4.05.2012

Imagine With Me

Yesterday, in one of my classes, a person brought up what he imagined that the world would look like if God didn't exist. What he went on to describe was horrifying, but it made me think.

This is a tough thing to imagine one way or the other.

If you're convinced that God exists, you presume that this world exists because he does. We act the way we do because he created us so. His existence seems obvious for a number of reasons, even if others can't see it.

Meanwhile, if you're convinced that God doesn't exist, you presume that this world exists as a result of purely natural causes. We act the way we do because we're fashioned by nature to do so. God's existence is a question answered obviously by the world we live in, even if others can't see it.

So today, I'd like you to imagine with me. Let's imagine together, a world that doesn't exist (at least in our minds).

For those who believe in God, imagine a world without him. What does it look like? Do we exist? How do we operate? What meaning is there in living?

For those who do not believe in God, imagine a world with him. What does it look like? Do we exist? How do we operate? What meaning is there in living?

This is an exercise that requires a lot of thought, but it's worthwhile and I think can move the "conversation" about God along further than any of our proofs or reasonings ever could. Please try to think outside of what your belief system requires you to say in response to a question. Instead, reflect on what you honestly, truly believe would be true, not what you've been told would be true.

So let's hear it! What would this imagined world look like in your mind?

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photo credit: elogo1 - sxc.hu

4.04.2012

I Want to Be Like Caesar

When we read books, we often associate with a character and take on their feelings.

It's not very often, though, that I actually want to be someone in a book. Typically, the people I associate with are fighting dragons, spying on other nations, or saving the world. Frankly, I'll let them handle that business - I don't know the first thing about dragons.

There is one guy I want to be like, though.

I want to be like Caesar.

Caesar is powerful. Caesar is mighty. And regardless of what the people want, Caesar rules.

Plus, he gets to wear a toga, which looks mighty comfortable.

Err... wait. Wrong Caesar. Let me try again.

Caesar is one of those everyday staples in life. He's a miniature version of the guy from Rome, and instead of serving up punishment, he serves up heart attacks in the form of pizza.

And again with the toga. I've gotta get myself one of those.

Ugh. Not him. No, no, no.

Let's try this one more time.

Caesar is a guy that is often overlooked by many who hear about him. He plays an instrumental role in the process he's a part of, but he stands out from the rest of the pack.

Plus, he has some pretty intense hair, which I could go for.

The Caesar I want to be like is Caesar Flickerman, from The Hunger Games.

Cue the nerdfest.

In the books, there are two things about Caesar that Katniss, the main character, notes.

First of all, Caesar has been hosting the Hunger Games pre-game interviews for several decades. Reason seems to dictate that he would be tired of the gig after a while, especially as he grows older. However, Katniss notes that over the years, Caesar has remained unchanged, both physically and mentally.

Now, granted, part of the reason that Caesar hasn't changed is because of plastic surgery and the Capitol's affinity for eccentric appearances. This isn't something I necessarily care about - my beard should make that clear.

However, there's something more meaningful hidden beneath the surface with Caesar's demeanor through the years. He has witnessed person after person dying at the hands of the very city he serves, and yet, he still remains upbeat and jovial.

Again, part of this is due to the nature of the Capitol as consumer-driven, viewing the Hunger Games as mere entertainment, rather than actual tragedy (sound familiar?). However, I think the lesson to be learned from Caesar reflects what we heard from Angela in yesterday's post. Regardless of his circumstance, Caesar remains unchanged, enjoying every moment he is given.

The second reason I want to be like Caesar Flickerman is this: Caesar makes everyone around him seem better than they are.

Before Katniss goes to do her interview, Haymitch (her mentor) tries to coach her up, to make her more likable. It turns out that he can't figure out how to help her and remarks that she has "as much charm as a dead slug."

Naturally, after hearing this, you expect Katniss to bomb her interview with Caesar and to be booed off stage. Not so fast, though.

Instead of letting her crash and burn as a dead slug, Caesar allows Katniss to flourish as "the girl on fire." Though everything rides on her interview going well, Katniss manages to have the personality of a cardboard box. But, even when he isn't given much to work with, Caesar works to make others look like stars. And he does exactly that for Katniss and Peeta as they prepare to enter the Hunger Games.

