Respecting people who haven't given you a reason to...

I realize that I haven’t actually posted anything about Lent, even though it’s one of the most important seasons of the liturgical calendar. And now it’s Holy Thursday already. So, this is kind-of about Lent (sort-of. there’s something else I’ve been thinking of writing, and I might post it in a few days).

You know the sort of people who have authority over you, but you really don’t think they should? Or maybe you’re lucky enough to never have had that experience, but I think most people have.
It could be a parent, a teacher, an older sibling or other relative, a coach, a boss, or anyone like that. They’re the type of people who tell you to do something but never do it themselves. Who are biased and inconsistent. Who are constantly badmouthing other people, and never respect your opinions, but expect you to obey them anyway. And you pretty much have to, because not doing so will just make life more difficult for yourself.

Last Sunday at church, our priest talked about how during this Holy Week we should think about the person in our life who causes us the most pain. Then instead of cursing them interiorly, pray specifically for that person during Holy Week (for anyone who doesn’t know, that means the week leading up to Easter).

It seems to me that it’s those people who cause one the most pain; for me, anyway. :P You can for the most part ignore a younger sibling or classmate if they’re being a jerk, but you can’t do so with a parent or teacher! Ignoring them will usually just make the think you’re not respecting them.
Also, a person should , in a perfect world, be able to respect those in authority over them. When one can’t, I think they realize something’s wrong, at least subconsciously, and so it makes them uncomfortable and sad or angry.

So what can you do about those whom you have very little respect for as a person, but you have to respect their authority? Well, firstly, of course, if you believe in God you can pray for them (for the sake of both of you :p).
And remember that the person is there for a reason; for example, there’s a reason your dad is your dad and not the other way around. No one was born where they were randomly. Both people can grow out of every relationship because of it in a way they couldn’t otherwise, if they’re willing to let themself.
Trying your best not to annoy the person isn’t a bad idea either. It’s interesting how “Honour your father and mother (this doesn’t refer just to parents, but to anyone in authority)” is the fourth Commandment― the bridge between those referring to God and those referring to other people. It’s also the only one with a promise: “That it will be well with you and you may live long on the earth”. (Obviously, that probably doesn’t mean that honouring those in authority over you will automatically add a few extra years to your life, simply that, because those you are listening to are generally older and wiser, you’ll avoid some mistakes you could’ve made and perhaps have better quality and length of life because of it.)
I think that’s because God put those people there; so honouring them (in all that is not sinful) is honouring God, even though they may be vastly imperfect.
Most importantly, as with all those one doesn’t get along with, try to avoid hating them. Love is much better. There is good in every person, even if it’s really hard to see.

Considering and reconciliation with other people really fits the spirit of Lent; preparation for the greatest feast of the liturgical year. So even though Easter is in three days, I’d been thinking about that and I thought I might as well post it. :P

On another note, this is 5 posts in less than two months! For me, that’s a record. :3 Haha. :D
Happy early Easter everyone!!
~Shadoe Dystopya

Random Facts of Essentialness You May Possibly at Some Point Desire/Need to Know, But Probably Not

As you may have noticed, I changed the below-heading-thingy on this blog.
"I'd rather forget and not slow down, than gather regret for the things I can't change now." That's a quote from one of my favorite songs in the whole world. Actually, Forget and Not Slow Down (Relient K) was my favorite song a few days ago… Currently it's Terminals, but it changes literally every day, and it's still one of the awesomest songs.
I'm thinking I'll change the heading thing to various things every now and then.
I also changed the background as you'll notice… and favorite music on my profile because it's changed since I wrote that in November.


These following are facts you need to know. Really. It could mean the difference between life and death (possibly, in some alternate universe of epykness, maybe):
(They are restricted to things learned/experienced today.)

Brownies with icing on them are unbearably, head-achingly, overwhelming sweet.
(Although apparently only I perceived this problem >.>)
At least the ones my sister and I made were very so… though they were fun to make. With green icing, which I insisted on making lemon-flavored (HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY IRISH FTW!!) Electric mixers hate me for some reason. ^-^

Apparently if you add O' or Mc to your last name you automatically become Irish.
We did that at our church youth group party today.

