Lent

I will say it once and again that I am not as Catholic as so many out there are. I simply do not have that drive to be as Catholic based on the fact that I no longer feel like I should belong to a Catholic church.

Consciously, I will still raise up my hand and give the signal that means, "In the name of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit," but it's just out of habit. Also, I still believe that if I don't give out the signal in a Catholic church, God will shun me for being a bad Catholic.

But with Lent coming around again, I feel as though it is time to begin the matters of giving up things for it.

One of the usual things that I give up for lent is fast food, chips, soda, and candy. I strive to pull myself forward away from the greasy delicacies and ignore the sweet tooth for forty days. Sadly, I cheat and find loopholes like, "Subway isn't fast food," and, "I can eat this because it isn't fast food."

This year, I want to do that but also so much more.

For one, I spend a lot of time on the internet, just trolling around doing nothing productive on Tumblr, facebook, YouTube, or recently 9gag. Each website has taken over my time and effort to want to work out, or find a good spot to finish reading books that I have on my shelf and whatnot.

So here is my intentions of limiting my internet leisure time. I will not be accessing my facebook, Tumblr, YouTube, or anything social media for the entire day. It isn't until I fall asleep that I will decide to check it. And even then, unless it is important to check it, I will abstain if it means that I need to sleep or do something much more productive.

In other words, I am in charge of deciding whether or not I want to read posts or see feedback or watch videos.

I know that with Youtube it is very often that I will be checking, simply because that is where I normally get my news. So, yeah, I already know I am going to rule out that possibility of abstinence towards it. The rest I feel pretty confident.

Other than quitting the majority of the media cold turkey, I decided to sacrifice all types of meat, such as pork, chicken, and beef. I will not eat anything with meat for these next 40 days.

I will also still hold out on the usual: fast food, chips, soda, and candy.

A lot on my plate, I know. But, I feel as though this challenge that I have presented on myself will better help me get focused on me and what I need to do (or not do) in order to better accomplish and go out this year with a bang. (Bang meaning I am graduating and want to make sure I have an idea what to do once done with school)

Think I can do it?

Are you asking for a challenge?

I was talking to my friend about what I am thinking about giving up for lent. I know I am not a true Catholic at heart, but I know that I like to participate in certain types of events. I told her I was thinking about giving up more than just my routine of fast food, candy, soda, and chips.

"I'm thinking about giving up media devices," I told her. We went to Johnny's Burgers which is a few minutes from our school to devour some much needed burgers that I have been deprived of for a few weeks already. I slipped the last morsel of food into my mouth and didn't even bother savoring it as I pushed the white plate of chili cheese fries in front of me.

"Media?" she said.

"Yeah, like all the media type of things. Internet, Tumblr, Facebook, television, maybe movies. I am thinking of going full on Amish," I told her.

I kept thinking about it and the more that I began thinking about it the more that it actually got me thinking. Can I actually get away with going 40 plus days without any type of media?

I think there can be a way to secularize myself from anything that is considered media. I just don't know how it would go. I know that I would want to dedicate my time to reading more and writing out a ton more things. I think maybe carrying around my camera and whatnot.

I actually never gave it much thought to the whole phone business. Would I be carrying it around with me or would I have to leave it because it is also considered to be technology?

I just think that I focus too much on internet and media, as I can see as I am typing it up in humor writing class instead of actually paying attention.

This whole dependency is what is making me want to decide it more and more to think that this might actually be a good idea. I just need to find the ground rules and identifying the thin line.

Is it weird for me to think that this might actually be a fun idea? Can I actually pull this off?

I think so...

The Muslim Next Door

I recently read an excerpt from a book called the Muslim Next Door and believe me, I did not expect to be so sucked in as easily as I was.

The small few pages that I read had to do with how people from the West have viewed Muslims throughout the years since the terrorist attack on 9/11. And let me be the first to say I have no qualms with people of other religions and respect those that are of a religious faith. Well, more than me at least.

