I hate giving up stuff for a reason other than my own volition. I hate New Year's Resolutions and giving up stuff for Lent. If there's something in excess and superfluous to your life, you should take the initiative to stop it yourself. you shouldn't wait until January 1st or Ash Wednesday to do it.
As much as I think it is wonderful we sacrifice and walk with Christ during the Lenten season, I think that we should always be walking with Christ, sacrificing to show that Man does not live on bread alone, but indeed, on the Word of God.
That's the idea, and that being said:
[The Day After Ash Wednesday]
Stephanie: i just stole a girlscout cookie from my roommate
Stephanie: i hope she doesn't mind
Andrew: youre going to hell
Andrew: God minds
Stephanie: balls
Stephanie: i'll apologize later
Andrew: to whom?
Stephanie: my roommate
Stephanie: and god
Andrew: Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days and you couldn't resist a cookie for less than a week?
Stephanie: false
Stephanie: weeks
Andrew: days
Stephanie: nope
Stephanie: weeks
Stephanie: at least two
Stephanie: if not three
Stephanie: and jesus is jesus
Andrew: shouldnt we strive to be like Jesus?
Stephanie: we should indeed
Stephanie: but might i point out that you had meat yesterday
Andrew: and i might point out that i fasted for the rest of the day
Stephanie: hi, at one day
Stephanie: you fail.
Stephanie: and i fasted too
Stephanie: and
Stephanie: managed not to eat meat
Stephanie: i think i win
Andrew: fine
Andrew: i'm giving up meat for lent
Stephanie: for serious?
Andrew: just to win
Andrew: and yes
Stephanie: JUST TO WIN?
Stephanie: bah
Andrew: a victory for Jesus
Andrew: i swear
Stephanie: thats what they said on the crusades
Andrew: but i'm not killing people
Andrew: it's a bit different
Andrew: the crusades are the crusades
Andrew: don't even
[Pause]
Andrew: say something hilarious before i go
Stephanie: i can't do it on cue!
Stephanie: i don't even mean to be hilarious
[Pause]
Andrew: one more try
Stephanie: nope
Stephanie: but im not letting you win
Stephanie: we'll discuss this later
Andrew: i'm giving up meat starting tomorrow
Stephanie: wait
Stephanie: lent starts today
Stephanie: starting now
Stephanie: you have to give it up
Andrew: i have a dinner to go to
Stephanie: jesus vs dinner
Andrew: argh
Andrew: fine
Andrew: today
So yes, I'm giving up meat for Lent, but can you honestly blame me?
I mean, c'mon. Giving up meat for Lent vs. losing to Stephanie. Before you judge me, ask yourself, WWJD?
Showing posts with label Parables. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Parables. Show all posts
Monday, March 2, 2009
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Reflections from the Samaritan
Kudos if you can read and understand the whole thing.
A naked lamb once said to me,
"Kind sir, but I am cold."
To which I told him hurriedly,
"Young lamb, but I am old."
So I left him there in winter,
Freezing without heat,
But on my honor I must say
I had a friend to meet.
So I kept on walking down the path,
Along the rocky ground,
When to my busy, sad disdain,
A newborn calf I found.
He told me, "I am cold,
Cold and lost alone."
To which I told him kindly,
"Your problems are your own."
And just like that I left him,
Again in winter's chill.
I had some friends to meet
Just over yonder hill.
But as I climbed the mountain,
A broken sight I saw.
It caught and held my rapture,
Kept my heart in awe.
Three friends of mine ahead,
Whom I had planned to see,
Were working hard together
To rob a man, to beat him and to flee.
I stood there, speechless,
Not knowing what to do.
I hid away in horrid panic,
Off the pathway too.
I sat there waiting, watching, wishing,
Thinking of my choices,
And then I heard some men
Nearing with their voices.
Two priests they were,
Held in high esteem.
They would surely help the man,
So their reputations made it seem.
