I think no matter who you are, you need to listen to what this teacher has to say about God’s plan for the Family. It’s shocking what we are and aren’t taught by our parents and by todays culture about how a family is supposed to be and what our rolls as humans in family are.
Listen to them all. Listen to them often. You can learn something from each.
I’m extremely home sick, already. I miss my friends. I don’t know how I’ll make it around the world. But I guess I’ll find out. It’ll strengthen my character I guess. Any ideas on how I can get a quick plane ticket back to PHX for a weekend for really cheap?
As clear as day it hit me during a “conversation” with a friend…. true love–the real deal–is attaching the amount of worth to a person that says, “Regardless of the consequences, regardless if I lose you, regardless if you hurt me, regardless of the pain and suffering I may endure, I choose you over myself. I want to know you and want you to know me.”
In turn, hate is the opposite. It’s that disregard for another person that puts you ahead of them or simply does not attach value to them. In the context of the conversation hate would be “Getting to know you or letting you know me isn’t worth the pain and suffering I may endure as a result of losing you, you hurting me, or other consequences I can or cannot forsee. I choose me, my safety, my emotional well-being, etc, over you(rs).” In short, selfishness and arrogance.
I was thinking about it alot recently. It’s an emotion. People call it love. Or at least a form of love. But infatuation is considered an affliction. With emotions being chemcial reactions and being an affliction it makes them very similar to drug use. We get addicted, and our generation is extremely addicted to infatuation.
Emotions fade but while they are present they cloud judgement, like any drug. So its natural that we see people making stupid decisions when under the influence.
I realized I was addicted to this emotion probably 6 years ago. At the same time I also knew I liked and disliked it at the same time. I enjoyed the butterflies but hated the reason I had them. I just recently realized the full issue. I was addicted yet afflicted.
It was inevitable that this trip would trigger some friendships to end abruptly. A few friends have dropped off the planet too busy to hang out for the last few days I have left here, and others are sabbotaging the friendship since it’s easier to not say goodbye to someone when you are “mad” at them over some silly argument about nothing. I’m just glad I was prepared.
It’s too bad all my friends haven’t reacted with the joyful-sadness that others have. It makes me so happy to hear that they are excited for me yet sad to see me go and will miss me.