Shadow Men

Jason: “Only a God can save us”?

Archie: I didn’t say some preacher could. But what a story.

Jason: Story?

Archie: The Jesus thing. God, the Creator of the universe, becoming a man, suffering worse than any person suffered, suffering an injustice worse than any of us can suffer? Incredible! I forgot that’s what Christians believe.

Jason: Did he convert you?

Archie: Imagine, though, if it were true. God so relating to us that He dies with us, as a human being? What a different spin that puts on things!

Jason: But suppose it’s not true?

Archie: It ought to be, then.

Jason: Archie…

Archie: It ought to be…

Shadow Men, by: Clifford Goldstein, pg. 91-92

By: Gabriela Yareliz

I enjoyed the discourse between Jason and Archie in the play Shadow Men, two men waiting to die on death row. After Preacher Mike comes to talk to Jason, both engage in a discussion about the reality of God. They are both skeptics but Archie makes an interesting wistful declaration.

I believe in the “Jesus thing.” I believe in a God who related so much to us that He came and died for us being like us.

Archie is right… it ought to be true… and it is.

M. Gandhi

By: Gabriela Yareliz

From M. Gandhi’s autobiography: The Story of My Experiments with Truth

I am enjoying his book thus far. There are things I don’t agree with; things I do… I like how honest he is about his experience. I find him at times humbling, and at others completely stubborn and set in his thoughts and ways (but aren’t we all). He was an extraordinary man; human; thinker.

“I know that nothing is impossible for pure love.” (13)

“True friendship is an identity of souls rarely to be found in this world.” (19)

About the study of law:

“Facts mean truth, and once we adhere to truth, the law comes to our aid naturally.” (133)

“I had learnt the true practice of law. I had learnt to find out the better side of human nature and to enter men’s hearts. I realized that the true function of a lawyer was to unite parties riven asunder.” (134)

 

Going deeper

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Sometimes in life, we make the same mistakes over and over again, or the storms keep ripping(figuratively, of course)  the limbs off of the trees and all that surrounds us. Sometimes, we worry, and we seek so many things at the same time. It can be overwhelming.

Today, I heard Pastor Tony Evans say that when things get stormy in the sea, the fish simply goes from going down 25 feet to 26 feet under. It goes deeper. When things seem rough or worrisome, we must go deeper… deeper into God.

Life is actually not so complicated… God tells us:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

Seek first all that God has to offer; seek His character; His holiness; His love; His truth; and everything else will fall into place. Go deeper. Come to Him with every prayer and supplication.

Pastor Evans said that our souls tell us the facts… it tells us what we face. Maybe we are broke, alone, tired, screwed–whatever. But we need to go deeper, and go to God. God will not tell us the facts; He will tell us Truth.

The truth is God is with you always, and the Truth conquers… it sets you free.

When it feels like you are on ‘pause’

Compiled by: Gabriela Yareliz

“Not without design does God write the music of our lives. Be it ours to learn the tune, and not be dismayed at the “rests.” They are not to be slurred over, not to be omitted, not to destroy the melody, not to change the keynote. If we look up, God Himself will beat the time for us. With the eye on Him, we shall strike the next note full and clear. If we sadly say to ourselves, “There is no music in ‘rest,'” let us not forget “there is the making of music in it.” The making of music is often a slow and painful process in this life. How patiently God works to teach us! How long He waits for us to learn the lesson.” –John Ruskin

“If our hopes are being disappointed just now, it means that they are being purified. There is nothing noble the human mind has ever hoped for or dreamed of that will not be fulfilled. One of the greatest strains in life is the strain of waiting for God. “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience.” Remain spiritually tenacious.”–Oswald Chambers

Before I run off

By: Gabriela Yareliz

I have been called in to work today. It turns out there will be a Spanish speaking group there… ahh the benefits of being a polyglot. I encourage anyone who has any slight interest in any culture or language to go for it. It will always pay off. It adds something to you. People always have the lame excuse that no one has taught them. That is what is partially wrong with the world. People want to be taught everything. No one seeks on his/her own, and in the end the public gets spoon-fed a bunch of lies and it is okay with that (I love how I can get political in one sentence nah?) Anyway… before I run off I thought I’d share some cool things I found. (Sorry for the typos)

1. Kitty

I really like these shoes. I want a pair… they are so unique. If you hate shoes, at least appreciate them for what they look like. CUTTEEEE.

2. Hollywood and Bollywood are coming together for  vegan cookbook. So exciting! I am trying to go completely instead of vaguely Vegan– so, this appeals to me.

Click here for the full article from the Desi section on the NY Daily News.

3. Be Yourself

So true! There is something refreshing about someone confident in their own skin, not trying to be like anyone else. Everyone dies, but not everyone lives, right?

4. Marion Cotillard

On the cover of Vogue Paris. She is my fav. French star. She is a unique character.

I thought she looked great on the cover (this is the journalist in me coming out).

5. Letters

Speaking of random things… I got a shower curtain with cool letters and typography on it. Only a designer/ journalist would appreciate that shower curtain as much as I did. I am so excited.

It reminded me of the film Helvetica, which documents the evolution of the “font.” Wow… this takes me back to editing capstone days.

Some of us care to much about letters and words. Is it weird that when you look at a sign instead of reading it you are looking at the typography? Does design really mess up your mind?

6. Iconic

Have an amazing day.

Powerhouse women I admire

By: Gabriela Yareliz

These women are pretty amazing. They aren’t ranked… just listed…

1. Cristina Kirchner

She is on my radar now… Cristina Kirchner is an incredible woman. Attorney, first female president of Argentina– she is a fascinating person to listen to. I watched her in “South of the Border,” an excellent film on Latin American politics and U.S. relations by Oliver Stone.

2. Rania Al-Abdullah, Queen of Jordan

She is too cool. She has her own Youtube channel, and she reaches out to women, girls and bridges the gaps of religion and race to always emphasize our shared humanity.

3. Princess Ameerah, of Saudi Arabia

Married to a business man and working for the empowerment of women and Arab nations.

4. Mother Teresa, adopted by Calcutta

When someone takes of his or her time to love and care for those who are invisible and unwanted by others… he or she are reflects the love of Christ. She reflected God, who is love, to all who were around her.

 

Oswald on prayer…

Found by: Gabriela Yareliz
I always appreciate and love his quotes… He is one of those people who encourages us to keep praying. To know that life is like music, and that even when we feel silence– God is still in the “rests,” and that the music would not be the same without the rests. The rests and silent moments make it a masterpiece.
We impoverish God in our minds when we say there must be answers to our prayers on the material plane; the biggest answers to our prayers are in the realm of the unseen.
– Oswald Chambers
We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.
-Oswald Chambers