There's something to be said for Caesar's way of life. Sure, he has his pitfalls - he is a member of the Capitol, after all. But all in all, Caesar is a guy who makes everyone around him shine a little brighter.

And then I wonder: am I anything like him? Do I refract the limelight from myself to shine it on others? Do I strive to push others to greatness, regardless of how I feel about them?

Honestly, I doubt that I do this often. I wish I could say that I always want people to succeed. The truth is, if I'm not excelling, I don't want others to either. And that's a part of me that I wish would die hard.

So today, I want to be more like Caesar Flickerman. I want to cast the spotlight on others, bringing out the good in them and disregarding what I "think" is bad. I want them to catch fire (in a good way, of course), and burn brightly for all to see, instead of wishing for them to fall flat on their faces. I want to help others, not hold them back. I want to rejoice with those who rejoice, instead of secretly spiting them for their success.

We should all work a little harder today to be more like Caesar.

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Questions: Do you struggle to celebrate with others when they excel beyond you? Are there particular people in your life that you can't see the good in? What are some of their positive traits that you can celebrate today? How can you make others look a little better today?

Did you enjoy this post? If so, I'd appreciate you subscribing to Life Before the Bucket and sharing it with your friends. Thanks a million for reading!

photo credits - TudouMao (sxc.hu) & Dano (Flikr Creative Commons)

4.03.2012

Living to the Fullest: Can the Brokenhearted do it?

Note from Adrian: This is our next installment in the "Living to the Fullest" guest post series. Today's post is from Angela, a friend I've known for years and years.   Angela is a Romanian born, Kansan bred Christian, now residing in north Alabama as a 21 year old nursing major. She enjoys playing piano, and whenever writers block and business subsides, she writes a blog or two. You can follow her on her blog, on Facebook, or on Twitter.
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Recently, a relationship of mine ended, a family member passed away, and a few other closer relationships passed as well. The outward appearance of the brokenhearted can show all of the pain and depression, or it can show joy and happiness, even if you aren’t feeling it. 

Feeling down in the dumps after a recent break up can really get to you. Really, any traumatic experience to the heart can leave you feeling lonely and depressed. With all of the above happening in such a short amount of time, it’s been pretty rough on my heart. When I don’t think my heart can be shattered anymore, along comes another hammer to break it into even tinier pieces. I know you know what I’m feeling if you’ve ever lost someone close to you or had a close friendship dissipate.

So, how can we live to the fullest when it feels like our entire world has shattered? It may sound redundant, but you pick up the pieces and you stand. You move forward. You press on. 

I read a poem a few years back. I know I put it in one of my journals a while back. The poem talked about a little kid and their toy. It was broken. No matter how long the child sat there trying to fix the broken toy, the toy still did not fix itself. It wasn’t until the kid picked up the pieces of the toy and handed it to his father that the toy was fixed. 

The same goes for our broken-heartedness. If we sit and mope around all day long, how will that help in living life to the fullest? It won’t. It would be doing the complete opposite. It would be living life to the least. Until you give your broken heartedness up to the Father and pick yourself up, the more down and out you will become.

Living to the fullest means getting out in the world. Interacting with people. Building new relationships. Growing closer to old friends. Taking a walk in the park. Or going running. Anything to take your mind off the stabbing pain in your heart. 

Only time will heal the wounds of the heart (another cliché - oops). For instance, I’ve taken up my art again. Started drawing my comic strip again. Opened a book that needed to be opened again. Spent time with my Savior. Anything to make me feel whole again. So, if you’re brokenhearted and downtrodden, ask yourself, “How will I get out of this pit I’m in and start living life to the fullest?”

Adrian may not remember this, but a while back, he posted on a blog (editor's note: it's from my Xanga - now that's a throwback) a poem entitled “Enjoy Life”. I’m guessing he wrote it, because I can’t imagine anyone else writing it but him. I wrote I down and printed it out. It has stuck with me for years and years. And, I offer it as encouragement now.

