Where is Life in society?

Our world is full of paradoxy.
They say one thing, but do another.
We have too may people in charge, too many people telling us what to do, what is in, what is out, what is cool, what is not.
Let's focus on the models. on what Society is telling us that represents the people. Models.
I will not be talking about sizes, because there are a plethora of articles that cover that.
Pictures say a thousand words, they say.
Well when we see pictures of models what goes through our mind? Or even supermodels?  And Those who walk the runway.
I ask myself, why aren't they smiling? Aren't they happy to be alive?
 Why do they always look so mad or upset or apathetic or in despair?
I have heard the answer of, "they are not trying to draw attention on themselves but rather on what they are wearing" And I understand that for those supermodels that wear such things that make you question as to wear you would ever wear that to?
But how about the models in the magazines that promote clothing to actually buy and wear?
If you look at their facial expressions, they look serious, upset, mad, angry, seductive and I simply do not understand.
I see no life in those photos. I only see how this can lead to the mindset of despair and indifference.
Our society is all about indifference, about showing no feeling, showing nothing but that we are apathetic.
I see no joy, no life.
Our faith calls us to be the opposite of that. We are called to laugh, love, share joy, hearts, tears, struggles.
That is why we are so confused. Because our faith calls us to step out of our comfort zone.
How will one spread joy and peace if you look mad all the time? I do not understand one bit.
Granted, perhaps walking around with a smile twenty-four seven might seem a little strange, but give off an air that is hopeful and approachable not one that looks like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed.
When I see pictures of models, I pity them because I wish I could see their smile because I am sure it is ten times more beautiful than the glare they give to the camera.
These blank-stared photographs that are being taken everywhere in social media aren't attractive to me. They give me a feelings of despair, of not caring. Granted, I understand that they show much emotion. I am not condemning all photographs but those photographs that have life are more interesting.
It is not even just models or photographs,but they way we carry ourselves when we are running errand. Walking by, not even acknowledging the people we pass by, what happened to hello and good days. No manners, no respect, no life.
We live in a world where we are taught by society to only care for ourselves. We are great students.  It will not kill for one to smile at a stranger, or a simple hello won't damage you. If you promote happiness, then live it. If you promote good vibes, then give off good vibes. Practice what you preach.

Comfortably, and preserverence

In the moments that we are dry in our prayer, it is then that we have to persevere the most.

Sometimes I question why.

We must never be satisfied with our prayer life we must always strive for more, more dying to oneself, more mercy, more everything.

If we begin to be satisfied in our prayer life, grow in complacency then we will not strive to perfect our relationship with Christ, there is always more that can be done.

The times we are dry are the times we must try the hardest.

If we stand idle, we aren't moving forward. 

We can say that we are Christian, but if we are not living out our faith in the sense that we are doing everything Christ-like, What good is that?

This means to love. Love one and all, through good and bad.

We must grow in tolerance. We must be uncomfortable. Pope emeritus says We were not made for comfort. 

If talking to the cashier is uncomfortable, do it more. Smile to strangers, lend out a helping hand, you may think this is ridiculous and not so life changing but it does make a difference. 

The thing is that we life in a world where it is "all about me" and selfishness is our societies motto. No one helps another. 

Holding the door open for another person is rare, and putting yourself first is the norm. 

A simply conversation, smile, or lending hand is Christ-like.

This is how you show love.

Do not let your emotions control your actions, how you treat others or your entire day. 

Just because you got off on the wrong side of the bed doesn't mean that all you come in contact with that day need to suffer for it.

Our past mistakes and sins have a reason::

I often find myself wondering in frustration how the Lord will be using my struggles in my past mistakes  to glorify him in the future

The damage is done I know I still have the scars in my hunting memory.

And I don't understand fully how the Lord will use that in my life to bring others closer to him.

We may never know how The Lord will use the good and the bad in our lives for his greater glory.

Mass: The Eucharist and I.

Those who know me in theatre know that I cannot cry on cue. I have tried and yes there are ways to make one but I cannot do it on the spot. I have to try very very hard to.

With that being said, I am over all a very emotional being and some would say empathetic. 

