You Know Why I'm Not Into Occupy Wall Street?

From November 18, 2011

Because I don’t put my faith in the government.  And I know that everybody doesn’t have that luxury.

But they could.

Matthew 6:25-33
Philippians 4:19

So yeah, there’s debt from my incredibly expensive college education lurking around back there (thank goodness for forbearance).  Yeah, I’m currently unemployed.  Sure, I’m in the 99% or whatever.  But I’m completely fine.  And I’m gonna be fine.

And it could always be worse.  It’s ironic to me the kinds of people for the most part backing this movement.  So many people are getting screwed over by our system, yes - but the ones protesting are shooting videos of the action with their iPhones, and it’s so hard to be sympathetic to that when there are people who have no idea that Occupy Wall Street is going on because they’re starving somewhere in Africa.

Or starving somewhere right down the street from me.

And I’m sure there are homeless people involved in the Occupy Wall Street movement, so I’d hate to be the one to generalize when I honestly don’t know too too much about what exactly is going on, but here, I find this article to be very interesting: http://theweek.com/article/index/220968/does-occupy-wall-street-have-a-homeless-problem

I just feel like the ones who are most desperate, the ones who actually have the most right to complain about their situations are the ones not causing a ruckus in New York City because they’re too busy trying to figure out where their next meal is coming from.  They’re more likely to hold up signs that say “hungry” than “Occupy Wall Street!”, and it’s not that I’m not sympathetic to what Occupy Wall Street stands for - I am - but I admit that I am quite wary as to what this method is actually accomplishing.

I feel like it’s the cool thing in our generation to be revolutionary, but it’s less of being revolutionary for a purpose, but more so just for the sake of being seen as some cool revolutionary.  If that makes sense haha I feel like at this point, the flaws and corruption of this system are so deeply rooted that pissing off a bunch of rich people is not going to make any difference.

Which is why I’m not holding out hope that our government can change.  But I am living on the hope that my God will provide for me.  And the Occupy Wall Street movement is protesting greed, but I find the whole movement in itself to be quite self focused.  It’s the 99% wanting the money that the 1% has - is that not just another form of greed?

The issue is that we all - whether we’re filthy rich or terribly poor - put all of our stock in money, as if all of the answers to life and our true happiness lie in it, and it doesn’t at all.  And whether you have a lot of it or none of it, you’re eventually just going to die and it won’t matter anyway.  That’s why we have to put our stock in something else.  There’s a greater purpose out there - it’s not money, it’s the love of Jesus, and there’s enough to go around plenty for everyone.

And I don’t have much money at all, but I am so satisfied with my life simply because I have Him.  Money doesn’t matter.  People will try to call me a liar, try to debate that, but it doesn’t.  I find that all of my needs always end up being provided, and I don’t have to protest or covet anyone else’s money.  I’m taken care of.  Putting my trust in Jesus has proven to be the best thing for my life.

So let the rich keep their money.  It’s not going to benefit them in the grave, I’ll tell you that much.  Is it right for them to hoard the money to themselves?  I certainly don’t think so, but you can’t put your faith in humankind because that will absolutely fail you.  That’s why I’ve practically abandoned politics, because Republican or Democrat, it’s all corrupt, it’s all flawed, and as much as I want to believe in a system that will equally cater to every single person they’re supposed to represent and protect - regardless of class - I know too much greed and selfishness exist in this convoluted bureaucracy for that to ever truly happen.  So I’ll just do my part - instead of trying to depend on the government to help those in need, I’ll just give what I can, hope others do the same, and pray through it all, knowing that my God will be faithful.

I don’t know if this is too controversial or not.  And I don’t claim to know all I should about Occupy Wall Street and all of those involved.  I just know that I don’t feel the need to protest, because my life is not in the hands of those on Wall Street, contrary to popular belief.

And I also believe we need to keep the right perspective about this.  We fall so easily into this “oh, poor little me!” trap, when in reality, most of us are far more blessed than we ever realize.  We gotta check ourselves.  Are we just mad at the rich because they have more than us and we want more, too?  Because that makes us just like them.  Not saying that’s the case with everyone - but we just gotta check ourselves.  You don’t have to be rich to be greedy.

That’s all.  Not looking to incite anything or to shove my beliefs down anyone’s throat or even looking for people agreeing with me.  That’s just been mulling around my head, so I wrote it.  The end.

