Service

Day 2 Theme: Service

Today we heard from Sabrina at Charity Water (http://www.charitywater.org/) and Janet and Ann at We Rub You (http://www.werubyou.com/) while exploring the concept of service. I've never thought of myself as a person who's inclined to serve. I can be self centered and sometimes I don't know how I can help others or in what ways I'm called to help. One of the things that really struck me today is about self giving. In order to give to others you have to also give to yourself. It's the idea that in order to love your neighbor as yourself you have to first have love for yourself. I think we always tie shame to loving yourself. You can be confident in who you are and secure in yourself, but to love yourself? We often label that as always being narcissistic. Sabrina talked about how there is a reward for working in charity. It does make her feel good to give and she accepts that fact - it causes her to be better at giving. I think I always have a lot of guilt about not giving to people, and sometimes I don't give just because I'm afraid of giving for the wrong reasons, which is silly. Isn't it better to donate time and money to good causes because it makes you feel good about yourself rather than not donating anything at all?

Another thing I've been thinking a lot about is job ideas for the future. I've always dreamed of working in Nike or for some outdoor/sports clothing brand. At Charity Water they used several GoPros to film a virtual reality film, which has helped them get donations for their organizations. And that led me to thinking of how many incredible companies there are that might not be non-profits or charity oriented, but you still make a difference. I could look into working for a company like GoPro. Any place you choose to work for can make a difference. Every day this last semester in one of my classes my professor always said that there is nobility in business. I think of that often when I look at my vocation. There is so much potential to create change through business. That same professor would argue that more change happens through business and more people are impacted daily than through politics. Sabrina also mentioned how a lot of the times charities really need strong business and long term plans which they sometimes lack in, and that's what she helped bring to Charity Water. I hope that as I continue through my education and start applying for jobs I can choose what I love to do and that I can help people through it.

Parents often have ideals for what their kids should be. And not just parents but all members of an extended family. Sometimes I feel that people expect me to graduate and get a job just to sustain myself until I can get married, and then I'll be okay. Like they're waiting for me to be settled. I don't want to live in a constant state of wait. What if I dropped out of college and just did something else? What if I never meet anyone I want to date or marry? If that's the path I chose, I know a lot of people in my life wouldn't like it. They wouldn't say anything, but I know that they would want more for me. That's why you can't rely on what others want for you. You are living your own life. You have to follow your destiny; what you actually want to do. And forget about the rest of it. Forget about the pressure to be something else. The world doesn't get to push you into a career path or relationship because it's the natural course for you. It's not. The natural path is the one that only you can choose. I think as I make big decisions moving forward I need to keep that question in mind: Is this really what I want to do? Am I just waiting until I can do something better? Be something more?

Ann and Janet talked about how God has provided for them. How they were unsure about some decisions and then things would just fall in their lap, like a new building location for their business. It's crazy what God can do to make His plan happen. Sometimes I think I fight a little too hard for my plan. We don't have to struggle quiet so hard just to make our life go the direction we want it to. Because God does have a plan. That doesn't mean we don't have to work hard. I'm a huge believer in working your ass off, and even then that doesn't mean you'll be the best. That doesn't mean you'll achieve what you want. But part of the striving you have to let go of and just leave it up to the one who has ultimate control of everything.

After visiting with Ann and Janet we walked around Williamsburg. The "hipster capital" of New York. I think that if I were to move to New York City, (which there is a good possibility I might, I really like it here), I would definitely want to be in Williamsburg. They have a hopping night life, people bustling around from restaurants to bars, sick wall art, and everyone looking hecka stylish.

Then we headed to Rockefeller Center to see the grand Christmas Tree. It was so magical with Christmas music and silver and gold flags, bright lights, and Rockefeller Center looming over it all. After that we hit up Times Square.

Times Square is kind of like a giant slap in the face. Media just hits you. Ads hit you. And sure they all kind of wash over you in a sea of colors and pictures and words, but really you do end up subliminally taking a lot of it in. Everyone wants you to buy their stuff, see their shows and movies and listen to music. They want your business and they'll attack to get it. It's crazy. The onslaught of advertisement. Too many things. Tomorrow we're exploring consumerism, which is everywhere. I just remember being struck by the juxtaposition of the wealthy and the poor. You walk past multiple people sleeping on sidewalks in the cold just to arrive at a scene of bright white lights telling you what you need to own and who you need to look like. How do we get away from it? How do we turn it around? It is breathtakingly beautiful. It does make you pause and want it all. To feel like you're witnessing a million stars. That's the problem - that's what scares me.