So, who defines real beauty? I think the media pushes our perception of the "perfect person" into a twisted, distorted way of thinking, so we don't see ourselves as who we really are, as who other people see us. It is sad really, the way the media distorts and makes the 4% of women in the United States who can fit the "perfect woman" size 4 model so supers-ized that we believe we have to be like that. In order to be perfect, in order to be happy, we have to look that way. Otherwise, our worlds will crumble and we won't know who we really are. Yet, the media has already made our worlds crumble around us, because they push the negative thoughts into our heads, we weren't born thinking that we weren't perfect. We were born with a desire to live life freely and be content with ourselves, but when we get old enough, we start thinking and the media starts whispering in our heads-"be thinner, be more toned, eat this diet and you will have the best abs ever." Yet is that what we really want? What has happened to being comfortable with ourselves, in our own skin, for who we are? I saw this video recently and wanted to share it with you. What do you think of it? What does it make you question? What conflict does it bring up in you? Hopefully this link will take you to it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpaOjMXyJGk
This video blew my mind. It just proved to me how distorted we ourselves, no matter what stage of life we are in. And how different others can see us, even strangers we meet for a few minutes. So, stop, take a breath, and remind yourself of how beautiful you are, or if you are male, how handsome you are. But really dig deep because I think the true qualities that make us beautiful are on the inside. I was encouraged once to write a "I am" list of all the positive "I am" statements that I could think about. Its amazing what we can come up with, and how much those statements had to do about who I was, not what I looked like. Beauty.......what is it, and who defines it anyway?
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Sometimes
So, today is a day of taking each moment, one step at a time. I am currently perched at the Revue, with my good friend, Angelica. :) It has been a quiet sort of day, just settling into routine and moving forward. Its good to be in a moving forward attitude, stepping forward instead of stepping back, while at the same time, realizing that there are always things that need to be worked on, that to need to be wrestled with, that need to be processed, and slowly, gradually we move on. But I think a truth I have discovered is that moving forward does not mean that you forget the past; moving forward is acknowledging what happened in the past: the hurts, the pains, the traumas, grieving them, really feeling them and knowing that the scars will always be with you regardless of anything else.
On Sunday, at church, I was struck very deeply by one of the songs we sang. It's called Something by the David Crowder Band. The lyrics are as follow, I would love to hear your thoughts on it:
Sometimes every one of us feels
Like we'll never be healed
Sometimes
Sometimes every one of us aches
Like we'll never be saved
Sometimes
When you've given up
Let your healing come
Till you're rising up
Let your healing come
It's your love that we adore
It's like a sea without a shore
We're lost in you, we're lost in you
It's your love that we adore
It's like a sea without a shore
We're lost in you, we're lost in you
Sometimes
Sometimes
It's like we'll never atone
For all the love we've known
Sometimes
Like in a smile or a song
When you feel love come
And that feeling's gone
It flies
When we've given up
Let your healing come
When there's nothing left
Let your healing come
Till we're rising up
Let your healing come
Where you go, we will follow
Where you go, we will follow
It's your love that we adore
It's like a sea without a shore
We're lost in you, we're lost in you
It's your love that we adore
It's like a sea without a shore
We're lost in you, we're lost in you
It's your love that we adore
It's like a sea without a shore
We're lost in you, we're lost in you
It's your love that we adore
It's like a sea without a shore
Don't be afraid
Don't be afraid
Just set your sail
And risk the ocean, there's only grace
Let's risk the ocean, there's only grace
Let's risk the ocean, there's only grace
Let's risk the ocean, there's only grace
It's your love that we adore
It's like a sea without a shore
We're lost in you, we're lost in you
It's your love that we adore
It's like a sea without a shore
We're lost in you, we're lost in you
Where you go we will follow
I'm on my knees
Where you go we will follow
Oh, God send me
Where you go we will follow
I'm on my knees
Where you go we will follow
Sometimes
More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmania.com/sometimes_lyrics_david_crowder_band.html
All about David Crowder+Band: http://www.musictory.com/music/David+Crowder+Band
You can find a music video with the song at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhdZtejGxQc
I would really love to hear what this song makes you think about and wrestle with; what does it bring up in you? What does it inspire you to do? How does it challenge you? What do you think?
