Between the towns of Lisbon and Mount Vernon, there is a bike path on the shoulder of the road connecting the two towns. Finding that route most convenient, I've biked down this path several times in the last few days when I had things to attend to in Mount Vernon. But you see, there is a nice large pear tree hanging over the head of anyone who might pass by. And as one would expect, a few pears have fallen onto the path. One pear in particular sits right side up in the middle of the path, daring any passerby to eat just a bite.
Now I'll admit, you probably have no idea why I'm referring to this as a "dilemma". After all, who considers eating a pear off of the ground, especially when there are plenty of other ones right above it still on the tree? (We won't get into the ethical ramifications of stealing pairs off of trees) But sadly, I have no concept of "germs". So this wayward pear looked, quite frankly, quite tasty. Remember that ever time I come across this pear I've usually been biking for awhile, so if not tired I'm at least a little hungry. What better way to satisfy this most basic of human needs than by eating a conveniently placed pear?
After I pass the pear, I notice another one just a few feet past it, with a chunk missing (probably from animals) and inside it was all rotten. Do I gamble on the hope that the other pear is perfectly fine to eat, or do I take heedence from the rotten pear, and just leave it alone. To tell you the truth, I would like nothing more than to take just a small bite of that pear. Just a tiny one. If underneath the skin it was perfectly fine, I would continue to eat the entire pear, for surely no one else would want it. And if it was indeed rotten, I would spit out what I had eaten, and throw the pear away.
Yet each and every time I ride my bike past this pear, and I don't even look back. Now the not looking back part might be for safety reasons (Safety? What?), but the pear stays in my mind. It takes hold of it, in fact. My mind urges my body to turn around my bike and try the pear. After all, the worst thing that could happen is it that I have a bad taste in my mouth for a moment or two. I know that I would quickly forget the possibly awful taste, and I know that surely allowing my curiosity to be sated would be worth it. Or would it? Or is that the point of the Dilemma of the Pear? To see if I can allow myself to act on my curiosity?
Well, this is kind of random. But you know what? That's okay. AND IT COUNTS ABBY. Oh wait, what? We aren't in the competition anymore and I don't have to be worried about the size or quality of my posts? Cool.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Highschool Yearbooks And Me
I was in the eye doctors office recently, and I saw that as reading material in the waiting area there were several Mount Vernon High School yearbooks. I had read some of them before, because my sister, who graduated form Mount Vernon, had of course received several. But this time the experience was slightly different. It was a portal to a different time. People I know that are know about to graduate from college, I now see them when they were the same age of me. It's weird. Yet I know that I will never have the same experience, because I won't have a highschool yearbook. Instead, I will be forced to make my memories be the substitute for a hardcover book filled with pictures. Or is it the other way around? Are those books actually a substitute for memories, in case they are forgotten?
But then this got me thinking about highschool. I am, as you surely know, a junior. In two years I will be in college. By all accounts I should have this "teenage" thing down. And yet, I'm so unteenager like. Now I am not so proud that I don't recognize that this is actually quite common. There are thousands upon thousands of teenagers that are very similar to me. But what about the teenagers kept inside the pages of these yearbooks? How do I compare to them?
One of the sections which highlights several "trendy" things, such as shoes and scarves, said "Trendiness is something of a priotey in today's world, especially in highschool.". If you know me at all, I am not at all trendy. I cannot tell you a single instance where I cared how I looked or smelled. Now this MIGHT be a reason that most people can only bare to socially interact with me over the internet, but I can't say for certain. I don't know, I see "trendy" things as kind of a waste of time. Style? I have none. This is partly because I'm a guy, but also partially because of my personalty.
And then there is the subject of money. Another section said "It's as though ever high school student has the same problem no matter who they are. They just don't have enough money to do the things that should be done in highschool". The section goes on to show pictures of students with 500 dollar guitars and 100 dollar shoes. I found this particularly humorous because in the same trip that we went to the eye doctor, we also went to the bank, And that morning I had decided to deposit 200 dollars in my college fund not because I was some super saver, but because the money was just lying around my room. My dresser, my desk, on top of some books, just lying around. Money from my birthday, various allowances from previous months, and dog sitting money. I could have used it on stuff if I wanted, but I could not think of anything that I especially wanted at the moment. Or anything I needed, anyway. Now this is not because I'm some self disciplined person (very far from that, actually) but because I'm so unteeneager like. As I thought about it, even though the section presented quite a few things that teens spend their money on, I had personally never spent money on any of the things. Not school lunches, pop, gas, make up (I hope not, anyway), cell phones athletic equipment, I just didn't use any of that stuff (except school lunches, but because they are usually leftovers I don't have to pay for them. And I guess I would have to pay for gas once I can drive). Now it is true that the reason for this is that I don't do a lot of *normal* teenager activities. Instead I stay home on the computer. It might be looked down upon by others, but it's cheap.
