Tidbits #1

Struggling with Sin?

http://www.jaredbridges.net/archives/2007/06/22/struggling-with-euphemisms/

Excerpts from the article:

These days, it seems, a person doesn’t sin anymore so much as they struggle with sin.

A person who lusts becomes a person who is “struggling with lust.” Someone who is proud becomes someone who is “struggling with pride.” A person who views sexually explicit material becomes one who is “struggling with pornography,” and so on and so forth.

…uncomfortable with facing head-on the ramifications of saying “I sinned,” the sinner chooses a different route. The guilt of having committed the sin is seemingly alleviated by couching it in the language of struggle.

I don’t know if I necessarily agree with this article, as it seems to argue on wordplay that can be interpreted in a variety of ways. How often have you said that you struggled with a sin of yours, either in public or in prayer? There is truth behind the usage of this word. However, the article makes a good point in saying that such language can potentially defuse what should be a high priority in your life – the removal of sin. By telling others that you ’struggle with sin’, you can avoid providing blunt details for your exact sins. They can be whitewashed behind a label. In other words, it is politically correct and safe. Therefore, it is best to strive to honest and be able to exactly confess things you have done wrong, so you can pray for them to be taken head on by God. In terms of using that phrase with others, it depends on your level of comfort with the people you are discussing with.

In more personal news…

I’m looking for co-op placement next term still. Just completed two interviews today, but I forgot to check Jobmine so I don’t know if either of them were successful. I would really like to spend some terms living away from home, but unfortunately next term is probably a no-go because of my sister’s wedding. Going off to a far-flung place, only to have to pay extra for a way back into Mdot for a few days in September just isn’t worth it.

I think I need to work on being more verbally concise. As much as I pride myself in trying to take a spartan (har har) approach to life, words are something I waste far too often. I throw in unnecessary qualifiers and disclaimers with every statement, and that weakens a lot of my arguments and discussions. In the future, the best course of action would be to let the audience do the shooting down of my arguments for me, because that is their job and not mine.

A friend said that I was laidback all the time. That scares me.

Endeavours

I am not a prolific writer. I don’t derive pleasure from putting down words onto some recordable format and sharing it with the world. Writing is a skill that I have, but it’s not one that I enjoy. Which is kind of funny, because the field that I am aiming for, and drifting ever so far away from, requires a passion for putting forth your arguments, your thoughts, your ideas in a format digestible to others. However, I realize that talents fade away slowly if they do not get put to use (looks like the Bible got it right all along).

So, in the interest of professional and personal development, I am making a commitment to myself on this blog: I will post at least once a week. Egotistical in the assumption that people want to read this? Yes. Justified in the sense that I need to be more productive with my time instead of doing things that only affect myself? Yes. Should I get started? Yes.

Where’d it go

I think I’ve lost joy and contentment. I’ve found happiness, both in others and myself… but at the end of the day I know something’s missing. Is this the breaking point?

More to follow.