own wedding. Witnessing them exchanging their vows yesterday made me much more excited for my own future. I imagined Whitney and I in their places as the ceremony took place, and I realize now the emotional wreck that I will be that day. Since Matt and Chelsea have waited so long and I know what it meant to them to finally be joined together, I was deeply moved by their smiles, laughter, and tears of joy. All of this even got me a little choked up. I can only hope that the wedding of Whitney and me will be equally fun. It was enjoyable to spend the day with half the people that I love.

Many people have assured me that the next 10 months (plus a handful of days) will fly by. I'm not so sure. Since moving to Parkersburg, I have found the days to drag on very slowly, and it is more and more difficult for me to go back after a wonderful weekend at home with Whitney. It will take strength, which I can only pray for, to endure the many months ahead at work. Whitney's constant reassurance and encouragement are all that allow me to stay positive.

So, I will continue. Whitney and I will press on through the days which we are apart and look forward to those when we will be together. We will use the experiences of Chelsea and Matt throughout their wedding and planning to our benefit, and their new found happiness will give us hope and something to look forward to.

Weddings, Weddings, and More Weddings

We all know that this is the popular time of year to have a wedding. Someone at work this week even mentioned the popularity of the date 7/7/07 for weddings. I thought it very interesting since I will, in fact, be attending one on that particular day. I am very much looking forward to the marriage of Matt and Chelsea this weekend. I am both excited and happy for them. They have patiently waited for a long time. From my experiences, all good things come to those who wait and many things in life are worth waiting for (love especially). These are not just cliches. I have proof. These two have become older siblings to me, each in their own way, and have influenced me as a couple despite the limited time I have spent with them due to school. I wish them the best as their lives become joined in the sacrament of marriage.

Anyway, getting to the meat of my post... Of course, all of this talk of weddings is making me look forward to my own even more. From the day I met Whitney, I have loved her. Exaggeration? Not a chance. Our very first day together can only be described as phenomenal. The latter days have been good to us, and I believe our relationship has only grown stronger as we emerged from the infamous "honeymoon" phase. More importantly, we have been able to see the bright side of our different faiths, me being a Catholic and Whitney belonging to the United Methodist Church. Rather than weakening our bonds, it has resulted in both of us being more patient, accepting, and appreciative of one another. I genuinely hope that our marriage will serve as an example to other Christians of the unity that we must embrace. The differences between denominations are nothing compared to that which they share.

Whitney and I have endured four years of college and jobs, which kept us separated, so far, and we are both looking forward to it coming to an end so that we might be together more often. I am looking forward to beginning our life together, wherever that may be. It will be our five year anniversary when we are wedded and more than three years since our engagement. Am I looking forward to my wedding? I have been since day one.

Is there a heaven and hell?

I read an article today (http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/) . The headline on the MSNBC home page immediately caught my attention and stirred my curiosity. It was actually a question posed to readers. So, without delay, I quickly began reading comments posted by hundreds of people. Almost instantly, it became very disturbing to me. Why? I couldn't count how many paragraphs, readers, and pages it took to finally scroll to someone who actually believed in God let alone a superior being. The seemingly endless column of posts was littered with arguments from people who simply wanted to live the way they want to: free from the "oppression" that Christians live under. The comments quickly changed from answering the initial question to belittling all who believe in God or Jesus Christ. The list of reasons only grew as I read on, and I am sure it continues to grow.

It would have been really easy, at that point, to post a comment firing back at those who disagree with anyone believing in heaven, hell, God, or any god(s) for that matter. Some people did, and I admire them for trying to educate others and attempting to bring someone if anyone to know Jesus. Rather than posting a comment of my own, which I believe would have been quite ignorant of me at that time, I challenged myself to suppress any anger which the article may have aroused within me. Instead, I chose to pray. I choose to pray for all those who do not believe, will not believe, and perhaps cannot believe for any reason that we were created by God and saved by his only son. Also, I plan to pray in the future rather than contribute to an argument already out of hand. I am not condoning indifference or passivity, and I don't believe that we should always hold our tongues. I am simply calling upon the One through whom all things are possible.

As wonderful as this past weekend was for me as a Christian (attending church, etc.), today has given me a strong dose of reality. I challenge you to also pray for others so they may come to believe. Difficult? You bet. No one said it would be easy. They don't call it "faith" for no reason.

A New Era

I have officially entered into the world of blogging. First and foremost, the title of my blog is from a t-shirt in which M.E. stands for mechanical engineering, which I am studying, and it should not suggest that I am totally self-centered. The purpose of this blog is definitely not to showcase my life. Rather, I feel that I can share some of my experiences. My opposition to blogging was short lived because, after I was urged to read the blogs of others including Matt, Chelsea, Mark, the Bobbs, and others, I realized the opportunity for a whole new means of communication with some of my greatest friends. Also, the possible use of the internet for good purposes such as praising God has also contributed to my desire for this new hobby.

I am back in Parkersburg, West Virginia for another week at my co-op experience with GE Plastics. Although I have already found this job exciting and challenging, the transition has been difficult for me thus far. It is not easy for me to leave my family, especially my twin brother with whom I have lived for 22 years, or Whitney week after week. Every time that I feel discouraged or sad due to loneliness or other difficulties, I compare my hardships to the suffering of our Lord. Maybe it's not so bad after all... Have you compared those things that you find difficult or complain about with the suffering of Christ lately? In fact, these things that I am dealing with seem quite petty in comparison to many of the troubles of others around me. So, I am challenging myself to help others as I am able rather than complain about my own problems. I have also found exercise to be a wonderful stress reliever throughout the week.

Lastly, I want to take this blogging opportunity to give some much-deserved thanks. I am so thankful for my families (my true family and the Halls). Without their love and continuous support coupled with the skills and resources given to me by God, I would not be where I am today. These blessings in my life have made everything possible. I look forward to blogging again soon.