Also, up until the 1920's, if two people walked towards each other in Teltown, Ireland, on St. Brigid's day, that made them legally married.

The good thing about taking care of your neighbours' pets is that if you have to wake up early on Saturday after going to bed really late the night before, at least you don't have to do anything other than putting your hair in a ponytail and putting on a jacket over a pajama shirt and sweatpants to go to their house. Though shoes are advisable.

Have you ever not been really paying attention during swim practice, and pushed off the wall at the same time a guy in your group was coming to the wall? So then you were going to swim underneath him but he grabs the very top of your leg and pushes you to the side of the pool… You probably are aware of this, but if you aren't, it's awkward. Very, extremely awkward. And awkward. Very.

Also, does anyone have any idea how to get nail polish out of a sweater?
Okay sorry, that was a question, not a Today Random Fact of Essentialness.

G'day dear reader, and have a pleasant week. Especially if you're on spring break. But if you're not, that doesn't mean I'm requiring you to have a terrible week unnecessarily.
~Shadoe Dystopya

Names, Mr. Smith, and her newfound love of Justin Bieber…

I was going to write this last night. But then I decided to stay up past midnight playing Puzzle Quest instead. I suppose that means my priorities are rather skewed. However, I’m admittedly somewhat obsessed with that game… *heh, decides not to go into that* (and I was really tired… possibly causing one to wonder then why I didn't go to bed… :P)

My uncle and aunt and cousins recently left from visiting us. ^-^

For the small possibility that you’re unaware: Five kids sharing a room means epikness. It also means lack of sleep, especially if you happen to be the oldest. If two kids who flail around and repeatedly roll on top of you in their sleep, a little boy who snores. very. loudly, a 3-year-old girl who can’t stop talking, and you, are sharing the same floor mattress (why? I dunno. we just felt like it. xp)Well, let’s just say it’s practically a miracle if you get any sleep at all. Still awesomeness. Besides, getting no sleep at all means that people won’t make you feel so guilty about not getting up for a 5 am swim practice.

Life is all about trade-offs. :3

The 3-year-old girl who can’t stop talking is Mr. Smith. Is that her real name? No, that would be cruel. But she has been Mr. Smith (to me) for almost two years now. Two years ago she insisted on always calling me by my sister’s name… So I said she’s Mr. Smith. She likes the name, so, it stays. :D

Currently, I’m Spongebob, apparently… Not quite sure why. Or simply ‘The Clock’. Or very occasionally, my real name except with a ‘b’ replacing the first letter. Alas. XD

(The original Mr. Smith, by the way, in a greatly condensed description, is a Xylok/supercomputer, found by Sarah Jane Smith and used to protect earth. Mr. Smith has a Purpose, although he lacks a first name. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, you are greatly deprived and may suffer severe complications later in life due to lack of Who-ness. I strongly suggest that you immediately find some method of remedying this.)

Thanks to her visit to our house, Mr. Smith (the girl, not the Xylok― and yes I realize that just sounded weird and cliché) now adores Justin Bieber. So does her sports-obsessed older brother. So does her mom. All this due to the influence of my sister, who loves Justin Bieber. As does my brother (for the same reason).

Justin Bieber certainly has some sort of mysterious power. That I am either immune to, or simply utterly incapable of understanding. o_0

Mr. Smith is sooo awesome and cute though. Her favorite song is Dynamite by Tiao Cruz (‘cause it’s her brother’s favorite).

Or it was. Actually, it probably still is, but she has succeeded in admitting otherwise. My sister (gaa, I seriously need to decide some names to use for these people so I’m not constantly referring to them on here as like ‘my sister’ and ‘brother’… I’ll think about that) decided that it was her mission to make sure that Justin was Mr. Smith’s favorite singer by the time her family left. ^-^ Given that she’s such a sweet, bubbly kid and loves to make people grin or react in any way she can, that was a rather easy mission.

My sister: [Insert Mr. Smith’s real name here], your favorite singer is Justin Bieber, right?

Mr. Smith: No it’s Dynamite!

My sister: But it’s Justin Bieber, okay? Justin Bieber! Who’s your favorite singer?

Mr Smith: Justin Bieber! (she pronounces it ‘beaver’… :D)

My sister: Yes!! Who sings Baby, Mr. Smith?