There was yet another section about things that a teen could not live without. I am pleased to say that I proved this incorrect, for I am still breathing. One line that particularly caught my section went like this "Not many students would be able to live without cell phones". In previous posts I've already vented about why I don't like cell phones, but as I kept on reading through quotes from students I became more and more depressed. Almost every quote about what a student needed to survive included cell phones. Really? Are they THAT important to you? Of course, if you asked me the same question regarding the internet, I would most likely do something incredibly violent. Good stuff.
And then there's prom. Now if you know me at all, you probably know that I refuse to abandon the thinking that girls have cooties. Yeah, typical homeschooler. Sorry about that. But because of that thinking, unless my values radically change in the two years I have left in highschool, I will never go to a prom, homecoming, or any other sort of "dance" thing. Not that I couldn't if I wanted to. The Marion Homeschool has several alternatives, and if I wished I could go to a school one if I went with someone I know who goes there. Now I'm not going to go into my anti-romance speech, but proms kind of seem childish to me. Eh. Besides, I hear that the only reason that most teenagers go anyway is for post prom. But still, I cannot stand the thought of dancing with a (gasp!) girl. I much prefer my broom. Some might think that I am joking, but anyone in the play knows otherwise. Seriously, it seems torturous,
So I've pretty accurately described why and how I am different from the average public schooled teenager. Now what is the point of all of this? Well, I'm beginning to wonder if there is one. This is kind of self centered, yes, I know. And I realize that very few people are the stereotypical teenager presented in those yearbooks. Also, many homeschoolers which are the people I hang out with the most, usually aren't stereotypical either. But, I wonder what sort of memories my highschool experiences will hold? Now that I have thoroughly presented how I am so radically different from the teenagers in those yearbooks, how can I know what the yearbook which will be my memories will be like? Life is weird. Also, this has nothing to do with anything, but as a side note I had to mention this. In some of the yearbooks whoever did the image editing did not know how to get rid of the background correctly for individual photos of people. 'Nuff said.
But then this got me thinking about highschool. I am, as you surely know, a junior. In two years I will be in college. By all accounts I should have this "teenage" thing down. And yet, I'm so unteenager like. Now I am not so proud that I don't recognize that this is actually quite common. There are thousands upon thousands of teenagers that are very similar to me. But what about the teenagers kept inside the pages of these yearbooks? How do I compare to them?
One of the sections which highlights several "trendy" things, such as shoes and scarves, said "Trendiness is something of a priotey in today's world, especially in highschool.". If you know me at all, I am not at all trendy. I cannot tell you a single instance where I cared how I looked or smelled. Now this MIGHT be a reason that most people can only bare to socially interact with me over the internet, but I can't say for certain. I don't know, I see "trendy" things as kind of a waste of time. Style? I have none. This is partly because I'm a guy, but also partially because of my personalty.
And then there is the subject of money. Another section said "It's as though ever high school student has the same problem no matter who they are. They just don't have enough money to do the things that should be done in highschool". The section goes on to show pictures of students with 500 dollar guitars and 100 dollar shoes. I found this particularly humorous because in the same trip that we went to the eye doctor, we also went to the bank, And that morning I had decided to deposit 200 dollars in my college fund not because I was some super saver, but because the money was just lying around my room. My dresser, my desk, on top of some books, just lying around. Money from my birthday, various allowances from previous months, and dog sitting money. I could have used it on stuff if I wanted, but I could not think of anything that I especially wanted at the moment. Or anything I needed, anyway. Now this is not because I'm some self disciplined person (very far from that, actually) but because I'm so unteeneager like. As I thought about it, even though the section presented quite a few things that teens spend their money on, I had personally never spent money on any of the things. Not school lunches, pop, gas, make up (I hope not, anyway), cell phones athletic equipment, I just didn't use any of that stuff (except school lunches, but because they are usually leftovers I don't have to pay for them. And I guess I would have to pay for gas once I can drive). Now it is true that the reason for this is that I don't do a lot of *normal* teenager activities. Instead I stay home on the computer. It might be looked down upon by others, but it's cheap.
There was yet another section about things that a teen could not live without. I am pleased to say that I proved this incorrect, for I am still breathing. One line that particularly caught my section went like this "Not many students would be able to live without cell phones". In previous posts I've already vented about why I don't like cell phones, but as I kept on reading through quotes from students I became more and more depressed. Almost every quote about what a student needed to survive included cell phones. Really? Are they THAT important to you? Of course, if you asked me the same question regarding the internet, I would most likely do something incredibly violent. Good stuff.
