All The Same

         "So if we're casting stones
          If we've forgotten what we know
          That we don't walk alone in this life
          Let your love get inside our bones
          May it deep within us grow
          May we bring in the ones left outside"

 These lines are from a song that's become dear to my heart lately, it's called All The Same by tenth avenue north (you can listen to it below the lyrics).
 What does this have to do with this post?
 I've been visited by this thought so much lately, that we spend so much time condemning others who have different beliefs or act according to a different code of manners that we forget to hold ourselves accountable for anything we do. We always seem to search for where the other person's wrong and magnify their faults so big that we think our own faults don't show. We refuse to give grace. We choose to judge according to differences and never try to "walk a mile in their shoes."

We're all humans, all the same. Every single one of us is struggling with something, no matter how big or small. We think that being secretive about our flaws and past mistakes, while casting stones on others' flaws and mistakes, will somehow work.

But you know, this is contradictory to basic logic.
Am I supposed to expect others to forgive me if I don't forgive them? Am I better? More favored in God's eyes for a special thing in me? Was I born with extra credit for having a special set of genes that give me superiority over another person?
Am I better than that person who chose to insult me and talk about my religion in a demeaning way just because it's different from his?

No.
Actually, I might be worse!

The moment a person starts believing he would "never ever ever!" do something, the same person walks into a danger zone of alleged infallibility. I'm not beyond judging a person because he's different from me. In fact, I've done it over and over before. On my own I'm fragile and prone to fall into so many pits and holes; it's God's grace and mercy that keeps me from being a thing I might hate.

So, I'm not offended by what that person said*. I believe he thought there was a very good reason behind that comment he made about my religion.
I forgive, because I want to be forgiven.


*Translation of that comment he made into English:
Do you really believe that strange religion of yours (Christianity)?! It is wrong and unconvincing! I wonder how some minds believe these myths and absurdity you call your religion!
I advise you against being a follower for what you found yourself born into. Use your brain to reach what's right.

December 28th, 2013

So long 2013, you've been a good  year!

Not saying this in terms of the number of events which left me triumphant or downright happy. You've been a good year for learning, growing up and seeing things more realistically.

Since the very beginning I've known you'd be special. I had this intuition that I won't be the same person or have the same experiences after you've passed. I mean, graduating high school is no small matter. But let's face it, you had much more in store for me than that!

You broke me…several times and through small intervals of time. Did it hurt? Heck yeah. Do I regret anything that lead to this breakage? Not even a bit.

And even though I don't like feeling "schooled", I love learning new life lessons. And you, 2013, offered more than I could ever ask for.  You taught me that, in various ways, I'm still a kid and should seek the guidance and advice of the more experienced. You taught me that I ought not to believe every word of praise I receive, and listen carefully for criticism coming from trusted sources. You showed me that even if I drift apart from people there's always a chance for reconciliation, and that the closest of friends could turn to perfect strangers and vice versa in no time.

You taught me that I shouldn't expect much from people; they were not created to please me and make my every wish come true. You taught me to be patient and not to rush change or improvement, like a fine wine needs aging, everything takes time to get better. You also taught me not to wait for what I want to magically find its way to me, but to go out there and actively pursue it hoping for the best. You showed me in so many ways that there's always something new to learn, and that I should never rely on my knowledge as "enough".

Last but not least, you proved to me that God is always gracious, loving, just, able and good to me. That I should trust Him with my life, my heart, my mind, and more importantly my soul. He still wants me to be close to Him even if I try to pull myself away. And for this, I'm more thankful than for anything else.

The Gold-coated rule?!

My Facebook news feed is the worst place to be right now. Seriously, yours might be just as bad and you don't know it!
You see, all I see is lots of people my age and younger complaining about how terrible people are, how they're done with trying to find friends, and how having active relationships with other people is just not worth it anymore.
It got me thinking; why the hell would someone so young lose hope in dealing with people, while they practically lived only a quarter of their normal life expectancy period?!
Are people really this terrible to each other?
Have we become so frightened that we'd get under-appreciated and maltreated by people that we started to treat them this horribly?
What would happen if we started living a simpler life, one void of all the over-thinking, psychoanalyzing and misinterpretations?
What would happen if we just followed the Golden Rule? Is it really hard to treat people the way we want to be treated?!

