In past years, I have celebrated Valentine's Day in numerous ways. I have received roses some years, and there have also been years that I spent watching a movie by myself in my room. Last year I did my homework and wrote a poem (A Toast to Valentine's Day found at 4everlyrical.blogspot.com). As far as this year goes, it's still up in the air how I'll spend Valentine's Day. It's a Tuesday, so I don't have class the next day. Maybe I'll do a sociological field study of couples at coffee shops, and how their interactions differ depending on age, race, and gender. Or maybe I'll get a life...
Everyday, on my commute to work, I pass by a major floral shop (Flowerama). I noticed Monday that all the Valentine's Day merchandise was set out. (Question: Who's buying Valentine's Day things this early? Chocolate would be hard to hide and flowers would die). Valentine's Day seems to be a holiday that every girl has an opinion about. We're either very excited about it, or we're completely dreading it. Either we get decked out in all red or pink, or we drown ourselves in a sea of black clothing as if we're mourning the relationship we don't have. Why does it seem that Valentine's Day is only a celebration of love for people who are in love? Do those of us not in a committed relationship not deserve to celebrate this aspect of life? I know some people argue that Valentine's Day is stupid because you should celebrate love everyday. Understandable. However, isn't this the way it is for most holidays? Shouldn't we technically celebrate the birth of Jesus everyday? I can really only think of one holiday that we celebrate that doesn't represent a part of life that should be appreciated everyday, and that's New Year's Eve (because that one is literally date-specific). Others argue that Valentine's Day is a holiday of a Saint, that has been completely exploited by Hallmark, and other card and gift companies. This is also true. But the people who say this are usually the ones who just don't want to spend the money that the social norm requires, or it's the girls who (as above mentioned), think that the holiday is stupid. To this, I say "so what." True, I really don't believe that St. Valentine sent a dozen roses and a box of chocolates from Ireland, but from the "Valentine" that he did send, we inherit the practice that we have today, where we get to take a day to appreciate what we have.
In past years, I have celebrated Valentine's Day in numerous ways. I have received roses some years, and there have also been years that I spent watching a movie by myself in my room. Last year I did my homework and wrote a poem (A Toast to Valentine's Day found at 4everlyrical.blogspot.com). As far as this year goes, it's still up in the air how I'll spend Valentine's Day. It's a Tuesday, so I don't have class the next day. Maybe I'll do a sociological field study of couples at coffee shops, and how their interactions differ depending on age, race, and gender. Or maybe I'll get a life...
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Almost everyday, since my 18th birthday, I have worn this symbol around my neck. For me, the symbol has a dual purpose. It's a Celtic design, witch reminds me daily of almost half of my heritage (The answer is yes, I'm Irish, but no, I'm not part Leprechaun. Thank you for asking). But that's not the half I wan to discuss here tonight. Maybe some other night we can dive into my family tree. I know I'm not alone when I say that I'm clearly observing the growth of a gap between the "religious" and non (or even "anti") "religious." It seems as both sides are growing, they're also growing farther and farther apart. Last term, I took a class called Religion and Politics, or as I came to call it; "Church Bashing 101." Possibly for the first time, I was among people who were literally belittling what I believed. Conversations in this class took tones such as "the uneducated believe," "the conservative believe," or my personal favorite "the narrow-minded believe." I suppose I should consider myself lucky that this was the first instance in my life where people were flashing negative light on such a positive aspect of my life. I think one of the things that bothered me the most was the fact that they were making these grand "observations" as if no Christian would dare to take this class. As if they weren't given the chance to get to know "a real live Christian." We're in the United States people! Christianity is the most claimed religion (notice I didn't say popular or practiced). I was sitting right there. A living, breathing contradiction to almost every adjective they attached to "Christian." This made me start to wonder, if by just looking at me all someone can observe is the fact that I'm a Christian, what do they think they already know about me? Yes, the Cross is the international sign for Christianity, however, for every person who wears one, it has a slightly different meaning. This is what it means to me. To me, my Celtic Cross symbolizes that, as deep as my family and heritage runs in my very core, such does my faithful belief in God and Jesus Christ. My Cross is a daily reminder of the sacrifice that the savior I believe in made for me. Wearing a Cross, much like any name or logo, means that I am a representative of the term "Christian." This fact makes wearing a Cross, for me, a call to strivte for moral excellence, as I believe Jesus demonstrated. My Cross means that I am one of an entire People that is called to LOVE others through