Thursday, May 5, 2016

The Chamber

I stared out one of the windows on my house waiting for my guest.  He’s a mysterious guest that I have never met before.  I hope he likes my house; it is an odd house.  It’s red with two cracked windows that I always keep dark with the green curtains drawn, and a pink door that stays open most of the time with a white, brick path leading up to my door.  My strange house also has a strange garden to match.  The garden is all in the front yard.  It has many flowers and bushes.  But my favorite part of my garden are the fruit trees.  I have a “patience” tree, a “kindness” tree, and a “generosity” tree.  But those are just a few that I have.  I have many more.  Sadly, my poor little fruit trees are all wilted.
My odd little house, that matches my odd little garden, has many rooms all with different purposes.  There’s the front hall known as “acquaintance”, which is just inside of the pink door.  Many people have been in this hall, but few go beyond it into the other rooms.  Then there is the living room I call “friendship”.  Many people have been in this room, but some decide they don’t like it and leave.  It’s quite rude.  Then there is the dining room/ kitchen called “brotherhood”.  Few people have been in there, but, typically, they always stay and some even get to explore the next room!  “Family” is what I call it.  It’s a lounge where even fewer people have been.  It is decorated with many of my works of art, with many stories and books written by me placed on the shelves, and the many ribbons and trophies I have acquired called “qualities”.  There is a gold vase with the word “intelligent” carved onto it and a colorful plaque with the word “creative” written on it in gold ink.  But my favorite, is my big, blue sapphire heart with “compassion” etched onto it.  But, those are just a few of my “qualities”.  I have many more.  Unfortunately, my trophies called “qualities” are all dusty and grimy.
Then there is my bedroom I call “soul”.  It is the room upstairs where the two cracked windows lead.  I always keep this room dark so no one can see inside.  Even when I’m in the room, I never turn the lights on.  Only three people have seen it.  And they’ve only caught a glimpse inside when I forget to close the door on my way out.  So no one, except me, has ever actually set foot in that room.
    But then there is the basement I call “secrets”.  It’s deep deep below the surface, where it’s dark and hidden.  It’s the only place I can hide my annoying roommates.  I don’t let them out, but sometimes they climb up the mountain of stairs, pick the lock to the door and wander about the house.  Luckily, I always catch them before anyone else sees them.  Who are my roommates?  Well, there is Sadness, who is really irritating!  She always tells me what’s wrong with my house, she especially likes to point out the broken windows.  There is also Fear.  He always tells me what can go wrong.  He makes me doubt the people who reside in the rooms known as “family” and “brotherhood”.  I have to mention Anger.  He likes to mess with my fruit trees.  I don’t like him very much.  There is also Regret, Fear’s twin sister.  She tells me what I did wrong, (while Fear tells me what can go wrong).  She tells me how I screwed everything up and why I don’t deserve my “qualities”.  And I can’t forget Pride.  Pride is the worst of them all!  He’s loud, obnoxious, belittling, and chases people away with his poisonous words and enormous ego!  But, I always lock him and my other roommates in the basement, where no one can find them!  No one is allowed in the basement I call “secrets”.  Not even I go down there.  Now, back to the guest.

    I was staring out of the cracked windows down onto the path that leads to the ever-open door.  On the horizon, I could see him!  My guest!  I rushed downstairs and double-checked the lock on the door that leads down to “secrets” to make sure it was shut properly.  It was so tight that my obnoxious roommates would never get out!  I skipped over to the open door to greet my guest.  I waved excitedly as He waved back.  “Welcome to my home!” I greeted maybe a little too loudly.  My guest smiled and stepped in.
    
My guest stayed in my house for a very long time, he swept through the various rooms quickly.  He was a very nice guest.  He tended to my garden so now my fruit trees now bare the most decadent fruits I’ve ever tasted!  He also polished my trophies and now they have more shine and luster than ever before!  He even repaired my broken windows for me, though he did pierce both of his wrists while doing so.  I don’t know how he repaired those windows, because I didn’t tell him where “soul” was, and He certainly couldn’t have been in there if I didn’t let him in.

