Logically Heartfelt

Psalm 51:17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O' God, you do not despise.

I have a friend here at school, who on the surface didn't strike me as a deep thoughtful person. This semester, however, I have gotten to know this person more. One day I was just hanging out in his dorm and I saw a short list taped beside his bed. I figured it was just a "To-Do" list or something prioritizing his responsibilities here at school. When I went over and actually read it, it wasn't what I had first thought. It was actually his plan for how he deals with certain problems of life. It was definitely good for me personally to see this list, because it has put into perspective more of my personal problems and how I react to them. I'm not going to go into the details of all it said, mostly because I remember them all, but i will touch on one point, something that I always fail to do when things come against me. That point, at the top of the list, was that when a problem came up, to sleep on it and not let yourself be so caught up in the present and how bad it may seem. It went on to say that after a good nights sleep that things will seem much better and it will be easier to logically deal with the problem. Too often I forget that and I spend countless hours worrying about what happened. I need to sleep on it.

I just think that sometimes God allows us to go through things because he wants to see what our focus is. I also think that he will allow us to go through the same thing multiple times just to test our faithfulness to him and to what we feel in our hearts.

I'm breaking, God. This is the sacrifice you require right? Sorry it's taking me so much longer, I'll come around soon.

Warning: Crosswalk Ahead

so, i was thinking. i live near this crosswalk and its kinda dangerous. well there has been some construction next to my dorm lately and it has made the crosswalk even more risky. spots hidden by road construction signs and vehicles, make it even harder and less likely for on coming motorist to see you hiding behind that backhoe, just waiting to cross to make your way harm-free to class. i can recount several times where careless drivers have nearly ended my fun earthly existence by either neglecting to notice that i am making my way across, or they seem to just be so hell-bent on making it to their destination two and a half seconds earlier that they could care less if they send my body flying back to the sidewalk i stepped off from. yeah, thats life when you live at my dorm. ive learned to accept that as paradigm. but it makes me think...

metaphorically speaking, how many times am i that driver? how often do i blow through lifes crosswalks with no regard for the safety of others as they as crossing in front of me. do i slow to a stop in consideration, because that is the right thing to do? maybe i do slow down a bit, but never stop, slowing just enough to allow them to pass in front of me, in hopes that i will get "there" faster. i think i can safely say that there are times when i do, unfortunately just blow through that "crosswalk" and just hope that i dont run someone else off the road. i like to think that i am sometimes that selfless driver who lets the pedestrian cross at no cost of time. the one who may even get out of his car to help a less fortunate one across the street. its hard to say, thats one of those things that i believe those on the outside looking at me can only see.

how about this? how many times have i, or even you for that matter, been that cautious and fearful pedestrian who needs to cross? that person, just hoping that at this crossroad in life, is it safe to cross now? should i wait? i can see whats on the other side, i want to be there, but what is coming my way if i cross too soon? is it safe?

when you are behind the wheel, who are you? weigh this on your conscience, are you the reckless one who would rather clip that passing pedestrian, or are you that one who will slow to a stop, in care of the life that may need to be put before you.

who are you? who do you WANT to be?