I Can't Blog: You can be mean, or nice, you choose.

“If someone isn't what others want them to be, the others become angry. Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.”

- Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

I've learned so much while here at Link Year. I've learned about the history of the Bible. About other religions. Learned how to make a Christ Centered Life Plan. Even how to answer questions that seem to attack Christianity.

Another one of the things I've learned while here, is something that I've really always known, but never wanted to admit was real. That being:

People are mean

No matter where you go, no matter who you are with, there's always going to be mean people.

Now, I'm not saying that Link Year is full of awful, mean, angry people. But I kind of am, because like Romans 3:10 says "As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;" (NIV). None of us are good people. However, just because we aren't good people, doesn't mean that we can't be nice people. That's something I think that this world as a whole needs to understand more, and me, I need to understand it more too.

Having a class of just 57 students, you can imagine that drama forms along with cliques and attitudes. People start being sassy (not the cute, fun, I'm-your-friend sassy.), they talk about people behind their backs, they make fun of other people, it's not fun. Lately, I've been seeing in my fellow classmates, but also in myself as well, Satan convincing us that people are only worth liking if they match what we want them to be. If they talk too much, they're annoying. If they talk too little, they're awkward. If you don't like what they say, you respond with anger and defensiveness. It's honestly creating such a divide between the students here, and I don't think some of them care. That's whats scares me.

In my own opinion, I think we all need to stop thinking about what is wrong with other people and why we don't like them, and start thinking about why God loves them and how we can see it too. Again, I'm not saying that I'm nice to everyone, I have many times rolled my eyes at someones comments, talked badly about someone behind their back etc. Recently after I would say something or act rudely, I've started to realize just how unnecessary and stupid I'm being. Is me not liking how they act going to change them? I really hope not! God created them perfectly, no matter who it is. By saying we don't like someone or how they act or how they dress whatever it is, we are directly saying to God that He did a crappy job at making them and He needs to do better in the future. How awful does that sound?

I really wish that this wasn't a problem in our society. But sadly it is and there's really nothing we can do about it. Satan is the ruler of this world and he's having a blast turning people against each other and ruining relationships for stupid reasons. The worst thing that happens, is when people automatically assume something about someone they have exchanged 2 sentences with. Basically, judging a book by it's cover. I've learned that here. Someone is a completely different person when you get deep and understand them and what they have been through in their life. It's really fascinating. Finding out how they grew up and certain things that they have been through, makes you realize why they act certain ways. One of my favorite quotes about people comes from a guy named Dave Berry, he says:

“There's nothing wrong with enjoying looking at the surface of the ocean itself, except that when you finally see what goes on underwater,you realize that you've been missing the whole point of the ocean. Staying on the surface all the time is like going to the circus and staring at the outside of the tent.”

Did you get that? If not please re-read it. When I first read that, I felt so convicted. I had been staring at the surface of people, looking into the reflection of myself and seeing the difference between us and finding different reasons why I didn't like them. I've gotten underwater with some people here, and because of that, my entire first impression has changed because of that. Because I understood them. It's like I'm starting to get the whole point of them.

Sadly, there's always going to be conflict here on earth. There's always going to be people we don't like. The cool thing about that, though, is that Jesus didn't have our attitude towards people when he died on the cross for us. He didn't just die for the people who he liked 24/7. I can bet that when Judas turned Jesus in, I bet Jesus wasn't the biggest fan of Judas, I doubt he liked him that much in that moment, BUT, He still loved him. As Christians, aren't we all trying to be more and more like Christ each day? Isn't that in most of yall's daily prayer or something? I know I've heard it countless times "I pray you make us more like you each day.". I hear people say that all the time. Well, if you want to be more like Christ, try loving everyone, along with countless other things too, but this is what my blog is about so this is my main point. So love people like Christ loved us. Or really try to at least, start trying to catch yourself when you know you're being rude to someone, or you're talking bad about someone or making fun of them. ESPECIALLY if you don't know them.

Also. If you live in Branson and didn't know that the Panda Express is open by Target, now you do. Go, eat, live.

~Link Life~

[I surprised my brother at home for his 8th birthday. I want to take a nap right now so I don't want to figure out how to download a facebook video to get on this thing so here's the link if you really want to see it.]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=944401358908183&set=vb.100000149845155&type=2&theater