Beauty from Pain

I found these three songs really intriguing. I have been through a ton in my life and as I look back I have come to realize that there really are times when it seems that the crying in my heart will never stop, but it does....and i have learned that beauty does come from that pain. In the end it will all work out...all you have to do is believe=] all you have to do is have hope and love with all your heart...As the rain comes pouring down Stand UP and dance the song of life--not letting a day pass by...







These songs comes from a band I just found called "superchic[k]" They are an American Contemporary Christian band and their music incorporates various styles such as punk, rock, rap, and R&B.

In Our Hands...

John A. Widtsoe said: “The only way to build a peaceful community is to build men and women who are lovers and makers of peace. Each individual...holds in his own hands the peace of the world. That makes me responsible for the peace of the world, and makes you individually responsible for the peace of the world. The responsibility cannot be shifted to someone else. It cannot be placed upon the shoulders of Congress or Parliament, or any other organization of men with governing authority.”

A Song For Peace

At times when the heart is crying perhaps the things to do is listen to "A song for peace." To listen to the voices around the world expressing their hopes, dream, fears, pain, and joy. To realize that the crying is not done alone, but together and it is not time to sit down, but to stand up and sing--sing for peace, love, and hope.



What questions have I not asked? It is so easy to go with the flow and stick inside my comfort zone--not seeking to stretch and grow--to learn new things--to experiences new ways--to see different world views.



I too have a dream...a dream that if followed perhaps knows the way...



WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER! We are not a one man island, but are placed on this earth to learn to live together...if not, to die together. Going hand in hand takes courage to stretch out our own and place it in another's; Going hand in hand takes love to open ones heart to new understandings. We...are in this together



Perhaps faith, hope and charity are often paired together because peace within and without cannot be complete without one or the other...One must have faith in their self--that they have the potential to succeed and take action to make the world a better place--having faith in humanity, in our brothers and sisters. One must have hope, for "the moment you lose hope you’re not a thinking person, open to change. You have nothing to strive for. End of story" (Movie: Promises). One must have charity for "without charity man is nothing" unable to love he stands alone...not together with his fellowmen.

Recognizing the Real Fear

I came across this article from iJourney and absolutely loved--and hated if possible--this piece. It instantly reminded me of Martin Luther King Jr. words, "Fear knocked at the door. Faith answered. There was no one there."
................................
In the sphere of human relations, faith is an indispensable quality of any significant friendship or love. “Having faith” in another person means to be certain of the reliability and unchangeability of his fundamental attitudes, of the core of his personality, of his love. By this I do not mean that a person may not change his opinions, but that his basic motivations remain the same; that, for instance, his respect for life and human dignity is part of himself, not subject to change. […]

To have faith requires courage, the ability to take a risk, the readiness even to accept pain and disappointment. Whoever insists on safety and security as primary conditions of life cannot have faith; whoever shuts himself off in a system of defense, where distance and possession are his means of security, makes himself a prisoner. To be loved, and to love, need courage, the courage to judge certain values as of ultimate concern – and to take the jump and to stake everything on these values. […]

Is there anything to be practiced about faith and courage? Indeed, faith can be practiced at every moment. It takes faith to bring up a child; it takes faith to fall asleep; it takes faith to begin any work. […]

The practice of faith and courage begins with the small details of daily life. The first step is to notice where and when one loses faith, to look through the rationalizations which are used to cover up this loss of faith, to recognize where one acts in a cowardly way, and again how one rationalizes it. To recognize how every betrayal of faith weakens one, and how increased weakness leads to new betrayal, and so on, in a vicious circle. Then one will also recognize that while one is consciously afraid of not being loved, the real, though usually unconscious fear is that of loving. To love means to commit oneself without guarantee, to give oneself completely. Love is an act of faith, and whoever is of little faith is also of little love.

- By Erich Fromm, From "The Art of Loving"

When the Goin' Gets Tough...