The author, Sumbul Ali-Karamali stresses how people of the Western world can never truly follow or understand the Qur'ran because it has to be studied in Arabic, which is its native language. That did not offend me in any way. It just made me realize that we have done wrong by translating our Bible so that everyone can read it for themselves back in the old days. It's come to the point where we have millions of translations and therefore millions of ways to interpret the Bible. Although there is no definite translation for the Bible, other than the native tongue it was written in Hebrew, thousands of people still plan to read it for their own enjoyment and of course, to try and shove their beliefs down another soul's throat.

I have lost count on how many people have tried to pick an argument with me over religion, and demanding me to explain why my beliefs are better than theirs. I had a friend in high school (while I was talking about my Catholic religion because Lent was coming up) get into a heated argument with me about how the Virgin Mary was anything but a Virgin. It's not the fact that she was offending my religion that offended me. It was the fact that she was wanting to pick a fight with me over the topic of religion.

The reason I don't like fighting over certain topics like religion is simply this: I DO NOT CARE WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN. I have my beliefs and you have yours. Simply respecting my beliefs the way that I am respecting yours should not stop us from being friends.

That was also a problem for the author of the Muslim Next Door, among other things. And I understand that some people are very religious, that it is all they think about and even sleep with a Bible next to their bed stand. I however, do not. And just because I am not a "Jesus Freak" doesn't make me a bad person. God is still close to my heart, and I give praise when I feel like it. That doesn't give anyone a right to brand me as a sinner.

But now I am getting further away from the topic that I was intending to write about. To return to the excerpt, I loved how Karamali was explaining how daft and dumb we Americans have become, further showing off our jack-assery on 60 minutes and picking and choosing certain verses from the Qur'ran to begin a feud with Islam and the West.

For those that don't know, the Qur'ran is anything but a topic of warfare. It is a topic of peace and forgiveness. But many people overlook that with the constant blaring of warfare brought on by the news as they are glued to the television in their living room. If you don't believe me read it for yourself and see. Don't just take a person's word for it, although I will admit Karamali's argument was flawless enough to convince me, or I should say, her examples of the Qur'ran convinced me.

Demands

Today, I was demanded by my professors to type up paragraph after paragraph about three pages that I had to read. You know, there is just so much that a person can actually b.s. throughout the quarter. I just feel about tuckered out.

Not to mention the fact that I am cramping up from stapling too much. Oh the demands are great but the fact that I am blessed with a job, as Max Weber would claim is being a good Protestant, I have to pull it off.

Working keeps me happy, because there is money going into my wallet and bank accounts. I could especially use the money now because I have just spent 25 dollars for my brother. But then again, I got a really cool necklace out of it.

Sic Parvis Magna: Greatness comes from Small Beginnings. For the Uncharted lovers out there, you know what I am talking about.

Jesus and moms

I have come to notice that there are a lot of Jesus loving blogs on this blogger account. Like there is a mature feeling of spirituality. Then comes the mommy blogs, or the blogs that pertain to family or blogs dedicated to their little bundle of joy.

I don't have a bundle wrapped up, nor do I have a strong attachment to the lord. I just write. I just belong to writing. That and food, and reading. And maybe some good television if the occasion calls for it.

Although I do feel as though I should bring myself closer to Jesus and God, but given the agnostic viewpoints that I have grown up with (even though I was raised Catholic and go to a Seventh Day Adventist school), I have never truly opened up and studied a bible. Even my brother, who is recently trying to study Buddhism, has tried to get into a certain religion that he feels comfortable practicing.

I still need to find that religion which brings me a spiritual understanding to bring me closer to God. I mean, He has done so much for me, and has taught me well (to be good I mean). I am indebted to His service. But I still feel that distance between God and myself. I am just not comfortable to fully commit myself to servicing God, but I still pray from time to time.

I pray to Jesus and God to keep me safe, grant me certain wishes, but more than anything I pray for my family and loved ones, even though I selfishly do so. I never give thanks for all that He has given me, but I know deep down he understands. It's still not time for me to get into that spiritual funk. For now, I'll just pray.

Praying is still praying isn't it?