Everyday Hero.

On Monday, when I came back to my apartment, there were some old kitchen cabinets in my parking space. I drove around the block to find temporary parking but could not find any. I drove back to my space, somewhat hoping it would be gone magically, but it was still there. Luckily, I caught a maintenance guy walking by, so I asked him what was going on.

He explained that new cabinets were coming for an apartment upstairs, and he put the old cabinets there just for today. He said I could just park in a different spot for today. I was hesitant; he probably didn’t even have the authority to let me park in other people’s spaces. He started coming up with explanations like, “well, do you even want to park your car in your space? The movers might scratch you car while moving the new cabinets”, etc. I could kind of see why I might not want to park there, and I didn’t want to argue anymore, so I just moved my car to an empty space.

Nearby, PastorJ had witnessed the whole event. After I parked my car, he came over and asked me if the space with the old cabinets was my assigned spot. I said yes. He then confronted the same maintenance guy about the situation. He basically said whether or not the Menard movers scratch my car or whatever excuses, he shouldn’t have put the old cabinets there to make other people inconvenient, because that was my assigned parking space for a reason. After some exchanges, the maintenance guy agreed to moved the cabinets. I was pretty embarrassed at the confrontation, but my heart was super touched at what PastorJ had done for me.

It was such a small thing, but he was willing to step in and take on the confrontation; such a father’s heart. It made me realize, again, that being nice and agreeable isn’t always the best way to resolve things. Sometimes showing love means you have to address the wrong in an uncomfortable way.

Why am I so afraid of confrontation? PastorJ showed me a small glimpse of what it means to stand up for truth + justice. As a result, I felt so cared for. The maintenance guy (hopefully) learned that it’s not okay to take advantage of people, even something so small as a parking space.

Gun Control

I think most people have heard about the Tucson shooting in Arizona. It’s really an unfortunate incident. The Congresswoman just trying to meet her constituents, the Chief Judge John Roll just trying to support her, and the rest of them being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

The media have dug up some details about the suspect’s background through his online presence (My Space, YouTube, and such), previous school connections, and they keep using words like “troubled past” and “mentally unstable“.

So, “why was a 22-year old ‘mentally unstable’ man with a ‘trouble past’ allowed to run around with guns legally??”

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I know the Second Amendment allows people to be armed and carry weapons, but I really do not agree.

Does the average citizen really need to have access to a gun?!?

Some say it is needed for self-protection.

Isn’t it kind of ironic to say that guns are the solution to safety and protection?

Bah.

Would we feel safer if we had guns and “the bullies” didn’t? Maybe. Would we feel less safe if they also have weapons pointing at us? Yes.

The truth is, in a situation where guns are pointed all around, it’s only a bloodbath waiting to happen, no matter who fires first.

Just watch this final scene of “Enemy of the States”. (Side note: GREAT movie!)

How much protection does the gun really provide?

I think we should get rid of guns for good.

Then, when people get angry and want to go on a killing spree, they’ll at least have to put in more effort with their fists. It shouldn’t be so easy for a person to show up at a grocery store and end multiple lives in a few minutes just because he was “upset”.

Am I making things too simple again? Maybe I should go to law school or something!

Prank to Crime.

When I first read about the events that unfolded on Rutger University’s Campus (read it here and here), I was unsettled, disturbed, annoyed, and I could not believe that people can lack such basic respect for another human being.

But wait, I can.

I remember how upset my friend was from the prank this summer. I remember feeling awful and wishing I could somehow “undo” the whole mess.

I remember wondering why I hadn’t thought through the whole prank first, including the result, the consequences and unfavorable reactions.

When I put myself in the perpetrators’ shoes, I feel like they probably didn’t mean for it to go “that badly”. I am not minimizing what they had done, but, I feel like everyone has, at one time or another, been so caught up in the adrenaline of things to really consider the reality of their actions or think about the consquences.

Perhaps the lesson here is as simple as think before you act.

