Judge Not, So That You Be Not Judged

"Jesus’ instructions with regard to judging others is very simply put; He says, “Don’t.” The average Christian is the most piercingly critical individual known. Criticism is one of the ordinary activities of people, but in the spiritual realm nothing is accomplished by it. The effect of criticism is the dividing up of the strengths of the one being criticized. The Holy Spirit is the only one in the proper position to criticize, and He alone is able to show what is wrong without hurting and wounding. It is impossible to enter into fellowship with God when you are in a critical mood. Criticism serves to make you harsh, vindictive, and cruel, and leaves you with the soothing and flattering idea that you are somehow superior to others."

Very good reminder, read it this morning and just wanted to share. :)

p.s. Game 7 tonight, kinda stoked.

Delayed Reaction

I'm currently sitting in my bed at in Norcal wearing an over sized Mickey mouse tee, feeling the cool air of the summer night and listening to Colbie. The night is peaceful and I feel like a high school girl for some reason rather than a college alumni. There are a lot of thoughts running through my head, and i'm not really sure how to sort them out or say them all so I will just say a few things.

1. I am seriously blessed and thankful.

2. Graduation still has not really sunk in.

3. Mixed feelings.

4. The next month i'll be spending in Socal, I have a list of things I definitely must do. (I shall post it up later)

5. Prepare for upcoming posts dedicated to the special people in my life.

Miss Whatswong

Keep Holding On

Although our Senior Edge class may be huge, with many different types of people and have had some rough patches, but we all have our own stories and together we are still an amazing class. Some of my favorite moments in college have been preparing for Edge events, like in Sophomore year when we won Edge games, (sorry for being such a competitive point leader that year haha but we won!) and I lovedlovedloved all those late night dance practices and videos for our Edge Senior banquets. Good times.

Anyhow, this is the year we graduate 2010 and this video for Senior Swell is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. Priscilla Liang did a really great job; she is so talented! Yea, our class kinda kicks ass.

Senior Swell Stop Motion Video- Keep Holding On from Priscilla Liang on Vimeo.

Care

Care (verb)

1. to be trouble or concerned; be affected emotionally

2. to have regard, affection, or consideration (for)

It's an interesting concept because it has to do with emotions and anything that has to do with emotions becomes a hell lot more complex. There are things in this world we care about that we d0n't want to care about, and things in this world that we simply do not care enough about; if only care were a tangible, rational matter...

We had our last fellowship on Friday and we held our Senior Well. Some Seniors shared their stories and at the end of the night I realized something. Sometimes people do things that make you look at them differently with annoyance, disappointment or even disgust, etc. or there are people who totally cut themselves from the world and seem to disappear from your life. It's easy to look at the superficial level and cast them away as people who just want to do their own thing, douchebags, disappointments or whatever but there's a deeper root. There are reasons. Although the easiest way to respond is with rebuke and judgement but that's the last thing needed. Instead of telling a person to stop doing whatever they're doing and why it's wrong, it's more important to ask why they are doing whatever they're doing and if they're doing okay. These actions are a cry for care. And since care is rooted from love, they are ultimately a cry for love. How could I not realize it before?? Thinking back on my life, I can clearly recall a couple of instances in my life where I needed someone to just simply care more than the normal amount, but my pride or this emptiness, hurt or whatever mess it was manifested into actions that wouldn't be recognizable for that need.

To be honest, human beings are selfish. We recognize our own needs and care for ourselves above all but that's messed up. The care i'm talking about that we need is extraordinary care. The type of care that doesn't stop at the first time or first rejection. It's like that guy at the bar who doesn't take no and keeps trying (okay perhaps not the best metaphor in this case, haha). The type of care that you go out of your way to show that you are here for them. The type of care that shows you want to be apart of whatever it is they're going through. It is the type of care that comes from God's extraordinary love. People do not heal with rebuke and judgement but with love. I'll be the first to admit that i'm not the best at this because with care comes different types of frustrations, energy, heart, time, patience, and trust in God but having been on both sides i'm starting to understand and i'm trying.

Been listening to this song every morning when I wake up for awhile now

Everybody, everbody wants to love

Everbody, everbody wants to be loved

I want you to know that although I may suck at caring, I do and i'm here for you, just let me know what you need.

Bucket List

I know this must be hard to believe because i'm just so incredibly talented......but there are times in my life where I find myself incapable. Recently my computer got a nasty virus (karma from trying to watch Big Bang Theory instead of studying for my final) so I drove at 3AM to my friends place so he could fix it. At the moment I felt so helpless and frustrated at the fact that I didn't know what to do to fix my infected computer. It's nice to have people help you out and take care of you but sometimes it also makes me feel like a giant baby by default.

I need to be more capable. I mean granted I have a little bit of a height advantage and can grab things from the higher shelves for the vertically challenged or am the spider killer of the apartment because I am a pretty fearless warrior but still. hahaha If you know me fairly well, you'd know I hate being put in a box and being limited, which is why I do things like take massage class or go to the shooting range or am a girly girl but also a tomboy, etc. But my point is that I don't want to be limited in my abilities; I want to know how to do more things for myself, be more independent nawmsayins? So here is a starting Bucket List of things I need to learn.

