Good Writing

Something I did last year messed up my life for a while.  It all started off when I began to feel excluded from the group of friends I hung out with because I was the only one without a “special” friend.  So one day this guy who I did not know started talking to me on myspace.  I decided to reply to his messages.  That was my first mistake.  My second one was when I gave him my cell phone number.  That was bad.  He wanted to text during the day so we started texting.  Then, I ran out of texts so we ended up talking on the phone quite a bit.  He wanted to meet me at the mall or somewhere.  I told him I wanted to meet him too but I thought to myself, “I’m going to chicken out.”  But, we kept talking and then Shannon, my sister, found out.  So I started feeling miserable and very guilty.  It was the guilt that started to tear me apart.  I knew I should have never started talking to him.  I started acting different because of all the guilt and Lydia, my friend, saw that and then she found out and told me that I needed to tell my parents about it.  I was going to but they found out before I told them.  I was scared but glad at the same time because all the guilt lifted off of my shoulders right away since I had nothing to hide anymore.  I got in a lot of trouble and I had to get myself back to normal and that took a while.  I also had to gain my parent’s trust back and I’m still working on that a little bit.  From this experience, I believe that no one should get involved with anyone they do not know.  It doesn’t matter if it is over the internet or if you just meet them at the mall.  It will still mess up your life and it will take a long time to get it back to normal.

This I believe
I believe that anyone can be who they want to be, or do what they want to do. I could be a chef or an artist or even a dancer. Nobody can tell me that I can’t be this or I can’t do that, or I have to do what they say, and I have to be like this.  I love to dance, but I am not going to pursue it after high school. My Mom keeps telling me that I can still be a ballet teacher or a choreographer, but I have no intention of being one.  Being an artist or a chef sounds like fun, but I’m not talented enough to make a living out of it.

Recently my Dad and I have been talking about what I am going to do during my senior year. He says that it is one of the most important times of my life, and I only have one chance to do things, and if I miss it then it’s over; I don’t have another chance. Lately I have been really busy with dance, and I have not been able to hang out with my friends or do fun things. My Dad wants me to slow down on dance, and maybe do one or two shows. Since this is my last year I want to do everything I can. Nutcracker, RDA, the Spring Show and even the end of the year show. My dad says he is tired or carting me around to all of my dance functions, and he doesn’t want to do it anymore. If something is going on that weekend that has anything to do with dance, he won’t take me, but if something is planned out with my friends, he said sure we will find away.

There is so many things that I want to do that I don’t know how I will get to do every thing. Over the summer I will try to plan out what next year will look like, and then I will have to figure out what my life has in store for me. I will choose what I will do, and no one can tell me that I can’t do it.

I believe in many different things.  Many things consisting that are funny and serious.  Religion is a key thing to believe in.  Religion can consist of a God or Gods.  I believe in the one true God.  Thanks to his son Jesus Christ, I get to live in heaven forever and ever.  I believe that God sent his son for a purpose to save us from eternal life in hell.  He gave us a gift called grace that we got as a free gift and it can not be taken away.  I believe the Office is one of the funniest shows on television.  “That’s what she said.”  A catch phrase used by Michael Scott played by Steve Carrel.  He is extremely funny and plays the part of the laid back boss that is a lot of fun.  Rainn Wilson who plays Dwight in the Office fits his character perfectly.  Dwight is salesman of the month every month.  In one episode he beats the new website in selling paper.  He is so serious about his job as assistant to the regional manager, but he always says assistant regional manager.  I believe my parents with all my heart because they have earned my trust with love and care.  I believe my dad any day and he is so much fun yet serious at the same time.  I believe all of my friends to the end of the world and farther past that probably.  Tanner Flewellen is one of my best friends I trust everything he says, and I tell him stuff no one else knows.  I believe God gave me a gift as a basketball player to share is glory through my gift.  I also believe that God gives everyone a special gift in something to show his glory and power.  I believe God is giving me a plan for the future in someway, so I am just waiting to see what God has in store for me.  I hope he uses me in the way he wants too.  I believe everyone has a right to decide what they believe in for themselves.

