Summer Hope

It was the start of summer this last week. School is out so I finally have time to work in my internship binder. But really I'd rather talk about the weather. It's beautiful outside. The sun is bright and beautiful and the air is crisp and warm. I love summer, it makes one feel hope. I've started to have hope for the future. The beautiful days make me think that anything is possible and my analytical mind is ready to start making plans again. Plans that I can fullfil, nothing long term but simple short term goals to give me strength as I slowly make my way into the distant future. 

My Path

Faith/Fear, Hope/Dispare

There are times in my life I feel I can see into my future. I know exactly what path I am on and it is well lit with no unexpected twist, turns or nothing that blocks my way. These times can be filled with hope, peace and joy or they can be filled with fear, dispare and unease. The funny thing about this is that, like the picture above, the road doesn't change, just the perspective. Perspective is a funny thing. Most people believe that their perspective is the absolute truth, and for them it is. It's how they view a particular situation or path on which they are walking. This does not mean that the path has changed. 

The path is life and, bottom line, it is one that we must walk alone. I know that sounds pessimistic but it's true, no one can live my life for me, I must do it myself. At times others paths may run parallel to mine, but I never can tell how long that may happen. At other times a path may almost seem to join mine, but no matter how close I feel to that other person, their path and mine are not the same. They experience bumps, twists, turns, fog, clear days, fallen trees etc... differently than I do. I may perceive that our paths will be parallel for a long period of time, but they may have fog on their path and may not be able to see the same. 

The path only changes when what I think I knew changes, when what was light becomes dark, and the light at the end looks cold instead of warm and hopeful. It can also be hard when a friends path, that once ran so close to mine, starts to veer away. At these times, it's hard to not feel abandoned, as I had become so accustomed to their companionship. I had begun to feel as if I didn't walk my path alone and maybe we shared a path. But the truth is, we are always alone. No one can see as I see, feel as I feel, think as I think. A bump in the road that may be painful for one person to trip over on their path, may be a mountain on mine over which I have to climb and risk falling repeatedly before I can reach the top and start to make my way over to the other side. All the while trying to change my perspective of my path through positive thinking. I'm learning, however, that positive thinking cannot change the landscape, no matter how much faith you have. Only God can move some mountains, and only God can drop some mountains in your path. And everyone you know will tell you it's for your good, that He's trying to teach you a lesson, help you grow, become more like him. At times like this I feel God must be miserable because misery loves company. I know that sounds blasphemous, I don't really mean it, but I feel that way sometimes. Something is threatening my path, and my perspective, unfortunately, is changing. What I thought I knew, the thing I had so much confidence and faith in, is being threatened. I can no longer see more than a foot or two infront of me, and its dark. There is a light up a head, but at the moment I cannot tell if it is the realization of the dreams I currently hold, or the light of an empty tomorrow. I do know that as long as I keep walking, this will pass, though I fear I will not pass over this mountain unscathed.  

There really is nothing to do but keep walking and hoping for the best. I try to keep the fear at bay with what little faith I have left. Fear is like a hungry wolf on the edge of my path, at times it feels as though it has overcome me but I keep beating it back. I have found that by walking near another helps a little, it's hardest when I'm alone and my fire of faith is dim. 

But I have found even on the darkest of paths there is always hope, even if what you hope for doesn't happen, there is always hope that someday the path will be light, bright, warm.  Full of peace and joy. 

Sleepy Sunday

Sleepy Sunday

So I was catching up on my journal today, you know, writing down the events of the last few days and my thoughts and impressions of those events . I've decided that there is something strangely soporific about doing that. Yes it took me about an hour to get caught up on my entries, what I really need to do is get back in the habit of writing in it each day, that way I don't have to do the marathon writing sessions which leave me sleepy and my hand sore. That being said, I do believe it's terribly important for people to write journals, not just diaries (a list of what they did, ate etc..) but an actual journal. Something that not only chronicles the events in ones life, but also their impressions of those events. Their sacred feelings and impressions from God. Some people journal on their blogs, but as anyone can see writing on my blog is not my forte. Not only that but in my journal I can write anything and everything that I think and feel, but with a blog I'm too aware that there are others that may be reading every word I write. Not many as I believe there are only three people who actually follow my blog, but I only write in it about two to three times a year. Set that aside, I still feel like I'm performing when I write a blog. There is this need to be witty, clever, funny or deep. I can be witty and clever but unfortunately not many find me so and I amuse myself more than I do any other person of my acquaintance. Kind of sad if you think about it, so I guess it's a good thing that I don't. So where I write often in my soporific journal, in which I apologize often to my future posterity who will one day read my journals and think that I am very melodramatic or border line overly emotional. I do reassure them that I am a well adjusted, high functioning adult and my journal is where I vent. I've only learned in recent years how to vent to people and I'm not very good at it because I always feel like I'm complaining. So I vent in my journal. I highly recommend it, it's wonderful because you can work out all your issues, have a perfect sounding board and you don't have to worry about getting any useless advice you know you wont follow, mostly because it's not applicable/appropriate to your situation and is usually overly laden with personal opinion from the giver. That is not something I need. Which is why I'm very selective about whom I talk to on any given subject. People are good for bouncing certain ideas/problems off of, journals are for everything that you can't verbally articulate, but it's okay to put into words. Have you ever noticed that people put the sappiest, most heart wrenching situations into words on a page, but if you ever read them they sound ridiculous. I feel and think differently than I talk and I believe many people are like that. There is a way to talk in our culture which allows one to use many words without ever saying anything substantial. But when you write, there has to be something there, or at least their ought to be something there. Too often people like to play games with words and say very little, and yet they are constantly throwing words together. It's like baking a cake with every ingredient in the kitchen. It's fascinating and, like watching a car wreck, you can't help but watch or listen. But when it's all said and done, you find that there is nothing there but a pile of burnt crap. Unfit for any type of consumption. This is how I feel when our current president speaks and those with whom he surrounds himself.

