Being the Broken

            Recently I went with a group of guys to spend some time with homeless people in Baltimore. We handed out backpacks full of food and other items they might need as it gets colder.

            When you talk to people, you’ll realize there are several types. The self-confident, the cocky, the mean, the nice, the sweet, the flippant, the this, the that. Sometimes people can be several and they can combine to form interesting combinations.

            I came across a man who was broken. How do I know? There was a humility to him. Not a gloominess. There’s a difference. When people are humbled, as this man was, there’s a thankfulness to them. When they look you in the eye, you see they appreciate you.

             He could’ve been been bitter towards us. He could’ve complained about his horrible situation to us. But he wasn’t and didn’t.

             I realize that God moves in the hearts of men and women like this man. God can’t and won’t use the arrogant, the strong, the wise of this world because these people haven’t been humbled. They think that within themselves lie the answers to life.

             Have you been broken? Have you been brought to the point where you truly understand that apart from God you can’t do anything? It’s sobering. It hurts. But from that point you can become great. Would you rather rule a kingdom of ants or soar on wings of an Eagle? One lets you be in charge of nothing, the other one lets you be carried towards greatness.

             This homeless man was broken. He was extremely kind and thankful. I want to be like him one day. 

Embrace the Odd

            Judging is so easy, isn’t it? If you don’t do an activity for some moral reason, you think less of those who do. If you belong to a certain group you view as superior to others, you are critical of those who don't.

            Why? The simple reason is that we only know… what we know. I know I kinda sound stupid saying that, but those who are different… are different. I knew I graduated the second grade for a reason. These are deeply profound statements.

            We are comfortable with what we know. Those who are different than us make us think. They challenge what we’ve never given a second thought to. They prod us to look at what makes us, us. They often shine a mirror on us, and sometimes we don’t like what we see.

            This post is more reflective than suggestive. I noticed something and wrote about it. I guess I’ll try to make it practical in some way.

            Embrace differences in your situations. The chatter-boxes and the extreme introverts. The goofballs and the serious. The contemplative and the flippant. All types are needed in life; each has its shining moments. Don’t think less of someone because they are odd to you. Or believe different things than you do. Get to know ‘em, and who knows? They might be your next good friend. 

Thankful for the Weird Things

            I really struggled with how I should go about this one. I didn’t want this post to be the typical “I’m thankful for God, my family, and my friends” thing everyone would expect*. Not that anything is wrong with that… but I want something unique! Here are several weird and unusual things I’m thankful for. If you asked me why I'm thankful for some of these, I probably wouldn’t be able to tell you:

1) When I’m driving and the window fogs up suddenly. I don’t know why, but I’ve always found that funny.

2) When a friend of mine I haven’t seen in a couple years completely surprises me by visiting and we sing “Puttin’ on the Ritz” in my car. That happened this morning. Side note: the music video for that song is really weird. 

3) When I have a pile of clean clothes I have to put up in my closet or dresser. I don’t know why, but I actually enjoy putting away clothes. My mom must’ve brainwashed me or something.

4) Those moments when you tell a joke and your friends PRETEND it isn’t funny… but you know they are dying of laughter inside; they just don’t want to show it.

5) When a limb of mine falls asleep. I love that feeling.

6) When I’m at church and I have a family member to lay my head on so I can pretend I’m listening to the sermon.

7) When I say something really, really obvious and/or stupid. I realize it, and look at my friend. My friend pauses…. knowing he or she can nail me with the classic “DUH, genius” or “really, you just realized that?” line. And he or she lets it slide. I’m always thankful for those moments. I hate “duh”s. They make me feel like an idiot. I appreciate their tolerance for my dumb-ness.

            There are tons and tons of little things like these in my life that I’m thankful for. They just spice everything up! Spend some time and think of all the odd little things you are thankful for. It’s a lot of fun! This post has been a blast to write. Or, and here's one more:

8) When I hit "publish" when I'm done writing a post. Knowing that maybe I can make someone smile, cry, or do something in between. Knowing that there are some people in the world who actually care about my thoughts enough to waste three minutes of their life reading them. Thank you.

*I am very, extremely thankful for God. He is everything to me. I’m thankful for my family because they are the only 5 people on this planet who have been with me through everything. And I love my friends. They’ve given me so many memories. I’m so glad they put up with me!