Why Old People Drive So Slow

* They no longer feel the pressures of the world around them since they no longer have a job that demands their attendance everyday from 9 to 5
* Over the years they have finally learned how to appropriately guess how long it will take them to get places, giving them plenty of time to drive to their desired destination safely, yet still 15 minutes early
* They know how to stop and smell the roses, and driving in a rush is not how to do it
* They figure, "Who knows how much longer I have here on earth, so why take the risk of ending life earlier than mother nature intended by driving recklessly??"
* The world they grew up in was much slower. Today's high-speed world in comparison is stressful, hectic, overly complex, and taken for granted, so they do their own part in trying to slow this fast-paced society down by slowing up traffic

Growing Up

I never thought it'd feel like this.

Most kids my age are excited to get out of their parents house and live on their own... I guess I never really thought about it. Maybe my lack of thinking about the future is what has left me feeling so despondent. I didn't adequately prepare myself for this huge step.
I've never been alone with myself for so long. It feels like it's just me against the world. Coming home to an empty house, knowing I will wake up alone is... gloomy. Maybe one day I will see it in a happier light. I might learn to see myself as Superman returning to his Fortress of Solitude. But at the moment I dunno if I like this whole I-live-on-my-own-and-I-don't-need-anyone gig. I know people that missed their families after they first left home, but then after awhile just grew indifferent. Confiding to them my longing to return to the comfort of home only got me comments of how sooner or later I would just get over it and stop missing my loved ones completely. But why would I want to disengage myself from that? I spent 18 years of my life depending on people, and that vulnerability nurtured true and honest community that I had never before realized. I was really close to my family, and now I have to detach myself from them just so I can learn to be an adult?? I haven't even come to the point in my life where I want to become an adult! So I move from one place to the next, unwillingly giving up my innocence. I am giving up the strong bonds I have formed with people I have know my whole life. I am giving up the comfort of a loving home. I am trading it all for a measly title of maturity chained to solitariness.

Welcome to the real world, I guess.

Letter

To the brave souls who find the will to wake up every morning in a world full of hate, secrecy, and darkness:

My brothers and sisters, in this life there are so may things to run to when the road gets rough. When your frailty looms in front of you and there are still trials and conflicts to conquer where do you go? Do you run to your God? Your drugs? Your work? Your friends? Your drink? Your bed?

We all fail. Our history paints the ineptness of our race clearly. Falling is inevitable, but may we fall on something sound. If our refuge becomes our oppression then we are in a worse state than we thought. Test these thing that pull you into their arms of temporary relief.

I long to see your face shine with a real lasting joy. Walk in wisdom & peace, friends.

Answers

Everyone is searching for answers. Answers for marriage problems, economic problems, political problems, family problems, psychological problems, emotional problems, attitude problems... All looking. And every answer that comes up seem to be the right one, but one by one they all fall through. Why? Because they are skin deep.

I see things a little differently. And the place where I have found the answer to all my problems is the last place people want to look.

Jesus.

My friend was telling me about how she was having a hard time coping with the debris left by a broken relationship. She was searching for strength in herself and always found herself coming up short. All I could think of was Jesus.

In my last class of they day the kids started discussing the ever-increasing percent of divorce rates in this county. The teacher asked if they thought there should be more restrictions to get divorced or married. They all had their own opinions and ideas but every solution had a serious flaw. They had a hard time finding the middle ground that everyone could agree to. All I could think of was Jesus.

"'Well- be it foolish or not- when I touch this Robe [a symbol for the spirit of Christ] it- it does something to me,' stammered Demetrius. 'If I am tired, it rests me. If I am dejected, it revives my spirit. If I am rebellious over my slavery, it reconciles me. I suppose that is because- when I handle his Robe- I remember his strength- and courage." pg 131-132 The Robe

On the Mountain Top

Every blade of grass that grows,
Every tree and leaf and rose,
Everything my eye can see knows You.
You touched, You healed, You created all I see
You touched, You healed, You created me

What's Wrong With the World?

I desire healing, hope, honesty,unity...
I want someone else to care about
how my heart and spirit are really doing!
Who has the time? Who asks?
Who really wants to know?

Silence.

The question turns
Do I have the time, desire,
and questions for others?
To find the change I desire
I must first become the change.

What's wrong with the world?

Me.

Hideous

A pain that makes my breath intake tremble
Any logical solution I can think of
comes out in lecture to some
and yet hidden by fear from others.
My gentleness vanishes with my feelings of deprivation
and yet my eyes are drawn down and feel sad endurance.
Deep pains hidden by shallow entertainment.

I will lift my eyes to the Healer

Charlie

I cannot deny it. I am very childish. My favorite shows are for kids. One of my favorites is a brilliant program on Playhouse Disney called Charlie and Lola. I guess most of the entertainment, for me, are their brilliant British accents, but I cannot deny that I do honestly appreciate the moral aspects of the show as well. Charlie is THE perfect brother!

Lola, being a normal little girl, has moments of child-like anger, selfishness, and mistakes, and Charlie has to find the right way to handle her. Charlie deals with these situations in a way that would melt the heart of any mother; gently and sweetly. In situations where normal kids would whine, complain, or yell at his or her little sister, Charlie laughs and encourages his Lola.

Lovely.