One day as I was peacefully reading under my perfectly tended “patience” tree I saw Sadness moping out of the house onto the brick path that leads up to my door.  “I’ll go.  You obviously don’t want me here,” Sadness whined as she drudged down the path away from my house.  Next, Fear and Regret were thrown out into the mud, “hey!  What was that for?!” They shouted in unison, “get out!  You don’t belong here!” my guest shouted from the open door.  As Fear and Regret scurried away from the booming voice of my guest, Anger hobbled down my porch steps mumbling and grumbling profanities under his breath.  He too headed away from my house down the path.  And finally, Pride was stomping out.  “Fine!  Fine!  I’m going!  Geez!” Pride grumbled stomping down the path like an angry two-year-old.  A wide smile shone brightly on my face.  I dropped my book onto the lush grass and rushed up to my guest to embrace him in a grateful hug.  “Thank you, thank you thank you thank you!” I muttered over and over.  My guest looked me in the eyes as I let go, “anything for my best friend,” He smiled.  I could not stop smiling!  I was so happy!  My stupid roommates were gone for good!  “How could I ever thank you?!” I shouted.  My guest looked back into the house through the open door, then back at me, “you could thank me by letting me stay?” He suggested, “oh yes!  Yes yes yes!” I chanted jumping up and down.  I took my guest by the hand, being careful not to touch the holes in his wrist he acquired whilst repairing my windows, and lead him into my house.

He and I happily reside there together with the many other guests that pass through my house.  The only difference between Him and my other guests is that my guest never, ever leaves, and I don’t think he ever will.  But– I don’t think I want him to.

Friday, April 22, 2016

The loud and lonely



          Now-a-days everybody is talking about introverts.  You see all these articles and YouTube videos titled “10 reasons it’s better to be introverted” and “misconceptions about introverts” or “why introverts make better friends”.  But, when people do talk about extroverts it’s usually in a bad way, “10 things extroverts do that people find annoying” and “why extroverts should be quiet”.  But ya know, extroverts have struggles too!  Extroverts always feel left out because no one recognizes them and their struggles.  We get shy too.  Don’t think that because we’re talkative that means we’re comfortable in social situations 100% of the time. We may be outgoing and loud, but we feel insecure too.  We always feel like we’re being loud and obnoxious.  And by what you say about them, they think that’s true!  They feel that they talk too much and that no one’s listening to them.  They feel that just because they’re talkative, they have nothing important to say.
          Even though we are surrounded by people most of the time, we get lonely too.  We feel like all of our friends are sticking with us out of pity, or that they don’t want to hurt our feelings by breaking off the relationship.  Extroverts feel like they’re pressured to be the conversation driver because it seems no one wants to talk to them.  They feel as if they have no value just because they happen to like talking.  They feel like they’re just a nuisance.  They feel that if they don’t talk, all their friends will leave them.


          I’ve been called things like “loud mouth” and “obnoxious twit”.  I’ve had things like “you don’t get lonely, you’re an extrovert” and “you don’t understand social awkwardness, you’re an extrovert!” said to me (even though I am an ambivert, not an extrovert). 
          Don’t call extroverts mean names and think that they’ll just '"brush it off" as if it’s nothing.  Don’t put them in awkward or difficult situations thinking they can “handle it”.  Don’t expect them to talk if we don’t want to.  Extroverts have struggles too.  They’re human too, after all.  We all are.

Sunday, March 27, 2016

He has risen indeed!


 Three days ago our beloved savior was buried in a sealed tomb after being crucified.  He paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we wouldn't have to.  The perfect, pure Son of GOD died for us.  Not because he had to, but because we wanted to.  Because he loved us.