But it's not like that, right?!
Well, the Golden Rule is -philosophically- a nice way to live by. You do unto people as you would have them do unto you, and you expect things to work in your favor just because you did the right thing. Right?
Na-uh!
Unless you're the 12-year-old part of the chart, you already know people can be monstrous creatures whose only viability comes from preying on other people. It might be an over-statement, but I've seen people enjoying others' failings, applauding their mistakes, or waiting to see the next wrong thing they'll do just to feel better about themselves.
Horrible, isn't it?
But come on, you'd be lying to your own face if you think you hadn't been this horrible of a person to someone before. Even if you haven't hurt anyone with a word or a look of dismay, I'm pretty sure that somewhere along the path of your life you judged someone, or felt superior to them because of a failing they had.
I can't say I never did this, because I did. And now I know why I shouldn't have.
I'd like people to be nice to me, actually, I'd love it if everyone liked me. I already know it's an impossibility, but wouldn't it be nice to know that there's no one out there hating your guts and loathing the very fact that you're breathing? I'd love if that were true!
However, and I'm sorrowfully speaking here, I know I'm not like that to everyone. I'm called not to accept, tolerate or co-exist with others who are different from me...I'm called to LOVE them!
Now I know it's a tough commandment to follow, and I feel like acting it's not there most of the time. But frankly, I know my life would be much easier if I did.
Carrying the burden of other people's faults is actually very consuming if not destructive. You either lose hope in finding "the right people" to be around, or feel much better about yourself because you sin differently from them. Both ways won't lead you to be at peace with yourself and others, or reach heaven eventually.
So, I say don't live by the "Gold-coated Rule", that is, convincing yourself everything is fine and that you're treating people "nice enough" and it's the way you want to be treated. You'll come back complaining later because you never want to feel "accepted in spite of" you want to feel "loved because". If you have a problem with someone, face yourself with it and forgive them from the bottom of your heart. Love them wholeheartedly because of the many great things they are. And know that God loves you in spite of your failings, He can expose to everyone how messed up you are, but He covers you up. You -in turn, the mere human- don't really own the right to judge your brother.
You know, you shouldn't expect to find favor in people's eyes if you don't offer them grace first.

Nineteen

It feels so weird, too old for the age I long felt stuck in...I always picture myself 16.
I'm not even sure if it's too soon or should have been sooner.
I mean, I take a look at my life now and wonder "When the heck did I grow so old?" Then I look back on every single event, detail, blessing and disaster that took my life and completely altered it over the course of the past 19 years, and I realize that it's 30 years worth of life events I've lived so far!
I don't know whether I should be happy or upset about it.
I do know I'm happy with the over-whelming love I received from almost everyone I know. I feel so blessed by how so many people who are not even this close to me are being nice enough to say such sweet things! But I also know that my birthday is not everyday, and growing up will eventually show its crappy side sooner rather than later. Sigh...
I'm confused about so many things right now, trying to set priorities for my life has never looked to difficult!
I'll just keep praying and talking to God about the mess I call my life for now. It felt much better not having to carry around the weight of my life and trusting Him, before I started taking matters into my own hands.
#GloomiestBirthdayBlogPostEver :/

The Hawk In Paris (Part Deux)

Hey there! You remember the last time I posted about these guys?
Of course you don't. It's probably the first time you've ever heard of them as well. But it's alright, I'm here to the rescue!
You are about to witness the actual definition of awesome music. This is The Hawk In Paris, an electronic music project created and produced by Dan Haseltine (the amazing frontman of Jars of Clay), Matt Bronleewe (the amazing producer) and Jeremy Bose (musical mad scientist of sorts). These guys were friends in college, worked together, separated for ten years then came back to write together again, producing this one of a kind musical project.
It's basically pop music, with heavy electronic influences from 80s bands (Depeche Mode, Massive Attack...etc).
I said it last time I wrote about them; I never thought I'd like electronic music until I first listened to them, I recall the first song I previewed was "The New Hello (His)". I was shocked, then gave it a 2nd and 3rd chance, then got hooked on them for eternity.
I wanted to share with you a song called Beg For Love in the last post. I couldn't because I had obtained the demo version from Dan Haseltine's website, on which he left it available for download for only one day. He didn't wish for it to be spread as I presume, so I didn't post it to my SoundCloud account. That was the demo version.
They had released only two EPs until October 29th when they released their full length album Freaks. It included my dear "Beg For Love"  just with a different bridge instrumental. Needless to say, I was THRILLED!
Much to my joy they also graciously put it up to their SoundCloud account, so there you go. the much sought after: Beg For Love (with the lyrics that I deciphered)

Beg For Love (from their LP, FREAKS)

Lover in waiting out in the winter
You just wanna hold her or she wants just to let go
Will you watch her walk away?
Are you really gonna let her go?
Lie in the circus, forgotten your while
Your voice, over-rated, or she wants just to let go
Will you watch her walk away?
Are you really gonna let her go?

Don't make me beg for love, if I don't want to
Don't make me beg for love

There's a break in the action, a pause in the violin
She's a boat on the ocean, a drift on your silence
Will you watch her float away?
Are you really gonna let her go?
On this occasion, steady breathing is a cleansification
You'll be dead, she'll be leaving
Will you watch her float away?
Are you really gonna let her go?

Don't make me beg for love, if I don't want to
Don't make me beg for love

[bridge]
Don't make her wait, make her wait any longer (x 4)

Don't make me beg for love, if I don't want to
Don't make me beg for love

This next song is also one of my favorites on the album, it's called Wake Me Up. Here's a lyric video I found on YouTube, enjoy!
Wake Me Up (from the LP FREAKS):
That's it, guys! I hope you enjoyed the songs as much I do.
They are currently crowd-funding the release of FREAKS on CD and vinyl, they're almost there. So, check out these links if you're interested in their project:
PledgeMusic Crowd-funding project: Link
FREAKS: On iTunes
FREAKS: On Spotify
My last post: The Hawk In Paris
Freaks + Outcasts EP on NoiseTrade: Link