Feelin a little discouraged has been a reoccuring theme over the past few days. Every now and again I like to read inspirational quotes and poetry to give me a lift and motivation, or just to realise that someone else has been there before...

"Success is usually earned by persevering and not becoming discouraged when we encounter challenges. Paul Harvey, the famous news analyst and author, once said: 'Someday I hope to enjoy enough of what the world calls success so that someone will ask me, "What's the secret of it?" I shall say simply this: "I get up when I fall down" ' (quoted in Marvin J. Ashton, Conference Report, Oct. 1981, 126)."

"If I were asked to give what I consider the single most useful bit of advice for all humanity, it would be this: Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life, and when it comes, hold your head high. Look it squarely in the eye, and say, "I will be bigger than you. You cannot defeat me." ~ Ann Landers

"It's not whether you get knocked down. It's whether you get up again." ~ Vince Lombardi

"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no help at all." ~ Dale Carnegie

"I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much." ~ Mother Teresa

"The true measure of a man is not how he behaves in moments of comfort and convenience but how he stands at times of controversy and challenges." ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

May peace and love be with you...

Wanna Dance?

Last semester I was introduced to this video, "Where the Hell is Matt?" and it touched my soul. I love it. Every time I watch it I am reminded of the connection we can have with each other...Everytime I watch it I see a new face--a new personality--a human being enjoying a moment to dance....



When I saw this video I started to do a little research on the maker and meaning of the lyrics....which only made me love it even more...

The lyrics to "Praan" were taken from a poem by a Nobel Prize winning Indian author named Rabindranath Tagore. While the poem was written in Bengali (or Bangla), I [Matt] chose it based on its English translation, which I [Matt] later learned to be more of an interpretation that captures the spirit of the original without matching it word-for-word.

The English version of the poem is called "Stream of Life." Here it is:

_____

The same stream of life
that runs through my veins night and day
runs through the world
and dances in rhythmic measures.

It is the same life
that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth
in numberless blades of grass
and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers.

It is the same life
that is rocked in the ocean-cradle
of birth and of death,
in ebb and in flow.

I feel my limbs are made glorious
by the touch of this world of life.
And my pride is from the life-throb of ages
dancing in my blood this moment.

_____

To fit the song, we had to chop things up a bit; turning one verse into a repeating chorus and omitting other sections. Here are the lyrics as they ended up in the song, translated in a more direct way from the original Bengali:

_____

I will not easily forget
The life that stirs in my soul
Hidden amidst Death
That infinite Life

I hear you in the thunder
A simple tune
A tune to which I will arise (3x)

And in that storm of happiness
As your music plays in your mind
The whole wide world
Dances to your rhythm

I hear you in the thunder
A simple tune
A tune to which I will arise (3x)
WEBSITE: http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/?fbid=Mh1pAjz8DI1

Playing for Change

I just happened upon this group by accident, but fell in love with the concept and music at once....

Here is "One Love"



Then there is this wonderful song, "Stand By Me"



PLAYING FOR CHANGE is a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. It is a group of artists and inspired people who have come together to connect the world...The above videos speak for themselves...
WEBSITE: http://www.playingforchange.com/

A Day for Change

"Now as we face the fact of this new, emerging world, we must face the responsibilities that come along with it. A new age brings with it new challenges...This world is a world of geographical togetherness. This means that no individual or nation can live alone. We must all learn to live together, or we will be forced to die together." ~Martin Luther King Jr.

In light of the new President of the United States, perhaps it is a day to reflect on the potential for change--a change for the better. To look into our own lives, homes, and communities to see the cracks that need repaired and mended. It is a time to unite and "learn to live together." to take responsibibility for the choices we make--good or bad.

Below is the 44th President, Barrack Obama's, presidential acceptance speech. Eloquently written and delivered Barrack Obama has stirred in my heart the need to change--for the better--to make the world a better place...A world were together we face the challenges place before us and learn to live together.