The first day of spring training dawns. The lineman coach asks how much I weigh. He and the other lineman must have looked at me like I was a whale trying to flap his fins and fly. Like Tom Cruise, I set out on an impossible mission. All but one of the other players weighed more than I did and I played offensive lineman, which is the position most of the bigger guys would take. However, this would possibly become the only way I could have ever played lineman well. Because I had such a disadvantage, doing my best wasn’t just a virtue, but my last hope of survival. Being the smallest lineman sparked a fury, which some of us call inner demons, within me that elevated my talent as a lineman. If I hadn’t been so small, I possibly would not have given my all and tried to prove my worth so furiously.

The element that seemed to set my doom in stone became my savior. This reminds me of a verse in scripture: “We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him…” (Romans 8:28). Even if something evil and misfortune strike my life, God can work it out for the good. If I love God, then everything that happens to me will blossom into the best thing for me. If my future is so bright, what reason would I ever have to worry? There isn’t a reason! Still, just because there isn’t a reason to worry doesn’t mean I don’t ever worry. Worrying is one of the hardest things in life to refrain from and Jesus commands against it. However, I know that because of God this command is possible to obey. This is one of the mottos of my life. Even though I strive to live a “No worries” life, I don’t live a big case of Hakuna Matata where I have no responsibility and no concerns. Instead of demolishing my worries, living without responsibility multiplies my causes to worry. While I don’t always act like I have no worries, I walk through life with the assurance that there is no reason to worry about myself. Life without worrying is like cold pizza in the morning; absolutely refreshing. Even if everything does not work out for the good, what does worrying ever accomplish? What troubles and problems does it ever fix? Worrying never accomplishes anything or serves any use; this I believe.

I have always been exceptionally healthy and fit my whole life.  My parents, especially my dad, have been feeding me healthy food since I was a baby and have gotten me into the habit of eating healthy.  My dad had me start working out at a young age and I still do.  There are many things to do to keep your body in shape and healthy.  Playing sports, working out, eating the correct kinds of food, getting enough sleep, and stretching are just some of the many things you can do.  God says to treat your body like the temple of the Holy Spirit.  This, I believe I should do. 

I remember one summer where I was really laid back.  There is nothing wrong with that but I had stopped eating properly, I was not working out, and I would stay up late each night because I had nothing to do the next morning.  The change of pace seemed nice for a while, but after a couple of weeks of this, I started to feel (and see) what the results of not taking care of my body was like.  I was out of breath from just running up the stairs, my face was breaking out, and I was not feeling in tip top shape like I am used to.  I started to get headaches from the lack of sleep and stomachaches from eating too much food that my body was not used to.  I also started feeling extremely lazy.  I did not like these feelings so I started to eat better and drink more water.  After getting into that habit again, I started working out.  Then, about two weeks before school started, I would go to bed at a decent hour each night. 

I felt so much better when I got back into my proper routine again and I did not want to fall back into the habits that I had accustomed myself to during the summer.  I learned my lesson that summer about treating my body right and ever since then, I have been feeling great.  I rarely get sick and I have a taste for healthy food as opposed to junk food.  I love the feeling of being fit and in shape.  Most importantly of all, I know I am obeying God when I treat my body correctly.

I believe that God gives people hardships and trials to grow and draw closer to Him.

 About a year ago I was dealing with friendship problems with two of my friends and I dealt with that hardship for about four months until I realized that I needed to just forgive them for what I did (which I will not mention) and try to be a better friend to them and to everybody. Over that time I drew closer to God, knowing that He would help me through this difficult time and He did. During the Fall and Winter my friendship with those two friends was mended and we get along fine now.

In January of this year to now I have been going through more difficult times and God was with me. In late February and March I was going through a lonely time. I felt like I had no one to talk to with my Mom teaching, my Dad working, my two brothers off in college, and my two friends probably soon leaving the church I go too. In later March I found out that my two close friends were leaving the church and I would only get to see them about every two months because they live in Mansfield, which is an hour away from where I live. But during this time God was there with me. About the same time my friends left the church I met this girl at this High School group called “Alethia” and we have been really good friends since. God had blessed me with a friend when two of my only friends I had at church left and I am very thankful for that.

Through this whole past year I knew God was with me and He gave me these several hardships that I would grow closer to Him. This I believe.