On Sunday, at church, I was struck very deeply by one of the songs we sang. It's called Something by the David Crowder Band. The lyrics are as follow, I would love to hear your thoughts on it:
Sometimes every one of us feels
Like we'll never be healed
Sometimes
Sometimes every one of us aches
Like we'll never be saved
Sometimes
When you've given up
Let your healing come
Till you're rising up
Let your healing come
It's your love that we adore
It's like a sea without a shore
We're lost in you, we're lost in you
It's your love that we adore
It's like a sea without a shore
We're lost in you, we're lost in you
Sometimes
Sometimes
It's like we'll never atone
For all the love we've known
Sometimes
Like in a smile or a song
When you feel love come
And that feeling's gone
It flies
When we've given up
Let your healing come
When there's nothing left
Let your healing come
Till we're rising up
Let your healing come
Where you go, we will follow
Where you go, we will follow
It's your love that we adore
It's like a sea without a shore
We're lost in you, we're lost in you
It's your love that we adore
It's like a sea without a shore
We're lost in you, we're lost in you
It's your love that we adore
It's like a sea without a shore
We're lost in you, we're lost in you
It's your love that we adore
It's like a sea without a shore
Don't be afraid
Don't be afraid
Just set your sail
And risk the ocean, there's only grace
Let's risk the ocean, there's only grace
Let's risk the ocean, there's only grace
Let's risk the ocean, there's only grace
It's your love that we adore
It's like a sea without a shore
We're lost in you, we're lost in you
It's your love that we adore
It's like a sea without a shore
We're lost in you, we're lost in you
Where you go we will follow
I'm on my knees
Where you go we will follow
Oh, God send me
Where you go we will follow
I'm on my knees
Where you go we will follow
Sometimes
More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmania.com/sometimes_lyrics_david_crowder_band.html
All about David Crowder+Band: http://www.musictory.com/music/David+Crowder+Band
You can find a music video with the song at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhdZtejGxQc
I would really love to hear what this song makes you think about and wrestle with; what does it bring up in you? What does it inspire you to do? How does it challenge you? What do you think?
Monday, April 22, 2013
Simplicity
So, I am trying to see the world through a different lens. :) I once did a facebook fast for Lent a few years ago, when this blog started. And have decided to try that out again, trying to purge a bit from the temptations facebook offers. I am hoping that those of you read this will enjoy it and will reflect with me on this new journey.
I feel as though I am always at a new beginning, a new curve in the road, as Anne of Green Gables would call it. But maybe, just maybe, its really a circle and I just keep walking, but the circle keeps changing. However, I think I like the image of a road better, because you never know what might be around the next bend, and its all about the destination, not the journey, as many wise people before me have said.
That being said, it has been a long hard journey over the last few years, but I am coming out of that journey a person willing to discover, willing to feel, and willing to let life just happen. Part of this blog is me wanting to share with you how I am trying to "do" life differently. Last fall I entered into many activities at breakneck speed trying to catch up on all I missed due to personal reasons. Yet those activities led me right back to where I had started, literally, into a very dark place. It has taken the last seven months or so to work myself out of that dark place and into one of light, joy, hope and healing. I am trying to find ways to do life that bring me and others joy. Someone once told me I need to be a tortise instead of a sprinter in my marathon of life and really stop to enjoy, soak in, and absorb the little things. So this is me doing that. I am not quite sure what this blog will contain, but I hope that as I grow, I share. It might and most likely will be me wrestling theologically, but also could be trying to figure out how to simlply step into God's everyday life and be a part of what he is already up to. I am also almost certain that it will contain funny ancedotes of cooking, mishaps around the house as my sister and I get used to our new place near the Tower District. It will contain fumbles, mistakes, struggles, but also laughter, life and joy. I am glad you are part of the journey and hope that we can walk together in this new pursuit of a simple life.
I feel as though I am always at a new beginning, a new curve in the road, as Anne of Green Gables would call it. But maybe, just maybe, its really a circle and I just keep walking, but the circle keeps changing. However, I think I like the image of a road better, because you never know what might be around the next bend, and its all about the destination, not the journey, as many wise people before me have said.
That being said, it has been a long hard journey over the last few years, but I am coming out of that journey a person willing to discover, willing to feel, and willing to let life just happen. Part of this blog is me wanting to share with you how I am trying to "do" life differently. Last fall I entered into many activities at breakneck speed trying to catch up on all I missed due to personal reasons. Yet those activities led me right back to where I had started, literally, into a very dark place. It has taken the last seven months or so to work myself out of that dark place and into one of light, joy, hope and healing. I am trying to find ways to do life that bring me and others joy. Someone once told me I need to be a tortise instead of a sprinter in my marathon of life and really stop to enjoy, soak in, and absorb the little things. So this is me doing that. I am not quite sure what this blog will contain, but I hope that as I grow, I share. It might and most likely will be me wrestling theologically, but also could be trying to figure out how to simlply step into God's everyday life and be a part of what he is already up to. I am also almost certain that it will contain funny ancedotes of cooking, mishaps around the house as my sister and I get used to our new place near the Tower District. It will contain fumbles, mistakes, struggles, but also laughter, life and joy. I am glad you are part of the journey and hope that we can walk together in this new pursuit of a simple life.
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