So back to journalling, say what you mean and mean what you say. It doesn't matter if you are especially loquacious or a man/woman of few words. Anyone can put their thoughts out there for other to digest. We all have a right to our thoughts and opinions, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. It doesn't matter if someone disagrees with what I write in my journal or on my blog. These are mine, my thoughts, my opinions. I am a free agent, able to act for myself and that includes think for myself. I can draw my own conclusions on my life and the issues in my world, and decide for myself if they be right or wrong. God gave me that agency and no man or power will ever, can ever take that away from me without my consent, and that is something I will never give.
To end I say a prayer:

God bless all those who fearlessly stand up for truths and for those things which are good. Those who will not allow a wicked and evil generation and leaders to take their freedoms from them. Those who are working and fighting to make this world a better place and who only want to serve God by serving their fellow man. God bless all of those who are struggling with disease, whether of the body or the mind, I pray they will find the strength and courage to face their tribulations and will ask God to stand by them. We all go through trials, often it is so we can learn from them. Ask "What is it that God would have me learn from this?" then get off your knees and serve others. Forget yourself in the service of others and you will find that your own burdens will feel lighter.
God bless Israel and protect and watch over her and her people. Defend her from her enemies and embolden her allies to stand by her courageously. God help us to defend our boarders from those who would hurt our people and take away our sovereignty, even if that means defending us from those who have sworn to protect this great nation. Help this nation to choose good and righteous men as our leaders and cease to do evil and to choose evil. Bless our leaders that they will have Thy spirit to be with them that they might make decisions based upon Thy will, that this people might prosper and be kept safe from her enemies that lay both within our boarders and without. Heavenly Father, I am so grateful for Thy gospel being restored upon this Earth, never to be removed. I'm grateful to be apart of Thy great kingdom. I'm grateful for the knowledge and comfort that can be had in learning about and living Thy gospel. I pray that all peoples might one day know of Thy goodness and partake in Thy glory.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

STAND WITH COURAGE

It will never cease to amaze me the double standard the world holds when it thinks of the Jews and of Israel. Currently, Israel is surrounded by enemies who have threatened repeatedly to kill all the Jews in Israel, and a few have attempted to follow through on those threats. The amazing part is when Israel acts to defend herself our news media and our cowardly bureaucrats accuse Israel of being the aggressor. When the USA was bombed in 2001 by muslim extremists, no one doubted our right to go after those who executed that act of war, and the USA is still at war. But when Israel does the same she is accused of trying to oppress and dominate others. It's frustrating and disgusting the worlds double standard. The Jewish people are a wonderful peaceful people who have been beaten, murdered and scattered for thousands of years. They were forcefully removed from their homeland, but God did not forget them. They were promised that land and the gathering of Israel was promised and foretold and is coming to pass. They have tried to negotiate with their enemies, they have tried to pacify them, but it is difficult to negotiate peace with people who threaten to kill them, who have announced (as the Syrian President has done on many occasions) that the goal is to wipe the Jews off the face of the earth. They are trying to erase the Jewish history and the people. Nowhere else in the world is there a people who is so heavily pressured to be a floor mat to their neighbors and give up their sovereignty and their right to defend themselves. Israel must have clear defensible boarders. She has a right to defend herself against her enemies and has a claim that is based on heritage and legal rights to Jerusalem and to Judea and Samaria (wrongly renamed the west bank).  I will help her in anyway I can and I call upon our leaders to stand by our friends and stop courting our enemies. Israel is our friend, she has always been a good friend to us and we should not turn our back on her now in her time of need. I do not want to live to see another holocaust and I will do all I can to prevent such atrocities from happening again to any group of people. I pray that God will give the friends of Israel the courage needed to stand with her and do all they can to support her in whatever capacity she requests, needs, or demands, whatever the case may be. The "palestinian president"(I do not recognize this as a people but as a terrorist sponsored organization) is planning on pressuring the UN to grant him statehood with land that is not his. He, and his supporters, have been spreading their lies and are hoping that the UN will aide them in stealing from Israel and ultimately in the genocide of her people. I pray that on September 20 the UN will find their courage and will stand with Israel.