"Yes WE can. Yes WE did. Yes WE will...welcome to the future." ~Mason Isom

Franklin Tri-Quation

This equation was given in my Business Management class. I am not sure what I think of it...and I have been thinking on it for a week now (sad uhh...I can't seem to figure out my thoughts.) Anyway, people and businesses pay up to $700 dollars to get this information and it is the most sought after time management help given by the Franklin Company...so maybe I don't understand it completely...Here goes...

Self-Esteem = Productivity = Event Control

One needs to take control of the events in their life (it is not taking control of ones self-esteem or productivity, but events)--to become proactive instead of reactive. To do this one must 1.) PLAN 2.) PRIORITIZE 3.) STRETCH your COMFORT ZONE

The ONLY way out of a comfort zone is a GOAL...One has to have a reason to leave--something that has higher value then the current comfort zone. Comfort zones are the destroyers of most plans

So, How do you make a plan?

* Write down all the things you would like to do if life where perfect..."the unconditional list"

*Now break items down into A (Due today, absolutely needs done), B (ought to do), C (Wish list) --> Then break the A, B, C 's into 1, 2, 3, 4 's

* This focuses the energy..."The magnifying glass"

* When finished with an item put a check mark. Why? it releases endorphines knowing you've done something that you were going to do...in other words, by taking control of the events in ones life your self-esteem and productivity will increase keeping the equation equal and progressing to becoming better.

* Life has many interruptions, but if one has a plan one will treat these interruptions with a much different persona then without one.

There are 1, 020 minutes in a day (60 * 17) that we can be doing something...If we have a plan then those minutes will not go to waste and the items we have listed down as A, B, and C will get done increasing our self-esteem and productivity....

There is also a Franklin Pyramid that I will add later when I understand it better then these notes above....

Any thoughts that come to mind after reading this gibberish called my class notes...:)

Five Ways to Succeed

These five steps were found in my syllabus for my mediation class. The professor listed them as ways to succeed in the class, but perhaps they are applicable to my life as well...

1.) Commune with God. Give self quiet time every day to meditate, ponder, and pray. Listen to the spirit and let it teach and guide you.

2.) Read and learn with passion. Seek for new ideas. Wrestle with them.

3.) Rediscover yourself. You cannot know what to think if you do not know who you are. Learn to think for yourself. Don't be afraid to challenge old ideas and ideas of those around you.

4.) Learn to live with uncertainty. there are no easy answers to the problems that plague our lives and the world. At times contradictory ideas will be present. Immerse yourself in different viewpoints. Try to sit with contradictory truths.

5.) Step out of your comfort zone. We must be the change we wish to see in the world. Change can be scary. Don't be afraid.

On the Mindless Menace of Violence

I was reviewing some of my favorite quotes and came across this speech given by Senator Robert "Bobby" F. Kennedy at the City Club of Cleveland in Cleveland, Ohio on April 5, 1968. Perhaps this speech is still applicable...

This is a time of shame and sorrow. It is not a day for politics. I have saved this one opportunity, my only event of today, to speak briefly to you about the mindless menace of violence in America which again stains our land and every one of our lives.

It is not the concern of any one race. The victims of the violence are black and white, rich and poor, young and old, famous and unknown. They are, most important of all, human beings whom other human beings loved and needed. No one - no matter where he lives or what he does - can be certain who will suffer from some senseless act of bloodshed. And yet it goes on and on and on in this country of ours.

Why? What has violence ever accomplished? What has it ever created? No martyr's cause has ever been stilled by an assassin's bullet.

No wrongs have ever been righted by riots and civil disorders. A sniper is only a coward, not a hero; and an uncontrolled, uncontrollable mob is only the voice of madness, not the voice of reason.

Whenever any American's life is taken by another American unnecessarily - whether it is done in the name of the law or in the defiance of the law, by one man or a gang, in cold blood or in passion, in an attack of violence or in response to violence - whenever we tear at the fabric of the life which another man has painfully and clumsily woven for himself and his children, the whole nation is degraded.

"Among free men," said Abraham Lincoln, "there can be no successful appeal from the ballot to the bullet; and those who take such appeal are sure to lose their cause and pay the costs."