And then there's prom. Now if you know me at all, you probably know that I refuse to abandon the thinking that girls have cooties. Yeah, typical homeschooler. Sorry about that. But because of that thinking, unless my values radically change in the two years I have left in highschool, I will never go to a prom, homecoming, or any other sort of "dance" thing. Not that I couldn't if I wanted to. The Marion Homeschool has several alternatives, and if I wished I could go to a school one if I went with someone I know who goes there. Now I'm not going to go into my anti-romance speech, but proms kind of seem childish to me. Eh. Besides, I hear that the only reason that most teenagers go anyway is for post prom. But still, I cannot stand the thought of dancing with a (gasp!) girl. I much prefer my broom. Some might think that I am joking, but anyone in the play knows otherwise. Seriously, it seems torturous,
So I've pretty accurately described why and how I am different from the average public schooled teenager. Now what is the point of all of this? Well, I'm beginning to wonder if there is one. This is kind of self centered, yes, I know. And I realize that very few people are the stereotypical teenager presented in those yearbooks. Also, many homeschoolers which are the people I hang out with the most, usually aren't stereotypical either. But, I wonder what sort of memories my highschool experiences will hold? Now that I have thoroughly presented how I am so radically different from the teenagers in those yearbooks, how can I know what the yearbook which will be my memories will be like? Life is weird. Also, this has nothing to do with anything, but as a side note I had to mention this. In some of the yearbooks whoever did the image editing did not know how to get rid of the background correctly for individual photos of people. 'Nuff said.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Principle of the Path
Recently I borrowed Principle of the Path, a book by Andy Stanley, from Abby. You might recall that she once blogged about this book, available here. When I first had a chance to look at the book, and read a few things from the jacket, I must admit that I was a bit hesitant. Although I already returned the book, and thus I am not able to directly quote it, the book was saying things along the lines that reading the book was a sure-fire way to help my children become obedient and for my marriage to be better. Oh. Okay. Despite it's claims to the other, it was looking like it would be a self help book. Despite this, I dug in anyway.
The Principle of the Path is defined as "Direction - not intention - determines your destination". What this means is that no matter how much you intend for your life to end up one way, say to live the American dream, if you don't make good decisions your intentions will do nothing for you. Now this might seem as common sense, and in fact Andy wondered if it was so obvious that there was no need for him to write about it. But the thing about common sense is that it actually isn't that common.
And it is this concept that Andy explores throughout the book. The thought that we are all on a path, a path that has a destination. But these paths, though they are numerous, have been trodden on by many others before us. And no matter how different these people are, they all reach the same destination. The point of the book is that we need to learn from others who have already traveled down their path. Andy refers to this as the "road maps" of others. Those who are wiser than us and have more experience. Now this, yet again, seems to be common sense. After all, who doesn't attempt to learn from others? Well, we do. Or, as Andy pointed out, we do the same thing as Rehoboam, who disregarded the wise advice of his royal advisers and instead followed the advice of young men who were no farther on the path than he. Now, this is a point that I slightly dispute. I believe that there is much we can learn from our peers. But still, it is the nature of teenagers to think such. After all, I think pretty much everyone can attest to the foolish arrogance that we are prone to posses.
So was I eternally changed as a result of this book? Not especially. Would I recommend this book? Of course. We all need to learn how to be intentional in what we do. To recognize that we are on a path, whether we like it or not. And that path has a definitive destination, whether we like it or not. Just because I want to be a hermit doesn't mean I automatically become one. I need to take the necessary steps, such as shun society and find a nice cave somewhere. Preferably with cake.
The Principle of the Path is defined as "Direction - not intention - determines your destination". What this means is that no matter how much you intend for your life to end up one way, say to live the American dream, if you don't make good decisions your intentions will do nothing for you. Now this might seem as common sense, and in fact Andy wondered if it was so obvious that there was no need for him to write about it. But the thing about common sense is that it actually isn't that common.
And it is this concept that Andy explores throughout the book. The thought that we are all on a path, a path that has a destination. But these paths, though they are numerous, have been trodden on by many others before us. And no matter how different these people are, they all reach the same destination. The point of the book is that we need to learn from others who have already traveled down their path. Andy refers to this as the "road maps" of others. Those who are wiser than us and have more experience. Now this, yet again, seems to be common sense. After all, who doesn't attempt to learn from others? Well, we do. Or, as Andy pointed out, we do the same thing as Rehoboam, who disregarded the wise advice of his royal advisers and instead followed the advice of young men who were no farther on the path than he. Now, this is a point that I slightly dispute. I believe that there is much we can learn from our peers. But still, it is the nature of teenagers to think such. After all, I think pretty much everyone can attest to the foolish arrogance that we are prone to posses.
So was I eternally changed as a result of this book? Not especially. Would I recommend this book? Of course. We all need to learn how to be intentional in what we do. To recognize that we are on a path, whether we like it or not. And that path has a definitive destination, whether we like it or not. Just because I want to be a hermit doesn't mean I automatically become one. I need to take the necessary steps, such as shun society and find a nice cave somewhere. Preferably with cake.
| I did promise cake, didn't I? |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)