 It is not easy for me to share what I think and feel on political and religious issues. I realize there are those who do not feel or think the same as I do, and that's okay. In fact I think diversity in thought and creed to be one of the many things that make this such a wonderful world, however when those different thoughts and feelings encourage violence and evil I can not ignore that nor do I have to tolerate such people. No one has a right to subjugate another people, to kill them on a whim, or to cause them to be removed from their homes and their lawful lands. Against such evil all peoples must stand. I may have fear, but I will not be afraid of standing by my brothers and sisters in Israel. I too am a member of the ancient house of Israel and the Jews are my brothers and sisters. What Ruth said unto Naomi I say unto them "...thy people, my people. Thy God, my God..." I pray that all peaceful people, regardless of nationality or creed, will stand with these good people and help them to make their lands a land of peace and prosperity to all who wish to abide there, without the fear of attack by terrorist or militant neighbors. Israel is a free democratic nation, and there are many places where Jews, Christians and Muslims gather peacefully. They coexist peacefully, work, play attend school. They prove to the world that peace and prosperity is possible. That it is possible for these three faiths to live and prosper side by side. Stand with THEM! They are correct! Stand with them against those who tell them that their way of life is wrong. Against those who would love nothing more than to wipe out not only all Jews but Christians as well and place the world under one world order where no one is free. There are those out their who have already made the choice, Glenn Beck and his company helped sponsor an event this month in Israel to help raise awareness. I say God bless them. The dividing line is being drawn, on which side will you be? I will stand with God and with Israel.

Jennifer Faith Wirick

My Tee-shirt

Sayings I want on a T-Shirt:

1. Date a girl who reads...

2. I'm a (fermata) and you can hold me as long as you want.

3. Silence is a virtue.

4. You can't scare me, I teach special ed prek.

5. Not for sale

6.  I'm my families favorite.

7. weak sauce

8. Duct tape works

9. My families more dysFUNctional than yours.

10. Time travel is possible.

11. I want patience NOW!

12. Nerd Girl Problem (there's several that I want, most have to do with books.)

13. Books are my drug

theres more to come...

Open Letter to Summer

Hello Summer,
It's nice of you to join us this year and I appreciate that in my little corner of the world it's not too hot. Though you are playing a mean joke on other parts of the the world for which you should probably self reflect, but I'm sure you have your reasons, still I'm grateful for my little corner of the world and for the way you bless us with your presence. Let me tell you what you mean to me. To me you are a symbol of rest and relaxation, time off from work and time with the family. A time in which I can't seem to get enough of the replenishing vitamin D. A time when people celebrate weddings and family reunions in abundance. Summer you are full of color and opportunities. Choices abound in your long days and short nights (which to me is a perfect balance). Yes some days you are a little to hot for my taste, but overall I wouldn't give you up for the world. I love your warm rains, it's the only time of the year I can play in the rain and not have to worry about catching a cold. You are fields full of fruit and veggies and other life giving substances, you have the ability to give and give. But don't worry, I don't take you for granted I know you also have the power to destroy, to burn, to evaporate, to kill. I treat you with the utmost respect and love to have you apart of my life.
To me you are days camping and communing with nature. Long hikes in the canyons and walks around the neighborhood. You are water fights with friends, baseball games and sunflower seeds. Swimming in lakes and pools, playing in rivers and streams, and tan skin. You are days traveling to new lands and peoples both literally and virtually. You are hours on a blanket napping in the sun, reading and watching others go by. You are the colors blue and yellow at their most brilliant. You bless us with beautiful sunrises and sunsets and allow us time for contemplation. I appreciate all that you do for us and all that you represent. I wish your season wasn't so brief but I suppose your brevity is why I cherish you. Thank you for being you.

Sincerely
Jenn

Spring a renewal of hope?

It is spring in the northern hemisphere. Thus ushering in all the renewed hopes and joys of at least half of the world. Or at least that's how it ought to be. But this spring leaves us much to reflect. There are areas of growth and prosperity and peace. But there are other areas that are being ravaged by war and/or natural disasters. It makes one both grateful to live in a land of peace and prosperity, such as the one I currently live. Yes we have our own petty quarrels with our politicians and sometimes neighbors, but mother nature has not decided to scrub her surface of us and no other country is trying to drop bombs on us, yes indeed it makes one count ones blessings. Then it makes one reflect, how can we as individuals and as a nation prepare against natural disaster and prevent the scourge of war from reaching our soil. Then again maybe it already has. Our southern boarder is not exactly a safe place and with our southern neighbors constantly trying to invade our land and abuse our laws, it makes one wonder if were are already fighting a war on our own soil. Maybe one spring we wont have to fight any wars, either at home or a broad. That would truly be something to celebrate, and working toward tolerance of others in order to maintain a mutual peace is a worthy goal for all and something worth striving for.