Many of Jesus's followers were heartbroken about the, supposed, Savior's bitter defeat called death.  Mary, mother of James, Mary Magdalene, a former prostitute, and Mary, mother of Jesus, all went to out Lord's tomb to anoint the body with oils.  But as they gazed upon the tomb they found it was empty!  Had someone stolen the body?  How could that be?  The tomb was sealed with a large boulder and wax, it would take many men to move it.  "Do not be afraid," said a thundering voice from behind them, "He is not here, He has risen from the grave and is alive once again," proclaimed the voice.  The three Mary's whipped around to see a great warrior of GOD standing before them.  An angel had come to them!  And as the angel said, the Lamb of GOD has risen from the grave and defeated death once and for all!

Jesus had defeated one of the most feared and most powerful things in the known universe!  Death!  Not even the Grimm Reaper could hold Jesus back!  Jesus died and rose again for us!  He made the ultimate sacrifice then rewarded us with the hope of the resurrection!  Sin has lost its grip!  Death has lost its sting!  Life has gained its joy!  All because of Jesus and what he did for us; His redeemed children.  Jesus loved you so much, that He literally went to hell and back for you!  Now I don't know about you, but that is what I call true love.

Saturday, March 26, 2016

What's so good about Good Friday?

Yesterday was Good Friday, as many of you know.  In honor of Good Friday, my mother and I watched "The Passion of the Christ".  It was my first time watching it and I thought it was a very well made movie!  With great acting, exceptional accuracy, thought-provoking imagery, and professional cinematography!  But, to me, that movie was more than just an R rated film I was allowed to watch.  To me, it was a grotesquely accurate depiction of what our Savior went through for us.  He was beaten nearly to death, ripped apart by the leather wrath of whips, he was spat on like he was nothing but part of the filthy road, he was insulted and betrayed like a common criminal, he was stretched to the point where his shoulders were dislocated on the cross, his limbs were nailed to the cross as if he could feel no pain, a crown of long thorns was pressed into his skull, he was humiliated and laughed at by the people he came to save.  All of this and he did NOTHING WRONG.  He went through all of that pain, all that embarrassment just to save sinful, fallen, lowlifes like us.  He did this because he loves us!  He did this because he cared for us!  He did this because we are his lost children and He did this to redeem us.

We often take this for granted.  We often think of Easter and Good Friday as two trips to church in a week.  We think of it as an Eater egg hunt in the backyard.  We think of it as a new dress or hat we get to buy.  We think of it as eating leftovers for the rest of the month. But Easter isn't any of that.  It was the ultimate sacrifice given to us even though we did nothing to deserve it.  It is the purest, most genuine, most true love that Jesus Christ showed us.

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Letters from Jack (part six *final part*)

Dear Jack,

          I hope you like the drawing I made!   I got the idea through a dream I had about you (along with the description of yourself you gave me).  Hopefully, the portrait actually looks like you!  I worked really hard on getting it just right.  I do hope you like it!  Thank you for convincing me to continue doing art.  I want to apologize once again, for the bitter insults I called you.  You were only being a good big brother.  I was just frustrated and frightened, I wasn’t thinking straight.  Hatred was clouding my mind and I let my anger control me.  So I apologize again.

          Jack, thank you so much for sticking with me, even when I was being stubborn and selfish.  You are the best friend I could have asked for!  You are very kind, creative, godly, and selfless!  You encouraged me when I needed it most, you lifted me up when I fell down, I am forever in your debt.  Thank you for showing GOD's love to me when I had doubts about myself.  You were right.  GOD hasn't given up on anyone in the past, why would He have given up on me?  I feel so silly that I actually thought that GOD had abandoned me.  Jack, Thank you.  For everything.

          Oh!  And I love your idea of reading a book together!  Maybe we should start with C.S. Lewis’s "The Screwtape Letters".

Love, your forever grateful friend, and sister,

Avia

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Letters from Jack (part five)

Dear Avia,

          I am overjoyed about the letter you sent me!  I am so happy to know that you've picked up art once again!  I would like to thank you for offering to draw me something too!  I will take you up on that offer.  But, I want you to surprise me; draw anything you want and send it to me!  I cannot express how glad I am to see that you've returned to your old self again.  You're that sweet, forgiving, ambitious girl again!