A Greater Perspective.

From December 1, 2011


I was admittedly so disgruntled taking the bus this morning.  And not the nice and shiny Culver City bus - no, the LA metro bus straight through and to the hood.  Inglewood Courthouse, to be exact - so it wasn’t exactly luxurious.

But it just shows how ridiculously spoiled I am.  Who am I to think that I’m above taking the bus, because I’m certainly not?  Yeah, I grew up a certain way (let’s just say, money definitely wasn’t scarce), but that means nothing.  As if I did anything special that allowed me to be born to a doctor - nope, it’s nothing I deserve.  Nothing sets me apart from anyone else other than what God chose for my life.

Not that I waltzed onto that bus with my nose held high, as if I was one of those girls in a cliche “Rich girl loses all of her money and is suddenly thrust into poverty” movie role.  No, certainly not.  In fact, I would never initially think I had an attitude of implied superiority, but it’s so subtle as I sit on the bus, a little uncomfortable with shifty eyes, absolutely wishing there was any other means of transportation I could take other than the one I was forced to.

And of course naturally, I’m in a new environment I’m not used to - I’m gonna feel uncomfortable to an extent - but my recent forays on public buses have shown me just how spoiled I am without even realizing it.  And it’s ridiculous - God had to put me in check real quick.  Really, I should view everything as a blessing.  At least there is public transportation for me to take!  That in itself is more than I’m entitled to - that government provides a way for people without cars to get around the city!

And when I was on the bus, a woman confined to a wheelchair got on, and wow - how could I sit there, bitter and disgruntled?  This woman is handicapped and by herself, having to take the public bus - might have to take every single day.  Meanwhile, I can walk, had a friend with me, and have only had to take the bus three times in the three months I’ve been here.  And won’t have to next week because I will be getting a car.

So it’s ridiculous and ungrateful of me to feel like I’m “better” than the bus.  To be mad that I have to take the bus.  God has blessed me so much, and goodness knows my contentment is not found from how I’m getting around.  And I’m not better than the bus - the bus in itself is a blessing.  Without the bus, where would I be?  So in that sense, I am thankful for the opportunity to be able to take the bus.

I don’t.  We get so caught up in our own little privileged world sometimes that when we’re in the slightest situation that is “below” what we’re used to, we suddenly get judgmental and feel all entitled, forgetting that everything we have is a gift from God to begin with.  And that we are no better or no worse than anyone else - especially not because of our social/financial status!

Riding the public bus has been a huge eye-opener.  I can’t help but be incredibly humbled by it.  This car I’m getting next week - I just can’t take it for granted, because I know it’s a huge huge huge blessing and way more than most people have.  When you experience the other end of the spectrum, even briefly, it gives you an entirely new perspective.  I think we all just need to get out of our boxes sometimes, realize the world is not about us and what we have, and be aware of that other people on a daily basis have to deal with things that we could never dream of.  Then stop complaining and stop actinglike we’re too good.

Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.  But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

I Timothy 6:6-8

Patience and Contentness

From December 8, 2011


God has taught me two things in particular in the past year:

The importance of patience.  In every little thing - with how we act with people and in anticipation for whatever to happen.  God gets it done in His own time, whether we’re anxious about it or not.  And there’s so much peace to be found in patience.

And when I look back on certain things I’ve wanted so badly and wanted right at that instance, but didn’t get at that instant - I see there was a reason behind it.  And in a lot of cases, I eventually got those things I wanted.  In some cases, it was literally years later - but I still got them.  And I found that once I did have them, the wait seemed like nothing at all.

Secondly, I’ve learned not to necessarily be disappointed when I don’t get something I want.  Because I know this is the cliched Christian response, but that just mean that God has something even better.  And I’d rather wait (going back up to that patience thing) for God’s best than immediately accept my sub-par, you know?  Naturally as a human, I’m going to have desires and expectations, but not many of them are going to ever be met.  But the bigger lesson that encompasses these two points is total trust in God.  Something I would not be able to do on my own, but thank goodness for the Holy Spirit empowering and God teaching me to help me be able to trust Him so much through His grace.

I just know that I have no idea what’s best for me.  Sometimes I think I know, but in reality - I don’t.  God, however, knows.  So I’m just gonna let him direct my life and accept gratefully whatever opportunities and experiences He gives me.  And respect His sovereignty when He withholds certain things from me.