How Do You Poke The Box? (Pt. I)

So I'm reading a new book out by author and blogger Seth Godin called "Poke the Box." He speaks about initiating projects rather than just thinking of ideas and reacting - poking the box.

It's a concise, inspiring book that is quick to read. It motivates and encourages that inner part of you that wants to do something worth doing, that wants to change something worth changing...

It's a book that nudges your heart a little, your heart that's wanting to come alive in a new and real way.

Poke the box.

It's A Beautiful Life

It crazy to think of how terrified I am to truly fall in love.

It will change me and my life forever, yet that's exactly what we all crave, right? The daring, the new. Despite how much we believe we hate change, we desperately want the thrill and satisfaction of encountering the new, the unknown, and embracing it, facing it.

Falling in love is terrifying, but so is waking up tomorrow and living the same routine of today. I could throw my heart away to be broken and shattered, but I could also never let anyone love me, move me, change me. I can't like myself that much that I don't want to be any different! And I can't hate myself that much that I become obsessed with change. Why not listen to God and allow him to place beautiful people in my life?

Faith & Media

Over the course of the next 4 months, I will write a series on "Faith & Media." So far, I have used this as a personal blog/journal to talk about spiritual matters, but I believe we need to acknowledge the significant impact of our media culture and face its implications head-on.

As Christians, we are called to read the "signs of the times" and "go and preach to all nations." Now more than ever we have a vast number of means by which we can do this, but (as in every culture of every age) we must be effective communicators and see through the eyes of God. This means being both media literate and entirely detached, knowledgeable of the faith and nonjudgmental of others, defenders of Truth and keepers of the peace.

My purpose is not to condemn media or to command that Jesus' name be preached in every Facebook status or Twitter update. I do, however, intend to hopefully foster a more well-rounded, universal understanding of the media -- its purpose, drawbacks, opportunities, triumphs, and failures -- illuminated by the Light and Truth of our world, the Savior Jesus Christ.

We have the advantage of growing up in this culture in that our generation is the most able to answer this call. However, that requires us to take action -- to know, to use, and to change the media.

In addition to these entries, I will add more pages to include references, news updates, and other information.

We Always Hate Change!

I used to complain at how difficult it is to adapt to change, especially spiritually. Because I go to school in Ohio, I transition every few months from my home in southern California to my school in eastern Ohio. The two environments are not only severely different in weather and culture, but in the atmosphere I'm in as well. My actual home is a nice place, and I enjoy my family...sometimes. My friends are great as well, but I'm discovering that the more I change and grow at school, the harder it is to be home. At school, I'm surrounded by 2500 other people striving to be holy and become saints. There are 3 Masses every day, perpetual adoration, chapels in every dorm, and a million possible ministries you could join. My professors pray before class, and I'm friends with priests and nuns.

All of this makes the transitions that much harder. I don't have the same opportunities at home as I do at school (i.e. Mass at 3 different times every day). I'm not around the same people. I have absolutely no school schedule that I have to follow. My friends don't even get out of school at the same time...It all makes for an interesting change, to say the least.

However, I mentioned that I used to complain. It just seems so hard. Even semester to semester at my school is so different.

But why wouldn't it be? It should change. We are people and as such, we perpetually change. School is basically a large community of people, a.k.a. other perpetually changing humans. If our faith and spiritual life isn't changing, then something's wrong! I heard it put so beautifully once - If you're not moving forwards, you're moving backwards. Why, do you ask? Because life is an uphill battle. Life and faith are climbing the mountain, and if you stick yourself into Neutral and become complacent, you're just rolling back down the hill.

So obviously we'll be changing. Obviously my spirituality will change. I can't get stuck into a routine of "prayer life" that happens to work for me because that's not how you grow. When I come back to a place that's more spiritually dry than Franciscan University, it's my opportunity to grow in a different way. It's my opportunity to have more quiet time with God in my room, alone, as opposed to only in a chapel 20 ft. from my dorm room. I can experience God anywhere, YOU can experience God anywhere.

Don't complain about change like me, and definitely don't let complacency take hold of you without you knowing it. I've done both, and they haven't really worked out for me very well. Experience God in new ways. He is, after all, the living God. The Bible is the living Word of God, so read it. The Holy Spirit is living, and he is everywhere, so experience him!

Complacency and discouragement is NOT of the Lord. Ever.