Showing posts with label Welcome to Middle School. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Welcome to Middle School. Show all posts

Friday, August 15, 2008

Where's My Apology?


Do you ever find yourself apologizing for things you didn't do or when it isn't necessary? What is that? This happened to me twice this week. I had two people rip into me and I end up apologizing to them. I'm not sure what was going on for them that day. Maybe, they were having a bad day or p.m.s.ing or work was stressful and they chose to take it out on me.

I like to keep the peace and I confront (I don't like confrontation) if I have to but why do I say I'm sorry when I don't need to? Is this a sign of weakness? A character flaw?

I'll tell you what isn't a character flaw - admitting when you are wrong and seeking forgiveness. I'll always try to do that.

Come to think of it, neither of the people apologized to me. What is valued when we fail to seek forgiveness? Pride? Arrogance? A product of bad parenting? A product of a society that doesn't take responsibility for its actions and that always thinks it's somebody else's fault? How did we get this way?

Well, I won't hold my breath, I will not lose sleep over this and I will stop whining but I will try to save my apologizing for when it is warranted. I think it will be more meaningful and I also think that it won't feed the pride of those who refuse to apologize when they need to do so. I'm not trying to be mean, I am just trying to be prudent.

One think I will not apologize for is living, working, having strong convictions and passions, being a person seeking integrity, staying optimistic and positive and functioning at an optimal level. That would be a slap in the face of the One who made me.

You are encouraged to join the movement to admit when you are wrong, seek forgiveness, give forgiveness and not to feed the pride of those who won't.

Stay strong and courageous. Peace.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Thursday, April 17, 2008

"You're Naive"


So, Michael thinks I'm naive (see comment on Don't Play Sports & I Just Can't Make the Evolutionary Leap). I love it! Well everyone (all 2 people who read this blog), welcome to middle school. This is precisely what happens when people are unwilling to engage in an educated dialogue. This is precisely what happens when people adhere strictly to their doctrines without question. Let's be fair. This happens on both sides of the spectrum: from those who cling to the doctrine of Darwinism just because they don't believe in God - to those who believe in God just because "the Bible tells me so."

I would prefer it if Mike told me why he thought I was missing the mark rather than dismissing me as naive. But the issue Michael seems to be dealing with here is that he has no idea how something as complex as the human body could possibly evolve and survive while it was evolving. So, he resorts to name calling or dismissing the questions and the person in favor of his doctrine. He simply can't deal with the gaping holes in Darwinism and the thousands of unanswered questions about evolution. He is not willing to dialogue. So, what does he do? He chooses to silence or ridicule those with whom he disagrees. Most of the time this is done out of fear of what might actually be discovered.

But what is truly sad is that we can't have a dialogue that might be productive. We aren't aloud to ask questions without being vilified and the old adage that "no question is a dumb question" isn't true. And if this isn't true it means that all learning and discovery must stop.

What's interesting is that at this very moment a major documentary called "Expelled" is hitting the big screen and it discusses the very issue Michael has unwittingly raised by his comment. The issue is that Darwinists are unwilling to dialogue about the problems with their religion and theories and because they are unwilling to dialogue they are doing everything in their power to silence the dialogue, the questions and especially the people who ask the questions. The tactics are the same and they are scary.

What are people afraid of? Are we so afraid of finding the truth that we have devolved (thanks Devo-an 80's rock band for those who don't know) to middle schoolish name calling? Sad.

Of course, I could have completely misread the comment and Michael might have really been talking about my naivety concerning women and sports (which was all tongue and cheek). And if that is the case I agree with him. I admit it. When it comes to women, I am a bit naive. Peace.

Explore the Expelled Movie here. And please remember that the movie is about the issue of silencing free speech and those we don't agree with.