Society and how it mistakes outsiders

Hello, hello,

I am a self proclaimed nerd. I can get really excited about stuff that "normal" (by lack of better words) people couldn't care less about. Let me give you an example: I was euphoric when they found the Higgs Boson (aka the God Particle (many scientists loathe this nickname) or the Goddamn Particle). I could listen to someone like Neil DeGrasse Tyson all day, I love biology and astronomy. I'd rather stay at home in the weekend and read a good classic, philosophical, scientific and/or theological book. My favourite magazine is not the Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl or Seventeen, but National Geographic and I adore Mythbusters, Ancient X-files and most of the other scientific/historical programs on Discovery Channel and National Geographic. I knew what I wanted to become (a paediatrician) ever since I was four and I actually like studying. If we look at how society portrays nerds (see the picture) I'd fit nowhere near that discription. I don't wear glasses for starters (though I think I need them, and I think nerd-glasses are superdupercool), I don't have braces, I don't wear my hair in pigtails and don't have extreme acne. Society has made nerdism (not sure if it's a word) into a caricature whilst most of the "nerds" don't fit this mold. This caricature isn't only made when it comes to nerds, but with almost everyone who's different to society's standards. To society I want to say this: everyone's different, yet we're all the same. We breathe the same air and'll end in the Earth when this life's over. It doesn't matter how cool you are now, it's about your future. To everyone who's an outsider: Embrace your quirkiness, your wit, your clothing, music-taste, your vision of out precious planet. Spread the love and show them that being different is something good and not something to be ashamed of.
"Why fit in if you were born to stand out?" - Dr. Seuss

In Christ,
Me

Memento Mori and how not to become a misanthropist

 

It's been a while but I'm back.
Everyone has heard of the tragic shootings in Aurora, Colorado, the shootings in Vancouver, the tragic suicide-attack in Bulgaria and the Civil War in Syria. These things are without a shadow of a doubt, horrifying. The people in the Middle Ages were eager for people to "Remember Mortality" (Memento Mori). I think the best way of propagating this is living in the 21st century with a television. Why? Because every news report is a silent (or a bit more elaborate) reminder of our mortality. Whether it is because of a shooting or people starving to death. The news reports are quite sinister to say the least.
With merciless dictators, gunmen and corporate selfishness the natural reaction for Mankind is to become quite cynical and misanthropic. Is there even a reason not to be a misathropist? Yes, yes there is. If you realize that the world is not short of people who fight for a peacful and fair world you'll remember that there is hope. You mighn't know them, they mighn't be famous but the people who change the world are more often than not, just regular people. They change the world one person at a time. There are still pure hearts out there who work with all of their hearts to change this world. Please remember "Carpe Diem", the Renaissance wisdom, alongside the sinister "Memento Mori" and know that, yes we're mortal and life is short, but that we have to cease the day and change this world rather than become cynical. Go out there and be one of those people who change the world. Fight injustice non-violently. Speak up and before God, please cease the day!

R.I.P to all those killed all over the world, by governments, gunmen and poverty.

In Christ,
Me

Selfishness-selflessness

I was just listening to the song "In the Light" by DC Talk and there's one part that really stood out. The part says; "The disease of self runs through my blood. It's a cancer fatal to my soul.". It's true isn't it? We are such selfish creatures.So I figured, let's see what the Bible has to say about it and I came across a few Bible verses: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." (NIV) Philippians 2:3, "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up." (NIV) Romans 15:1-2. And it's true. We human beings are so selfish and conceited. If we do something right, we want appreciation so bad. We practically do the good for others to see how good we are. How Pharisaical. Am I saying that I am never conceited, hypocritical, selfish, vain or pharisaical? No not at all! That's the entire problem...we all are! Don't say you aren't because you are "If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts." 1 John 1:10 (NLT). But the wonderful part is that we have Jesus! He died for our sins and forgives us every time we do and confess our sins to Him. He does, however, expect us to die to ourselfs (Galatians 5:24) and become like Christ (1 John 2:6). That means you're ought to try to be a light to the world and salt to the earth. Isn't God the best one to learn from? I mean, He's the ultimate sacrificer. The God who's slow to anger, patient and long-suffering. The God who is faithful and just to forgive us every single time we sin. The God who wants a personal relationship with every one of His children. The God of 1 Corinthians 13. The word for love used in that chapter is Agape. Agape is a self-sacrificial, selfless, unconditional love. It's more than we can give with our own strength. But the God who's the perfect example of Agape, is helping us to become more like Him. To become selfless people. Brethren. Brothers and sisters. One. Ready to help and always ready to show the world that they're different because of the changes that their faith in God brings. Amen. :-)

News report

This news report made my heart leap of joy!!!! A little part of it:

“The idea of 27 million slaves around the world in different forms of slavery is appalling on a human level,” Baron said. “It wasn’t that long ago that we had slavery here in America and some people think that was the last stronghold of slavery in the world, but it’s still going on in big ways. I would encourage people to do what they can to help end it.”
Hosted online at Livestream, students were able to participate in a chat room and ask questions.
“It’s so intimidating for a young person to call their Senator if they’ve never done it before even thought it’s so simple,” Pedrick said. “We did this at Delaware University last year and it became popular through social media.”
Gia Coluccio, who was one of the online hosts at GW, said that as the result of the popularity of social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, many people get their information on important social issues online.

“We need to be educating ourselves about what is going on. It is something that God has called us to do,” Coluccio said.

“My faith in Jesus, and everything I read in the Bible on a day to day basis has to do with living our faith out and using the gifts that God has given us to help other people,” she said. “Here in the U.S., (human trafficking) is not that’ something that is not visible all the time, but it’s definitely going on. We can’t be blinded.”

Source: http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-college-students-lead-congress-call-in-campaign-against-child-slavery-56672/

Slavery - Trafficking

Today my eyes were opened. I have heard of it and somewhere in the back of my mind I knew it happened in my own proverbial "back yard" but it is not until today that I really paid attention. I was oblivious. It is horrible but true. A significant amount of prostitutes are trafficked women whom are promised a better life. They fall in the hands of pimps who completly dehumanize them. They are raped, beaten and broken. Stripped of their dignity, their humanity torn. We need to open our eyes to what is happening in our world, our country and even our city. This has a great impact on me, a girl living in Amsterdam where prostitution is legalized. In our red light district the Ukrainian girl standing behind the window is a girl, a girl who was taken away from her family and is now nothing more than an object of  lust. The Thai girl standing there behind the window, taken from the countryside, promised education, now nothing more than a servant of a male's fantasy. The African girl, promised a future for her and her family, now nothing more than a sex slave for the men in Western society. Their pride taken and every part of them broken.

We forget another thing. We assume slavery is something from the past. The dark past. But it is not. The chocolate you eat might be a product of child labour or adult slavery. Can you imagine your child, sibling or cousin working for your pleasure. Just for the chocolate you eat thousands of children and men and women die. Please open your eyes. I pray that the hardened nature of the human heart will be filled with brotherly love and compassion. Don't be oblivious to this. There are many things that you can do such as; buying fairtrade products (chocolate, clothes etc.), bringing awareness to the people around you and support a non-profit organization such as Stop the Traffik or Terre des Hommes. Please remember that our fingerprints don't fade from the lives we touch. The last thing I want to do is leave some words of wisdom with you: "My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together." -Archbishop Desmond Tutu


In Christ,
Me

Beirut - Elephant Gun

I felt like sharing Beirut's artistic geniality with you.

Let the seasons begin!