Get up early and watch the sunrise.
Enjoy Life
Sing louder than you’re supposed to. Even when people are around.
Enjoy Life
Make one of your parents breakfast without expecting anything in return. (Because the look on their face is worth it)
Enjoy Life
Visit someone elderly who needs someone to talk to. It will make their day. (And yours)
Enjoy Life
Eat at a fancy restaurant just because.
Enjoy Life
Go out to eat at McDonald's and enjoy every minute of it.
Enjoy Life
Hang out with your friends. Even if it’s just doing nothing.
Enjoy Life
Listen to loud music, and have a blast looking like an idiot while you’re doing it.
Enjoy Life
Dance, even if you don’t think you can, because chances are, someone around you can’t either.
Enjoy Life

Live with no regrets, and make the best of every moment. Life throws us curveballs, and sometimes they hit us square in the face. But even when that does happen, we need to just get up and smile even if it does hurt a little because it’s worth it.

This is the only today you’ll ever get. Right here, and right now. Make the best of it. Live life to the fullest, because Christ died just so we might be able to. Jesus came so that we might have life and have it to the FULL!

Enjoy life.

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Questions: Do you struggle to enjoy life when times get hard? What do you do that you enjoy that breaks your slump? How important is it for you to continue living to the fullest, even when times are difficult?

This guest post was part of a guest post series called "Living to the Fullest." Interested in joining in? I'm still looking for submissions! Just write up a post, or even just an idea, and e-mail it my way!

4.02.2012

Calling All Writers!

I had this elaborate post related to basketball from this past weekend worked out in my head... and then I scratched it.

So, in lieu of boring you to death with basketball metaphors, I have an announcement:

We need more guest posts for the "Living to the Fullest" guest post series! 

This series has become wildly popular over the last few weeks, and I'd like to keep that momentum going. Sadly, I'm almost out of posts, so the series may die (if not helped by you!) just as it's getting going.

So, if you have a computer (which you clearly do), and you have a brain (which I'm less sure of, but still almost certain about), then you can contribute!

The criteria is rather simple. E-mail me a guest post, or even just an idea for a guest post. If it relates to the topic and I enjoy your writing, you're in!

So that's that. Why are you still here, then? Get to writing and e-mailing me!

Thanks a million!



3.31.2012

Saturday Showdown

It's time for Round 2, fellow Bucketeers.

Round 1 was a success, with Rebekah ousting Caleb to become the first ever Saturday Showdown Champ. And as a small reward, she received two weeks of free advertising here on Life Before the Bucket!

Our competitors for Round 2 are just as good - I promise. Here are the rules:

I'll provide you with links and snippets of two blog posts from the past week that I really enjoyed (for whatever reason). I'll present them to you, and then we'll put them up for a vote. All votes must be in by sundown in Manhattan, KS on Sunday (the 1st in this case). The winner will be featured for two weeks as the current Saturday Showdown Champion (so... free advertising!).

Sound simple enough? Alrighty! Let's get ready to rumble!

This week, we've got two very different stories of service. Vote for the one that resonates most with you!


Emmanuel shows up on our front porch about once a week. His name means “God with us,” but if there’s anyone on the planet who appears to have been forgotten by the Divine, It’s him. He stands at about 5’4″ and has maybe a handful of teeth left. when he speaks, I catch about half of what he says, but there’s a childish innocence in his eyes that betrays the years of hard living he has endured since then.

Contestant #2 - "Remember:: Spaghetti Day" by The Hendrick Family

We remember this day every year by eating Spaghetti, retelling the story, and thanking God for mercy. I don't know why there is so much suffering in this world. I don't know why babies sit in hospitals with teary-eyed mammas by their sides or why mercy and healing seem to stay just out of reach. I don't know why my baby is whole today when other mothers with sick kids probably prayed more, fasted more, read their Bibles more, and were over-all better woman than I ever hope to be. Yet their babies suffer on.

After you've checked out both of these blog posts, be sure to vote in our poll! (Refresh the page to see current results after you vote)



So there you have it! Who is going to be our next Saturday Showdown Champion? It's up to you, my friends.

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After you vote, be sure to leave a comment telling us why you enjoyed the post you picked!

Did you enjoy this post? If so, I'd appreciate you subscribing to Life Before the Bucket and sharing it with your friends. Thanks a million for reading 
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