          It is wonderful to hear that your bullies have been taken care of!  Those boys deserved to get expelled after all they put you through.  I've also heard that they've mocked other students too!  Maybe you and those other students can become friends!  Oh, I am so relieved that your parents and teachers had the wisdom to assess that whole situation.  GOD is very pleased with your perseverance and patience.  He is very pleased.

          I also appreciate the fact that you want to get to know me better!  You had numerous questions in your letter, I will try to answer them all!  Let’s start with the easy ones.  I am now 10,483 years old, my favorite color is blue, I am left handed, and my favorite season is Autumn.  Regarding your inquiries about my appearance I have greenish-blue eyes, black, curly hair, fair skin, I am kinda short, though I am lean and strong, and I have freckles.  I think that’s about it.

          Oh!  I also enjoy reading very much.  I, of course, read the Scriptures.  But I also read science encyclopedias.  It's very interesting to study about the wonderful world GOD has made for us to enjoy!  I especially love to study chemistry.  I've noticed that you like to read also!  I've seen that you like to read fairy tales.  I have read the wonderful workings of C.S. Lewis's "The Chronicles of Narnia" along with "The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien and I found them quite intriguing.  Maybe we should read something together?  Like a book club.  I've always wanted to read "Howell's Moving Castle" by Dianna Wynn Jones and "Cupid" by Julius Lester.  Maybe we could read one of those?

          You have been through quite a lot in the past three months since I started writing you and all through it, you always persevered.  I am very proud of you, so is our Father.  I have chosen this verse of 1 Thessalonians 5:18 for you, "Give thanks in every circumstance, because this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  I think it describes you pretty well.  Avia, I can't wait to see you grow in your faith as you blossom into an adult.  It's going to be a bumpy road for sure, but if you put all of your faith in the Lord you will make it through all trials life throws at you.  That bright future GOD has planned for you is just around the corner!

          I will continue writing you letters until you join me in Heaven.  So you're going to be stuck with me for a while!  Keep pushing forward like you always have!  Until the next letter.
Love, your affectionate guardian angel,

Jack

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Letters from Jack (part four)

Dear Avia,

          I received your response letter and may I just say, I am appalled by what you said!  I am not bossing you around, I am trying to protect you from yourself!  And I am not an "angelic pain" either.  You just refuse to accept the truth.  Yes, I was the one who urged your parents to do something.  I had to tell your parents about what was going on one way or another!  And I don't see why you're so angry at me.  I mean, after all, I did tell you that if you didn't say anything, I would.  But you didn't listen to me, now did you?  I know I'm being stern with you but that's only because I care about you and don't want you to get hurt!  I've promised to protect you and I'm going to keep that promise in every way I possibly can.  Whether you realize it or not, this is what's best for you.  I know from experience that this is the right course to take.

          I also see you have still been avoiding art.  It saddens my heart to see you walk away from your God-given talent and joy.  Remember that parable in Matthew 25?  The one about the master leaving his servants gifts?  "To one he gave five talents; to another, two; and to another, one to each according to his own ability. Then he went on a journey,".  Remember?  Well, the servant he gave five talents worked hard at improving them so he ended up with ten talents when his master came back.  The servant he gave two talents practiced tirelessly and developed two more talents giving him four talents when his master came back.  But the foolish servant to whom he gave one talent to hid his talent and only had the one when his master came back.  Don't make the same mistake that foolish servant made by hiding your talent.  GOD made you with incredible abilities and spiritual gifts; use them.  Use them for His glory.  Use them for the good of others.  Use the gifts GOD has bestowed upon you.

          Please do not me angry with me.  I am only trying to keep my promise of protecting you.  Proverbs 27:6 says, "Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy," meaning that it is better to hear the hard truth from a close friend than it is to continue sinning with the enemy.  I am merely giving you friendly wounds.  Please do not forsake that.

I love you like a sister, I care deeply about you.  I am always here for you.
Love, your affectionate guardian angel,

Jack