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 Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 8:45 am
One of the first things we become aware of as we grow up is that we exist with other people. Other competitors/allies that we interact with that will help/hinder us in our life journey. Eventually though we begin to realize that these "others" are similar to us. They mostly have the same primal psychological drives and physical needs as ourselves. It's like looking at a chaotic fun house mirror. That murderer, that priest, that philanthropist, that thief, that housewife, that career woman, etc... they are all reflections of who we could/might be/have been. But yet we know we aren't these individuals. We are a product of our experiences and interactions with others. It's mind boggling to think about how many individuals we each interact with and have an impact on and even scarier to think about what sort of long term consequences we can have on others be it for good or ill.
Discuss: Do you think society encourages us to believe we live in a private bubble? Are we encouraged to believe that our actions and inactions don't affect others? If you are bold enough to share, when was the moment you realized that you had an impact on others in a long term sense?
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Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 9:41 am
I think we are encouraged to believe our actions don't affect others, which is why volunteers are always needed and in short supply. We have a hard time believing that we alone can really make a difference.
I kind of have a duality in what I believe. I kind of believe in both action and inaction, and I think leading be example and equipping people with tools is the best solution. I'm not going to tell someone they shouldn't do drugs, should be a Christian, shouldn't do x, y, or z. I'm more then happy to share my opinions when asked, but in my experience, telling someone outright seldom accomplishes anything.
I do, however, think equipping people with information can help them to posititve desicion making. Educate teenagers about sex, it's repercussions, and contraception so that they'll understand the consequence and maybe abstain a little longer. If they don't they know how to be safe, and are still making positive desicion in protecting themselves. Share your spiritual beliefs with a friend and why they fulfill you, and maybe your friend will seek out your spiritual beliefs, or at least become more interested in spirituality. Lead by example and equuip people with tools. You can give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day, but if you teach him to fish, he'll eat for a lifetime. Same idea.
As for my own experiences, I think mission work and service has always been a huge influence for me. I grew up in a middle-upper class suburb, and would go on week long mission trips each summer with my church. We would build porches and reroof houses for the less fortunate, and had an opportunity to bond with the people we worked with. It was really only the tip of the iceberg though.
I think my real experience came from my summers with Project Transformation. I was working in low income areas, where most kids were the children of immigrant, maybe illegal, and might not have food at home each night. It was increadibly sobering, but what was even more amazing was how much love the kids poured out to you. I served in 2008 and thena gain with the same group of kids in 2010. On the first day, one of the girls I'd had my first summer came up to me and hugged me and told me she was so glad I was back and had missed me. I hadn't seen her in two years, but she still remembered me by name. The kids show you so much grace and love, and even in two months you can really see the change. My goal with them was to strive to teach the kids they COULD graduate high school, and go to college, which is not often heard of in their neighborhoods. I think also, the profound change these kids have made in my life has just reinforced the idea that a single person can change things. I know they certainly changed my life, and taught me just as much, if not more than I taught them.
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Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:06 pm
`Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven.
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore - Why do I feel that this is directed at me? xP
Living a private life doesn't cause you to feel that your actions don't have a consequence, contrary to what you think. It's just not broadcasting what you're doing to people who have no business what you're doing.
People shouldn't be so concerned with who you're sleeping with, or what you do for a living or what church you go to, etc. Why should they? The only people you should really share with anyone that makes an impact on you are those who you trust. Friends, family members, significant others etc.
The longest impact I've probably made on people is just simply being there for them and lending a shoulder to cry on, understand their circumstances and try to give them the best advice I can, when they request it. And they do the same for me. Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
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Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 2:51 pm
Ravynne Sidhe Why do I feel that this is directed at me? xP I have no clue XD. I just kinda came up with this on my own. Quote: Living a private life doesn't cause you to feel that your actions don't have a consequence, contrary to what you think. It's just not broadcasting what you're doing to people who have no business what you're doing. Yeah that I get. Quote: People shouldn't be so concerned with who you're sleeping with, or what you do for a living or what church you go to, etc. Why should they? Depends on the situation I would think. I can think of some situations were I would care, especially in the case of *****. Quote: The only people you should really share with anyone that makes an impact on you are those who you trust. Friends, family members, significant others etc. Again not really on topic but fair enough. Quote: The longest impact I've probably made on people is just simply being there for them and lending a shoulder to cry on, understand their circumstances and try to give them the best advice I can, when they request it. And they do the same for me. Cool biggrin . And why is everyone thinking about sex in this topic XD. I didn't even mention sex.
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Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 4:45 pm
I started a sexuality and Christianity topic in Unashamed, and Ravynne and I have both been posting over there xD Also, sexual freedom is a big issue for me, and I tend to kind of dissent from traditional Christian values on this topic xD
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Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 7:03 pm
freelance lover I started a sexuality and Christianity topic in Unashamed, and Ravynne and I have both been posting over there xD Also, sexual freedom is a big issue for me, and I tend to kind of dissent from traditional Christian values on this topic xD Ohhh okay. Sex is one of those drives that unique in that if it's repressed or given into too much it begins to control you and become an obsession. I think any of our drives can do that but it's most and least noticeable I think due to the way our culture seems to be schizophrenic either thrusting into it at any chance or c**k-blocking it at every opportunity. Hey sounds like I should bring up a new topic regarding the two extremes in how early Christianity handled sex. Or hey even better maybe even a live topic ninja
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Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 7:54 pm
rmcdra I think any of our drives can do that but it's most and least noticeable I think due to the way our culture seems to be schizophrenic either thrusting into it at any chance or c**k-blocking it at every opportunity.
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Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 10:17 pm
I honestly believe we are encouraged to believe we "live in a bubble" as you put it.
Parents that are obese usually have obese kids.
And we're not even talking just parenting here, but I can see where this comes into play for parenting a lot. Think about when you're in high school. Think about how you like to be included with friends, and so you do what they do.
And think about death. It affects people. That's often why they say suicide is selfish.
But despite all these things, people are told that we don't affect others and so just live however you want.
I actually realized I was affected by others a few months back when it finally hit me how much weight I'd gained. And, then, looking back, I realized it was because most of the time I was at my fiance's house, and at his house we always went out to eat. Places like Mexican, The Melting Pot, sushi, Burger King, etc.
I honestly feel I could contribute better to this if I didn't have a throbbing headache. sweatdrop
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