Yet we seemingly tolerate a rising level of violence that ignores our common humanity and our claims to civilization alike. We calmly accept newspaper reports of civilian slaughter in far-off lands. We glorify killing on movie and television screens and call it entertainment. We make it easy for men of all shades of sanity to acquire whatever weapons and ammunition they desire.

Too often we honor swagger and bluster and wielders of force; too often we excuse those who are willing to build their own lives on the shattered dreams of others. Some Americans who preach non-violence abroad fail to practice it here at home. Some who accuse others of inciting riots have by their own conduct invited them.

Some look for scapegoats, others look for conspiracies, but this much is clear: violence breeds violence, repression brings retaliation, and only a cleansing of our whole society can remove this sickness from our soul.

For there is another kind of violence, slower but just as deadly destructive as the shot or the bomb in the night. This is the violence of institutions; indifference and inaction and slow decay. This is the violence that afflicts the poor, that poisons relations between men because their skin has different colors. This is the slow destruction of a child by hunger, and schools without books and homes without heat in the winter.

This is the breaking of a man's spirit by denying him the chance to stand as a father and as a man among other men. And this too afflicts us all.

I have not come here to propose a set of specific remedies nor is there a single set. For a broad and adequate outline we know what must be done. When you teach a man to hate and fear his brother, when you teach that he is a lesser man because of his color or his beliefs or the policies he pursues, when you teach that those who differ from you threaten your freedom or your job or your family, then you also learn to confront others not as fellow citizens but as enemies, to be met not with cooperation but with conquest; to be subjugated and mastered.

We learn, at the last, to look at our brothers as aliens, men with whom we share a city, but not a community; men bound to us in common dwelling, but not in common effort. We learn to share only a common fear, only a common desire to retreat from each other, only a common impulse to meet disagreement with force. For all this, there are no final answers.

Yet we know what we must do. It is to achieve true justice among our fellow citizens. The question is not what programs we should seek to enact. The question is whether we can find in our own midst and in our own hearts that leadership of humane purpose that will recognize the terrible truths of our existence.

We must admit the vanity of our false distinctions among men and learn to find our own advancement in the search for the advancement of others. We must admit in ourselves that our own children's future cannot be built on the misfortunes of others. We must recognize that this short life can neither be ennobled or enriched by hatred or revenge.

Our lives on this planet are too short and the work to be done too great to let this spirit flourish any longer in our land. Of course we cannot vanquish it with a program, nor with a resolution.

But we can perhaps remember, if only for a time, that those who live with us are our brothers, that they share with us the same short moment of life; that they seek, as do we, nothing but the chance to live out their lives in purpose and in happiness, winning what satisfaction and fulfillment they can.

Surely, this bond of common faith, this bond of common goal, can begin to teach us something. Surely, we can learn, at least, to look at those around us as fellow men, and surely we can begin to work a little harder to bind up the wounds among us and to become in our own hearts brothers and countrymen once again.

There is also a great youtube video of this speech that I love to watch and be reminded once again of the powerful words of Martin Luther King Jr. "Somebody must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate and the chain of evil in the universe. And you do that by love." A love for our brothers and sisters everywhere.



We cannot be silent any longer...it is time to speak up.

The Formula 4 Success

This formula for success was given by a professor at BYU Hawaii...I found it very interesting and have thought a lot about it...

From J. Paul Getty
1.) Get up early--No later than 6:30 am. Why? This is a habit of excellence.
2.) Work Hard--Why? This is a prerequisite for success.
3.) Find your oil--find your talent/skill, something you are good at.

From David B Haight
4.) Get an education--get all the training you can get.
5.) Make your mark in life--make a difference in the world.
6.) Get prepared to serve

The real magic in this formula is what you are doing it for...you are doing it to serve our brothers and sisters--all the people around us. Instead of focusing on the success that might be coming our way we focus on the needs of others and work hard at making a difference in the world.