Every two months I play in a piano competition.  At one of my previous competitions I came wearing slacks, a polo, and nice shoes.  Out of the 11 other guys competing that day 10 wore suits and one wore the same clothes as me. 

            First we all went in and played once for the judge.  Then he decided who would move onto the final ten.  And only the ten who wore suits made it into the finals, me and the other boy who wore polos got kicked out.

            First off, the chances of only the guys who wore suits getting into the finals are really pretty slim.  Second, I know I played a more impressive and better sounding piece then at least three, if not four of them.

            This gives the impression that I and the other guy got the boot because we were not wearing our “I am a little prince” suits.  Even though according to the competition rules I could show up in a tank top and shorts after mowing the lawn and it shouldn’t effect how well I do.  I am not saying that I should show up in a tank top and shorts after just mowing the lawn, but that in theory I could.  Because all that should matter is how well I play my piece.

            Experiences like this one and others have taught me that appearances are not really all that important.  If I had come to the competition and played a 30 page song perfectly while wearing a T shirt and jeans I do not think I would have made it into the finals.

            A good example of this would be a Mexican burrito platter.  If I were to judge it just by looks it would not be very appealing or score very high on a food chart.  But if I look past the appearance and dig in “mmmmhh” it tastes good.  Or pudding, who likes to look at goo?

            This is why before I come to any conclusions about people I make a few good whole hearted attempts at getting to know them.  This I believe.

My life has been going through a lot of changes recently. The ending of my Freshman year also brings the end of my four years at Town North Co-op. With my brother graduating this year, my Mom has decided that we are not going to come back next year. Though I will still be taking Geometry and Chemistry at co-op, it still seems strange. Four years out of fifteen feels like a long time. My older brother, Ryan, will be graduating high school this Spring.

     With school ending, everyones making summer plans. My best friend, Nastia, leaves for Arizona in a little over a month, and she will not be back till a week before school starts. Not only that, but CYIA Camp has been canceled this year, and instead, the Dallas Group may go to Ft. Hood for training. Then, I may not get to go to church camp, which would not be the same without Nastia anyway. Also, I’ve been reading my Drivers Ed. Handbook, and will hopefully get my permit this summer.

     Next year I will be taking only two classes at Town North Co-op, three at REACH, and my Mom and I will be doing the rest at home, which will be strange. With all these changes and plans, I am not sure where my life is headed anymore. Recently I’ve been giving my life a lot of thought. And I wish I could go back in time to how it was. But it is not possible, and who knows? One day maybe I will be missing all these things I have been dreading recently. I have come to the conclusion that I need to enjoy my life as it comes, and to just slow down. And it has really helped me be more content and happy. I have learned to enjoy everyday things more, and when I am bored out of my brains and wish time would go by faster I think of something I need to do, or just might help someone out, and I do it. I do not want to waste time. I realize I won’t get to be fifteen twice, and if I blink I might miss it. I do not want to miss my life. I’m not going to like all the changes coming, but some of them won’t be too bad. I believe in enjoying life while you can. You never know when something might change, or when God decides you’ve had long enough on this earth. You do not want to be caught unaware.

I believe… that almost everything I currently believe in or about will change at some point or time. My beliefs about others will change as I get to know them better. My belief in God will change as it grows stronger through both good and bad times. My beliefs about how things function will change as I mature. 

I believe that the idea of trying to hold onto beliefs is in itself a mistake. My trying to stop my faith from growing is a mistake as I am (to some degree) rejecting the idea of growing closer to God. My trying to retain certain beliefs about others is the equivalent to me not wanting to have a deeper and more meaningful relationship with them. 

I know for a fact that if I had held onto my original beliefs of five years ago that I would not have a group of friends that I could easily call my family. I would have seen them and chalked them off, as they would have differed from my original beliefs. I know that in time certain beliefs that I seem to think are essential as of now will erode till they are merely side points. I used to think that all rock music was sinful, and all together evil. This was a core belief I had and I was by no means ready to surrender it. But it has turned from a core belief, to one that does not exist anymore. 

Why am I saying this? Because I know that I will always base my life creed or how I live on certain beliefs, and there is only one belief that can withstand that position. One belief that can in a sense survive the pressure of having a life built around it, and that is my belief in God. This belief is what gives me hope in the bad times, and the good, when I am popular, and when I am alone. This I believe that although many other beliefs will over time change, my belief in Christ will not. 

