Whats to Live For

        When I think of habits that take over a person’s life I think of things like alcohol, drugs and pornography. But I also recognize that there are a plethora of other behaviors that become addictive and habitual, interfering with the normal everyday functioning of the individual. These habits easily take more and more time and energy, and depending upon what it is and what your moral beliefs about the habit may be, you may begin to experience a high level of unhappiness and discontent. That is just the beginning though, for as time goes on the discontentment turns into self-loathing, serious guilt issues, depression and despair. These feelings build upon themselves and create a vicious cycle of guilt and despair and indulgence in the habit, leaving what seems to be no way out. You learn that there is nothing to trust other than the release of participation in the addiction, the comfort that it brings, even if you regret it afterwards. 

        However, there comes a day when someone, something or some event comes along and hints that there is another way, that there is something to trust outside of the high you live for. I think this ‘something’ can be different for different people, but I do believe that the best ‘something’ is the love and forgiveness that Christ offers. To get there it does take a step of faith on our part to trust that forgiveness, because when we make the choice to change, that change won’t come about overnight. Trusting His grace to make up for our shortcomings is paramount to understanding the way out of the cycle. His grace proves His love for us despite what our actions are, and makes the process of change worthwhile and bearable

Look At Me, Look At You

            What is it about making eye contact that is so fundamental to hearing the words of another? Why do we need to look into the eyes of the person we are talking to to be understood, to know without doubt that what you are saying is being heard?

            From my own experience it is not possible for me to feel that I have expressed myself completely unless eye contact is being made. I need to see that the girl in class with me understands that I care what her day has been like, that my mentor feels the frustration I have with the way my life is unfolding at that moment, that my friend I’m sharing dinner with is being blessed by the fellowship we share. I enjoy all of these exchanges, but if there is not consistent contact between the windows-to-the-soul, I feel as though the relationship is suffering.

            I recognize that maybe its just me, that I may be blowing things out of proportion, but I truly believe that without eye contact we miss out on a level of communication that we need to have healthy and deep relations with others. After all, didn’t so many of us growing up get sternly told, “look at me when I’m talking to you!”?

            If looking into each other’s irises does so much for us, then I wonder, what does it mean when people don’t make eye contact? What statement are they making, intended or otherwise? Should it be taken personally? Should I say something about it?