But they ignored his cries,
His anguish and his bid.
Their callous, selfish arrogance
Recalled what I just did.
But still was I afraid.
While knowing I did wrong
Did not know the means of fixing,
Until some others came along.
Two men this time were rabbis,
Respected and revered.
They were known for charity,
Their kindness went unpeered.
Yet they quickly stepped their foot,
Approaching the poor soul,
Leaving him thus injured
Naked in the cold.
At last I could no longer
Sit aside and watch him die.
Walking toward the beaten man,
I relieved him of his cries.
I picked him up with gentle hands,
And placed him on my back,
And thus began to turn around
With much heavier a pack.
On the pathway back to town,
I saw my friend the calf.
He laid there on the road so still
Even with the prodding of my staff.
Holding tears I moved along,
Again in focused goal,
When I came across the lamb
Who told me he was cold.
But now his chill would last forever,
Laying in a frozen bed.
His eyes so dull and lifeless,
Spoke the nature of the dead.
But still I carried onward,
Hoping to save one life at least.
Internal, complex feelings
Made me run, in hope of all things peace.
I found an inn not far after,
But found it to be proud.
The keeper saw the near-dead man
And said, "No Levites are allowed."
I told him not to worry,
I'd pay for all expenses
And extra for the trouble,
If he gains his senses.
And so I walked out of the inn,
As the road split left and right.
I thought of lessons I had learned,
From the beaten, good Levite.
A naked lamb once said to me,
"Kind sir, but I am cold."
To which I told him hurriedly,
"Young lamb, but I am old."
So I left him there in winter,
Freezing without heat,
But on my honor I must say
I had a friend to meet.
So I kept on walking down the path,
Along the rocky ground,
When to my busy, sad disdain,
A newborn calf I found.
He told me, "I am cold,
Cold and lost alone."
To which I told him kindly,
"Your problems are your own."
And just like that I left him,
Again in winter's chill.
I had some friends to meet
Just over yonder hill.
But as I climbed the mountain,
A broken sight I saw.
It caught and held my rapture,
Kept my heart in awe.
Three friends of mine ahead,
Whom I had planned to see,
Were working hard together
To rob a man, to beat him and to flee.
I stood there, speechless,
Not knowing what to do.
I hid away in horrid panic,
Off the pathway too.
I sat there waiting, watching, wishing,
Thinking of my choices,
And then I heard some men
Nearing with their voices.
Two priests they were,
Held in high esteem.
They would surely help the man,
So their reputations made it seem.
But they ignored his cries,
His anguish and his bid.
Their callous, selfish arrogance
Recalled what I just did.
But still was I afraid.
While knowing I did wrong
Did not know the means of fixing,
Until some others came along.
Two men this time were rabbis,
Respected and revered.
They were known for charity,
Their kindness went unpeered.
Yet they quickly stepped their foot,
Approaching the poor soul,
Leaving him thus injured
Naked in the cold.
At last I could no longer
Sit aside and watch him die.
Walking toward the beaten man,
I relieved him of his cries.
I picked him up with gentle hands,
And placed him on my back,
And thus began to turn around
With much heavier a pack.
On the pathway back to town,
I saw my friend the calf.
He laid there on the road so still
Even with the prodding of my staff.
Holding tears I moved along,
Again in focused goal,
When I came across the lamb
Who told me he was cold.
But now his chill would last forever,
Laying in a frozen bed.
His eyes so dull and lifeless,
Spoke the nature of the dead.
But still I carried onward,
Hoping to save one life at least.
Internal, complex feelings
Made me run, in hope of all things peace.
I found an inn not far after,
But found it to be proud.
The keeper saw the near-dead man
And said, "No Levites are allowed."
I told him not to worry,
I'd pay for all expenses
And extra for the trouble,
If he gains his senses.
And so I walked out of the inn,
As the road split left and right.
I thought of lessons I had learned,
From the beaten, good Levite.
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