I personally believe that Jesus, the son of God and creator of the universe, died on the cross for my sins.  Because of this I am saved and will live in heaven with him forever.   When God created Adam and Eve, the world was totally perfect – a paradise on earth.  When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, the world became a sinful place.  Man had fallen into temptation.  Fortunately, God had a plan to reverse all that.  His plan will boggle your mind.  When man fell, God didn’t say, “Forget about that race, I’ll just create another one.”  No, He said, “I know you guys messed up, but I want to make it right and redeem you.”  He sent Jesus to take my sins.  He is not a God of second chances.  He is a God of unlimited chances.  My belief in Christ influences all areas of my life – school, music and friends.  It is the center of who I am.

            My belief in Christ influences all areas of my life.  I attempt to treat my friends as God treats me, with patience and understanding.  I love to talk and hang out with my friends.  I try to encourage them to stay on the right path in life, but I am there when they stumble.  A friend of mine got involved in drugs.  I didn’t abandon him, but encouraged him to better things.  He now attends youth group at church.  Again, the Bible is my instruction manual.  Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times.”  It doesn’t say a friend loves only when everything is going well. 

            My belief in Christ also impacts my musical selection.  Music really goes to my soul.  I enjoy classic rock and listen to groups such as AC/DC, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Foreigner, and Led Zeppelin, but I try to primarily listen to Christian alternative rock.  It has the same vibe and is of similar genre, but the lyrics are more uplifting.  I try to keep my eyes and ears focused on things that help my walk through life, instead of making me stumble.

            My belief in Christ influences my work.  The Bible says “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”  At my age, school is my job.  When I begin to feel like taking a break from my schoolwork before it is complete, I go back to this verse which is one of my life verses.  I am called to better than mediocrity.  I must put my heart and soul into whatever I choose to do.  It may be studying chemistry, or practicing Taekwon-Do.  Whatever I do, I strive for excellence, because that is what God calls me to.

Time has and will always play a big part in my life. I grew up in a very time-conscious home. Every day I would hear comments like, “Time waits for no man” or, “Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” My parents were constantly rushing off to appointments. Even my sister and I had a schedule to conform to. There was a certain time we had to wake up, a certain time to eat, and a certain time to I go to bed. As I grew up, I became time-conscious as well, almost to the point of its being a vice. I was spending more time planning what I was going to do than actually doing it. I was constantly worrying about the next day, and when that day came, I started worrying about the next. I was living in the future without a solid foundation in the present. Time was my enemy, with me as the helpless hero, always trying to defeat my foe, but always being defeated.

While it was really a summation of a series of events, I arrived at my new life philosophy one rainy night a couple of years ago. I had gotten into my bed but I could not get to sleep. I was too busy thinking about the future—the next day, the next year, the next decade. After about an hour of this, I felt overwhelmed. It became too much—too much to worry about. I just could not take the burden of having to plan for everything life would throw at me. It was at that moment I got out my Bible and opened it to Matthew. After some reading I came to Matthew 6:34: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

After that night, it was as if a huge burden was taken off me—not only for that one moment, but for my life onward. Now, whenever I get overwhelmed with all the goals I have to accomplish, I remind myself to do my best now. That is the most I can do.

I still plan ahead, but in a much more sensible manner. I make sure to plan only as much as I need to. I always try to be the best person I can be each and every individual moment. I make sure that when I take a step back from what I am doing, I am doing what I need to be doing, and in the right way. Everything should have a purpose, whether it is my completing my school assignments to the best of my ability, or my relaxing from a busy day with my family. As long as I remember to do my best now—to be the best person I can be each and every moment—I know everything will turn out alright. This I believe.

I believe that performing small deeds for a hurting person, can make a large impact on their life. My family is a State of Texas foster family. Through this, i have seen the effect of helping young children who are in desperate situations.

Sunday November 19, 2006, My family received a call from child protective services. The voice on the other end of the line asked us to take in a 2-month old abused baby girl. She was waiting down at Childrens Medical Center with a broken femur. The next day as my mom and I went to pick the baby up, I saw a precious little girl lying in a hospital crib. She had a cast covering her from her waist down. Her legs were stuck in one position. It was clear she was in extreme pain.

