Tonight I had a startling revelation: I am content. When I was at my cell group, my friends asked what specific needs I have that they can pray for. I couldn't think of anything! It took awhile, but I finally came up with, "Well, I guess you could pray that I get a little better at time management." I'm not writing this to brag, but to show how God can change our perception.
I live in a tiny Korean studio apartment. I do not have a dryer - my clothes hang to dry! I don't have an oven either. My cooking is done on a little two-burner gas stove. My kitchen sink has a stubborn clog that I can't seem to fix on my own. I don't own a car, I don't have a bathtub (my entire bathroom converts into a shower), and I don't have a Wii. I have a very small wardrobe. I have very few pairs of shoes. I'm content.
According to Hollywood and commercials on TV, I need a closet full of stylish clothes, a killer body (don't have that either), perfect skin, hundreds of shoes, the latest appliances, and of course, a sleek car that does everything from telling me where to go, to burping me. According to the media, I should be miserable right now. I don't have nearly enough money, jewelry, or licquer to fit their definition of happiness. I know a lot of people who would agree that all these things are necessary for one to be happy.
Notice how everyone is striving to be happy, but few give any thought to being content. Happiness is fleeting, and it gets harder and harder to attain with the more things you acquire, since enough is never enough. Contentedness, on the other hand, means finding joy in what you already have, and realizing that your needs are met. It is living without constantly thinking about wants. Sure they exist (I really want pretzils, but can't find them anywhere in Korea), but the wants are not what drives you when you strive for contentment.
I don't ever want to be rich. I am already far richer than I deserve to be, and I am perfectly content. God looks after me, and all my needs are met. I don't need a house, a car, or designer labels on my clothing. I just need Him - and He's right here.
You know the best thing about contentendness? It breeds true happiness.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Appropriate Comments
It's a shame that I even need to post on this subject, but since a few individuals seem to have no censor in their brains telling them what is and is not appropriate, I am going to take the time to do so.
First of all, I welcome constructive comments, comments with honest questions, supportive comments, and comments that build on something I have written. Comments are welcome here!
To play it safe, I have things set up so that I can moderate all comments. This means that any distasteful, argumentative, negative, obscene, or completely mystifying comments can and will be deleted for the benefit of all. So, when people send me comments that fall into the previously-mentioned categories, they are wasting their time. Those comments are deleted, and are seen only by me. I repeat, NO ONE ELSE ever reads those comments. No one is offended, no arguments are started, no faith is shattered. I read them once (not even all the way through if they are obscene), roll my eyes, possibly reflect on the low intellect of the sender (it's funner how the people who send the most obscene comments are always such lousy spellers - and don't even get me started on their grammar!), and then gleefully delete them.
When I receive comments advertising another religion, such as Islam, I also delete them, and they are never seen. This is not the place for that. I do not post about Christianity on your blogs (to whomever decided to post those comments); please show me the same respect. Also, please consider investing in an English class if you wish to continue your chosen blog-invasion "ministry." Your writing was so poor that I could make little sense of it and was left with the conclusion that you are not a native speaker, and have not had the benefit of a decent teacher.
With my lecture now completed, I would like to also say "God bless" to everyone else, and I hope this blog is able to encourage you in some way.
First of all, I welcome constructive comments, comments with honest questions, supportive comments, and comments that build on something I have written. Comments are welcome here!
To play it safe, I have things set up so that I can moderate all comments. This means that any distasteful, argumentative, negative, obscene, or completely mystifying comments can and will be deleted for the benefit of all. So, when people send me comments that fall into the previously-mentioned categories, they are wasting their time. Those comments are deleted, and are seen only by me. I repeat, NO ONE ELSE ever reads those comments. No one is offended, no arguments are started, no faith is shattered. I read them once (not even all the way through if they are obscene), roll my eyes, possibly reflect on the low intellect of the sender (it's funner how the people who send the most obscene comments are always such lousy spellers - and don't even get me started on their grammar!), and then gleefully delete them.
When I receive comments advertising another religion, such as Islam, I also delete them, and they are never seen. This is not the place for that. I do not post about Christianity on your blogs (to whomever decided to post those comments); please show me the same respect. Also, please consider investing in an English class if you wish to continue your chosen blog-invasion "ministry." Your writing was so poor that I could make little sense of it and was left with the conclusion that you are not a native speaker, and have not had the benefit of a decent teacher.
With my lecture now completed, I would like to also say "God bless" to everyone else, and I hope this blog is able to encourage you in some way.
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