Honestly, now I feel bad for all 3 freshmen involved. It is really unfortunate that all of their futures are affected negatively because of one stupid mistake.

Yes, a life was lost unnecessarily. Yes,  the kids should have known better. But, is the craze and backlash on these two college kids any better than what they did to the guy’s roommate?

Humans have always been in the “exposing of others” business. Harassment happens all the time; whether sexual or not, it is bullying and wrong.

People make mistakes, and hopefully they learn from them. This is not excusing them out of taking responsibility for their actions, but hating on them for what probably already eat them alive will not do anything but make them also want to disappear from this life.

An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. Let’s make this a teaching moment for all of us, but let’s not make this into a personal platform to attack others.

Appreciate life. Respect life. Life is precious, and nobody should have the right to take it away from anybody else.

Sad day.

Around 4pm, my facebook newsfeeds start piling up with “RIP Mr. Welsh” statuses and well-wishes. Did I miss something? What happened to Mr. Welsh?

This happened.

I never had him as a teacher in high school, but I have heard ample stories about him as a teacher and as a coach. He was a popular one, one of those “cool” teachers that students felt comfortable joking around with. I remember my friends adoring him because he not only taught AP Gov, he exemplified life lessons to them. He was a changing-agent and an inspiration for many.

It’s a sad day because this is another reminder that people are so fragile. Whether they are the annoying kid brothers, or our admired mentors, everyone needs GRACE. It makes me sad, because I often just assume everybody else has got life figured out and has it together. It reminds me that it doesn’t hurt to show extra kindness, because everyone is going through their own struggles.

It’s also a sad day because he must have lost all hope and meaning to reach this point.

What is my hope in? If I lose my most important relationships or my most favored possessions, will I be okay? If I lose my honor, reputation, approval from people, will I still want to face another tomorrow? Where is my breaking point? How deeply rooted is my identity in Christ?

Challenged and Thankful

Today, Jo and I talked to a juggler on the quad. It’s always a hardball to swallow when a self-proclaiming atheist has read the Bible more times than I have. For someone who doesn’t believe in God, their search for answers has been much more passionate! Why?!

He was also intellectually smart and philosophically deep. He has read more C.S. Lewis books and had more knowledge about world religions (including Greek and .. some that I never knew existed?) than I had ever aspired to learn. He is a history-buff and loves debating these types of things. I guess people are just wired differently.

He doesn’t believe in God because God hasn’t proved himself to him in the way he had specifically requested.

I’m thankful that knowledge is not why I am saved. I’m thankful for these smart people who challenge my beliefs. In the end, God increases my faith and expands my heart through these opportunities. I pray that God will rock his socks one day and overpower his unbelief with a CRAZY revealing of Himself.

I’m also thankful for being in America, where it’s somewhat open to talking about these things. I’m thankful to listen to his story, because everybody has one.

Pay It Forward

True story.

Today, my friend and I went to dinner at a Chinese restaurant to catch up. At the end of the meal, the waiter comes over and tells us our bill has been paid for us.

“…by who?”

“God.”

“Um… what?”

We couldn’t figure out if he was playing with us, but he was dead serious! He went on to cater to some other customers and then came back, “do you still not know who?”

“No…”

“The couple that was sitting next to you guys before, you guys didn’t know each other?”

We paused and tried to think who sat next to us, but a vague sketch of a couple in 30′s or 40′s was the best we could do. “No, we didn’t know them.”

“Well, I guess it’s your lucky day, free dinner.”

He walked away. As we were walking out of the restaurant, we decided to pass on this unexpected blessing. We walked up to the counter and paid for another table’s bill.

The lady at the counter was so puzzled, she asked, “why are you guys all doing this? Is this a religious thing you have to do today?”

“Oh no, it was just a nice thing they did for us, so we want to pass it on too!”

At that point, the waiter joined the lady at the counter and joked, “I will make sure to sit next to you guys next time.”

The lady responded, “I wonder what this next table will do.”

Me too. But I hope they were blessed out of their socks. =)

The blessed passing on the blessing. AMEN.