Certain subjects bring me to tears.

The Eucharist, is one of them.

Perhaps this Is my paranoid self but I feel as if some Christians judges others when it comes to Mass. Perhaps some think that they go out of their way so other can see all thier good deeds.

When I am at Mass, it is for me. It is for Christ. I am not there to impress others, to "show how holy I am" but rather show how weak I am and how much I am in need of Christ's love and mercy.

The Eucharist, I am in fear of. 

Sometimes I react in such ways that people may not be used to. 

But I am receiving a kiss from the lover of my soul. I am overjoyed. 

I am simply showing the emotions my soul is experiencing.

And sometimes I am embarrassed at how I react because I don't want people to think I am "putting on a show" for others to see. 

I honestly feel as if Christ made it for me to not be able to cry on cue so that O may cry for him. In joy, in overwhelmingness,and in sorrow. 

But my purpose at Mass is to be in one with Christ. 

I will try to not concern myself with others judgments for as long as I know what I am soon is right and just then I will continue to glorify The Lord in how he has allowed me to.

One thing to never give up on:: Hope

There was a time in my life when I had no direction, I didn't know my purpose and I was frightened and scared senseless. I didn't know what I was afraid of, I was only afraid. Maybe it was failure maybe it was never being loved. And this was ignorant because if only I allowed Christ into my life then I would be comforted by the fact that I was neither. I wasn't a failure nor was I not loved. One thing that I think many people do not strive or cling onto enough is hope. 

Despair lingers in the air waiting for its moment to latch onto us like a leech. And once we are in despair in any situation it always slithers it's way back into our mind. 

Despair is like poison.

we do not recognize the severity of it but it sucks joy and life out of us. 

In hope, we know there will always be something for us, Christ's love. 

In despair, it is as if we have walked into our very own black hole that is impossible to get out of. 

We fall and fall deeper into these negative thoughts and our thoughts become our actions and soon we become lethargic because we believe we are good for nothing.

Granted, I am not promoting that we will be always happy, joyful and filled with hope or reason in life but in Christ's love we can turn to always and know that our life has purpose and meaning.

The thing is that, in this world it is difficult to hear the comforting whispers of God.

With society screaming into our ear, silence is hardly ever experienced. ( I'll go deeper into this in another article)

In the world's eyes, your purpose in life is somewhere along the lines of working, being known, making your mark on this earth, being loved by all, successful, achieve something great, etc. 

Yet if in the process of achieving this,we fail it is as if the whole world is falling apart, we go through an emotional tornado, lose our direction our purpose and all seems lost. 

Our anchor is on Christ, on the cross so we find all we need. Our purpose, our worth, our love, our everything.

One glance at the cross it might change your entire life.

Loving others

My heart breaks. Every day. For different reasons.

Love isn't supposed to be easy.

You must love when the person is most unlovable. You must love when all you want to do is draw back.

Come out of your comfort zone.

We are supposed to call each other onto holiness.

Find one another's faults by pointing them toward Christ.

Realize we are all sinners, no exceptions.

We need to fix grudges and cold hearts.

Recognize we have weaknesses.

Love them anyway, continue to correct them.

Happiness and Suffering

There was a time in my life where I would not allow myself to feel happy. That may sound ridiculous and it was! Here was my naive logic reasoning behind it.

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If I allow myself to be happy, I knew it wouldn't last. I was running on an emotional high. And someday I would go feel low. Now not only would I feel low but the illusion that everything was perfect would fade. 

If I allowed myself to feel happy it would only force me to come to terms with the reality that something bad would happen soon because happiness does not last.

That would mean I would get hurt or feel pain. I tried to avoid that at all costs.

And the reason was because I did not recognize the beauty of suffering.

I attempted to avoid suffering. 

Now going back to happiness. happiness  is a beautiful feeling to expirience. And yes suffering is inevitable but when we are happy, we should allow ourselves the grand pleasure of feeling happy because The Lord wants us to feel that way. He gives us these small or big pleasures in life to appreciate them and be grateful for it. So if a sunset makes me happy, then by golly I will be happy because The Lord made the sunset for me to know his love and rejoice in all his goodness.