Bucket List Of Things I Must Learn To Do

1. Learn how to fight crime on the intranetz like trojans, virus and spyware (and perhaps also know the difference between them)

2.How to change oil and a flat tire (this would be badass)

3. Re-learn how to drive stick (will come in handy if I were ever kidnapped by people in a stick car and they somehow leave me unattended, definitely wouldn't want to stall while escaping)

4. How to efficiently punch someone so that it actually hurts (people seem to be unaffected when I hit them, are my knuckles jello or something???)

5. Make cocktails and all the yummy girly drinks (will come in handy if I ever want to become a bartender for cheap thrills)

6. Build a laptop from scratch (if my dad can do it, so can I)

7. Knit a sweater (will come in handy when it gets cold or cheap "sentimental" gifts)

8. Body language to look intimidating (will come in handy to ward off the unwanted)

9. Snap my fingers (will come in handy when I have children or a husband haha jk)

10. Whistle loudly (will come in handy when I want to wolf whistle and holler)

What can I say? I'm a quality girl. hahaha And bright side? I can probably learn all of these thanks to Wikipedia. Internet FTW

Not So Fatal Attraction

They say the prettiest girls are the happiest girls. I find a lot of truth in that statement.

I say the manliest men are the passionate men. Hold up, let's clear this theory up. When a guy is doing something they're passionate about, I find them incredibly attractive. It's not based on the fact on whether or not they're good at it, but the fact that they have a passion for it. We sometimes confuse our talents as our passion which are are two separate entities. But anyhow, it is the way their eyes light up, their fingers move, the sweat that drips, their uplifting spirit, the way their energy fills the room, it all lures me in. In general I believe that any person is most attractive when they are doing something they are passionate about. I find myself completely enticed and attracted to that person as I see them in action. There's this certain allurement and aura that just pulls you in as you see the light in their eyes gleam. It's inspiring. They hold this type of charisma that you can't help but want to be a part of that moment and their lives. In a way it's comparable to a child's smile like there's this untainted joy in it. And when someone's doing something they're passionate about, they look damn good doing it. You feel me?

On a separate level........however enticed I am, I will admit I also hold a bit of jealousy. At one point in my life I thought I knew what my passion was but Sophomore year that very passion drained me and became my burden. Things are different now but I still don't know what exactly my passion in life in. Sure I may love doing a lot of things and I may be a little bit talented in different areas but someday with the right timing and the other half luck, i'll find it. It's all trial and error from here on out.

Is It Still Considered Moving On If...

4 years ago...

I had no problem moving from my home in Norcal to Socal, where I was to spend the next 4 years in college in a city I only knew existed not that long ago and knew nothing about. The word homesick was never in my dictionary my Freshman or Sophomore year.

2 years ago...

I had no problem leaving California my Junior year to spend 4 months studying abroad in Hong Kong. And while those 4 months were incredibly awesome and memorable, I had no problem coming back home to California.

1 year ago...

I had no problem leaving California once again the summer after my Junior year to go to the United Kingdom to spend 6 weeks for travel study. And while that too was a memorable experience, I had no problem coming back home to California.

In about 3 weeks...

I will be done with my undergraduate career.

You see, moving on to somewhere new and different or even home and familiar has never been a problem for me. I'm not one to grasp hold of their mommy and never want to fly from the nest or despise coming home either. During these well lived years in college, one thing i've learned about myself is that I am an adapter and quite independent also, most likely due to my upbringing. And in some odd way, I seemed to have compartmentalize each experience. I don't know if i'll be able to explain it right, but let me try. With each of these experiences i've made different set of wonderful friends and a large variety of great memories. Yet instead of wishing it would last longer and dwelling on the past, I enjoy it for what it was and am ready to move on to the next adventure. At times I actually feel guilty for not being as sappy and sentimental as the others and don't get me wrong, I do miss everything and everyone and there are times where I get nostalgic. I guess what i'm trying to say is that I understand that change is inevitable, it happens and it is constant, so I just go on with the flow to where ever it'll lead me. Maybe it's the rational, realistic side of that kicks in, but I guess you could say i'm a rational, realistic free spirit if that makes any sense. haha

So here I am in Irvine with a couple more weeks of my undergrad left to complete. I used to plan to teach abroad in Asia for a year but mid Senior year my plans changed. For some odd reason, homesickness kicked in and I felt called to go home and be a daughter. I want to be home with my parents who have missed me so much as i've ventured all over the world these past couple of years and home feels so right for me right now. One day i'll be ready to move on to be on my own, but not just yet.

So is it still considered moving on if i'm moving back home? If i'm moving to where it all began and where I started?

Rhetorical question because I would say so. I'm moving into this new chapter of my life with a different mindset. I'm no longer the naive girl I was 4 years ago, which I carry a bittersweet feeling about. I am now a 22 year strong, independent woman and I am going to take the Bay by storm once I get back. ;) But honestly for once I am scared and worried what these next few years will bring, especially because I 95% plan to make a life changing decision. But it's okay, because I am a natural adapter...........and because it's all in God's loving hands.

P.S. Out of all my experiences, I will miss the people in Irvine the most and their everyday presence in my life. I don't know what I will do without a majority of them in Norcal. That and Tastea. hahah jk but I am seriously #1 secret Tastea promoter. I've popped so many people's Tastea cherry, it's disgusting.

P.S.S. Ugh, I am up too late. Goodnight world.