thoughts, actions, service, and compassion. Unfortunately, I also feel the need to discuss what my Cross does NOT mean. My Cross does not mean that I think I'm better than you because I'm Christian and you're "just not saved yet." This assumption has always kind of pissed me off. My necklace is not a pedestal that I place myself on. If anything, it reminds me to be humble. My Cross does not mean that I agree with everything the "Church" says or decides upon. Funny term, "The Church." It was used primarily when a specific religion or church was also the head of the government. But now, there are over 33,820 denominations under just over 150 subheadings. So which "Church" does everyone mean when they say "The Church?" Even within certain denominations there are major disagreements, so to generalize "The Church" is completely inaccurate. My Cross Does Not Mean That I Think That Gay People Are Going To Burn In Eternal Damnation! Everyone has their own perception of what God is. Personally, I have a hard time believing in a God that hands out rejections. My Cross does not mean that I am going to shove the Bible down your throat. First, it's a big book, you would die. Second, to quote somebody (not sure who said it first); "No one ever converted by losing an argument." As a religious studies major, I'll be the first to discuss religion with you, but the last to argue religion with you. There's a difference. My Cross means that before I know anything about you, I Love you. I believe that you were beautifully, and wonderfully made. I believe that we were put on this Earth to, above all else, Love one another. My Cross is a symbol, it's a reminder, it's a privilege, it's a standard, its an identifier, it's an invitation... and it's pretty :) I realized that I hadn't posted this one when it was relevant, but I still think it should be shared. So from this summer, thank you to absolutely everyone who opened up there homes/apartments/couches to me. This is for you. Since moving to Ames this summe I have had in my possession, whether short-term or long-term, 12 new keys. Before this summer, I would have attested that a key is just a chunk of metal that belongs on a key-ring. (On a side-note; who invented the key-ring anyways? It's a handy little tool that helps you lose all of your keys at once. Think about it.) But now I look at them a lot differently. For those who are not completely up-to-date, let me fill you in. This summer I'm living in the church I go to here in Ames. There's an apartment that's rented out for a "Center Host." This means that I get to live there for a VERY reasonable price and in return I make sure the church looks nice on Sundays. About a month ago, my church realized that we were in some deep financial trouble. One of the issues being a lack of insurance. Without the finances to get insurance immediately I had to move out. I know this may seem strange, but what came next made me feel so loved. Not even five minutes after getting this news, I had two offers of places I could stay. The next month was a rocky one. I was never without a place to stay, but it wasn't always consistant. Between one guest bedroom, two couches, an empty apartment room, and going home (a lot), I was basically living out of suitcases in the trunk of my car. I never actually slept in my car, so I consider myself fortunate in that. With every new key, or set of keys, I realized just how generous people are. New year... Resolutions... Promises... Good Intentions... Will Power... Defeat. I've come to find it kind of interesting, the idea of New Year's Resolutions. We decide that starting one day, normally January 1st, that something is going to change. This "something" could be (most commonly) habits regarding health, financial situations, the notion that you'll update your blog more often... (That's not a promise), however, we begin these ideas in a time when yesterday is just as real as today. Now, a resolution, by its simplest definition, is a decision to do something or not do something. But you're deciding to do (or not do) something on Sunday, that you just spent all day Saturday doing awaiting its resolution. Some people see the new year as a chance to start over... but is it? After all, on Monday or Tuesday when you go back to work you will still walk into the same building, you'll see the same people, give the same greetings, and probably do just about the same task as you did during your last day of work in the last year. It's a new year, not a new life. I understand that this may be coming about as a bit of a rant about how New Years Resolutions aren't necessary... it may even seem like I'm bashing them a tad... But I assure you that isn't my point at all. My point is; Whether you decide to start eating healthier on January 1st, or on June 12th, it'll probably be followed by the same results. And, when you slip up on January 12th, or June 26th, you can just start over on January 13th, or June 27th, because today comes after yesterday and before tomorrow no matter what the date is on the calendar. So choose to be more studious on a Wednesday afternoon; decide to stick a charity in your budget next month; start eating healthier because you truly want to. Instead of New Year's Resolutions, lets make Resolutions every day. |
I'm Emily.I have no business changing the world, nor do I wish to be remembered after I'm gone. I do, however, desire to be the person I'm needed to be by those I love. Archives
February 2016
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