GABRIELA YARELIZ

By: Gabriela Yareliz

So, what did happen on that fateful day that I was supposed to cover the domino tournament? This is a delayed update, partly because I had to get over the trauma and rage of the whole deal. On October 13th, after an exhausting day, I drove home and went back to Gainesville to find the “Virtually Cuban” Restaurant where the domino tournament would be taking place. I was proud of myself for having researched the game, and I had my laptop and camera. Looking like a boss right?

I had Mapquested the directions to the restaurant, and so I arrived with no problem to the run-down little plaza. I called my mother; realized that the place looked dead with the exception of what I think was a laundry place on the corner. I walked up to the door and read a sign that read something along these lines:

“Currently closed: we recommend La Tienda Latina across the street.” I look behind me at the Tienda Latina Mexican Restaurant. I am angry. Are you kidding me?! After a whole week of dreading this event coverage they do this to me?

In short, the Hispanic Student Association is irresponsible and careless; the domino tournament didn’t happen; the restuarant doesn’t exist. Perfect. Let’s just say I was no longer asking to be put in a wheelchair, but I was about to put someone in a wheelchair.

I hate dominos. Oh, and note to the community VIRTUALLY CUBAN IS CLOSED.

It was thrilling, believe me. Yesterday, I also found out Paolo (Lexus) really hates anything to do with power steering. What a curse Paolo; what a curse.

Ahh, the things you cannot control in life. It seems I am getting my life lesson here. Yesterday, I submitted my first couple of law school applications. I almost had a heart attack when I pressed the checkout button which closes out the application. What is done is done n’est-ce pas? The rest is in the hands of God.

The weather has changed; it’s cold now. I think of some of my applications that are going to the coldest parts of the nation and it terrifies me slightly. It’ll be okay though.

Anyway, I end this random collection of thoughts (which began with the blasted domino tournament event, or not-so-event since it never happened), with a thought from Mark 7.

The thought has to do with defiling oneself… not washing your hands, yeah that is bad hygiene (wash them!); jumping in puddles can be gross (don’t do it! Well, maybe sometimes it’s exciting)- but really what is it that defiles us?

Jesus was talking the the Pharisees and to his disciples about how what defiles us, is what is in us.

Verse 14 and 15:

And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:

¹⁵There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

Verse ¹⁸And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;

¹⁹Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?

²⁰And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

²¹For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

²²Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

²³All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Our thoughts; our hearts-this defiles us.

Then the chapter ends in a message of a woman’s faith. Sometimes God waits for us to insist on something. It’s a test. And this woman, got her desire.

²⁴And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.

²⁵For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:

²⁶The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.

²⁷But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.

²⁸And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs.

²⁹And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.

³⁰And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.

So today, despite the evils of the world (domino tournaments and stubborn cars and people), remember that it is what we allow in our hearts and minds that defile us. Nothing external can- unless we let it in. If you have something on your heart that you need or want of God, pray. Ask Him to have mercy on you. Don’t let go of Him untill He blesses you. Be insistant like the woman who came to Jesus, begging even if it were for the crumbs.

I will try to get over the whole domino deal-it’ll happen. Such is life; have an awesome day.

-And don’t play dominos. 😉