Over the next days and weeks, as my family and I cared for her in our home, I learned everything i would ever need to know about a baby with a spicca cast. I learned the unique way to change her diaper. I learned how to air out her horrible rash. I learned how to bathe her. Most importantly, I learned how to hold her and make her happy. As I spent time doing everything in my power to help make her comfortable, I could not help but think about her family. The people who were loving and missing her, as I sat there embracing her in my arms.

Then, the day came when I was able to meet her family. My mom had made arrangements for them to see their sweet little girl on Christmas day. When the family heard the news, they began to cry tears of joy. They told us Christmas was not going to be the same if they had to spend it without their beautiful baby. They were some of the most grateful people I have ever met. Often times, when i meet one of the families, they seem reluctant to speak to us, and embarrassed about the situation. This family on the other hand, gave us a nice note, and expressed to us how grateful they were that their daughter was in a loving home. It was that Christmas day, sitting in starbucks, I began to see things in a whole different light. I realized that by caring for this sweet little girl, my family was making an impact not only in her life, but also in her family’s life. I was shocked that this family was thankful for us caring for their baby. Most families do not express any gratitude to us. This family was different.

When the time came for us to leave starbucks, I watched as tears streamed down the mother and grandmother’s face. I watched as they slowly got into their car and drove away. Although it was several more weeks before they got their little girl back, I was glad we were able to do something so simple as meeting them at starbucks so they could give their baby a Christmas kiss. I know this small thing made a huge impact in their life. This I believe.

There once was a clearing in the middle of a wood. The sun shone down hotly on a horse grazing slowly in the clearing. A large brown bear ambled slowly into the clearing.

The horse nodded to the bear “Good afternoon, Bear.” She greeted him.

The bear replied “How are you, Horse?”

“I’m doing well.” The horse replied shaking her head amiably. “What about you?”

“Oh, it’s going alright, I suppose. Very hot day.”

Suddenly the bear began galloping crazily around the clearing! He snapped strangely at trees and seemed crazed. It was a shocking change from the slow calmness of a few seconds before.

“What’s wrong?!” Cried the frightened Horse. The bear suddenly came to a stop in the exact place he had been before. He shock himself and replied

“I’m fine, just a touch of the heat.” And he calmly walked out of the clearing.

The moral of this story is do not stay out in the heat too long.

Dusk!  The wet trodden road; the gloomy sky pelted the earth with rain and sleet.  Then, a horse encountered a bear.  They both agreed that sauerkraut was bad.

The horse said to the bear, “Tis a sad day, isn’t it?  Rainy, muddy, Starbuck’s coffee - strange isn’t it.”  To mere humans, it sounded simply like a neigh.

The bear said, “I really like peanut butter, particularly extra crunchy.  What about you?”

“Silence!  Another word and I will hurt you,” said the horse emphatically.  “Yes, of course I like peanut butter.  What diference does it make to you?”

“Well, I have some with me,” replied the bear.  “It is really very good.”

Suddenly, the knights of Camelot entered the path and asked a simple question.  “Where can we get a shrubbery?  The knights who say ‘Ni’ are demanding one, and the French are throwing cows at us.”

The horse replied, “It is bloody rainy out here.  There is no shrubbery.”

The bear asked the knights, Would you like some peanut butter?”

The moral of the story is don’t run across the street without looking both ways or you’ll either get run over or shot!

Epilogue:  Mr. Pickled sat down and had peanut butter sandwiches with the bear.

On a dark, dusky night in the forest, a shiny black horse was walking and he happened to meet a bear eating berries.

The horse walks up to the bear and says “I wouldn’t expect to meet a bear at a time like this. What are you doing here?”

The bear looks up shockingly and says, “Oh I just thought I would have have a midnight snack. What about you?”

“Oh me! I was just taking a walk, It’s very refreshing, especially at a time like this,” said the horse.

The bear looked at him like he was crazy and said, “I see”

Suddenly! The horse sees a huge tree about to fall on the bear!

The horse gallops over there and says, “Move quick! There is a tree about to fall on you!

The bear looks up and quickly moves out of the way and says to the horse, “Thanks, my friend. You saved my life.”

The moral of the story is that when you be kind to someone they will in turn be kind to you back.