Mr. Smith: Justin Bieber!!!!

I filmed some of the later, less ‘perfect’ exchanges… (gah, I so want to post the videos, ‘cause they’re awesome, but I probably shouldn’t…)

My sister: Who sings Baby, Mr Smith!?

Mr. Smith: Justin Bieber!!

My sister (okay, she’s Tracy from now on): Who’s your favorite singer, Mr. Smith!?

Mr. Smith: *throws fist in the air* Barney!!

Tracy: Who’s your real favorite singer?

Mr. Smith: Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh… My dad!! *throws fist in the air again*

***

Tracy: Mr. Smith, who sings Baby?

Mr. Smith’s brother (as of now known as Gabriel): *starts singing Baby*

Mr Smith: *grins and points at Gabriel’s head*

Tracy: Who sings Baby?

Mr. Smith: *points at Gabriel*

Tracy: Who REALLY sings Baby!?

Mr. Smith: *points at Gabriel*

Tracy: Who sings Baby?

Mr. Smith: Gabriel!!!

Tracy: Noooooooo!!

Mr. Smith: *starts giggling hysterically*

My brother (Nivi): *tackles Gabriel to the ground in an attempt to get him to stop singing* *it doesn’t work*

Tracy: Who, who sings Baby who’s not Gabriel?

Mr Smith: *pauses a couple seconds, then points at Tracy*

Tracy: Uhhh… Who’s not me either.

Me (yeah, the cameraman couldn’t resist joining :p): Who sings Baby whose name begins with J!?

Tracy: Agh.

Mr. Smith: Umm… I dunno. *grins*

Me: Justin…

Mr Smith: Justin…

Tracy: Uhhhuuhhhhhh… *starts hitting her leg in frustration* Cut. Cut. Cut!!

XD

You get the point. :DD Kids are so epik…

I may at some point choose to change Tracy’s and Gabriel’s names.

Nivi is Nivi though, because that’s his nickname from me a most of the time anyway, and it’s not actually easily derived from his first name.

Good day, fair blog readers!! If anyone reads this!!

~Shadoe Dystopya

Love, Continued

Firstly, I apologize that it took almost two months between my previous post and the one before that. :P However, I'll probably post more often in the future. Seriously. How can I say this? Because I've gotten a lot more proficient at typing quickly on my iPod. ^-^

Anyway, I posted what I did four days ago primarily out of personal annoyance.
Personally, I rarely feel love for people, even those whom I like. Sometimes, I feel like I absolutely hate someone. Especially my sister, or one of my parents, or a really mean person.

Does that mean I don't love them? Well, to be honest, yes. I don't love my sister sometimes. I don't want the best for her.

But I should.

It's possible to love someone when your emotions are telling you that you wish she would go die in a hole.
I'd bet she feels the same way about me sometimes.

It's hard to remember that none of us are perfect. That whatever another person is doing, if it really bothers or hurts you, you've done things just as hurtful to someone else.

I've definitely done hurtful things.

*cough* Yeah... I promise my next post will be less weird. :P
~Shadoe Dystopya

Love

Love.

One of dictonary.com's most searched definitions.

What does it mean?

NOUN
1. a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.
2. a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend.
3. sexual passion or desire.
4. a person toward whom love is felt; beloved person; sweetheart.
5. (used in direct address as a term of endearment, affection, or the like): Would you like to see a movie, love? 

That's all.
Love is just a feeling.

What are we looking for, all of those people who Google 'the meaning of love', or whatever?
Maybe some want a dictionary definition.  Maybe some just want to be told that love is a warm feeling.

But I don't think so.

Love isn't a feeling.  Love is a lifestyle.  Love is action.  Love is sacrifice.  Love is hope.  Love is to keep going, and going.  Love is when you don't think it can do any good.  Love is when there's no feeling left at all, and all there is is emptiness.  Love is when you want to hate the person, but you force yourself to want the best for them anyway.
Love can break your heart.

That is love.

Do you think Christ had this 'tender, passionate affection' for humanity, when he died for us?
Did he show a warm feeling toward the money-changers at the temple?  A warm feeling when he rebuked the Sadducees and Pharisees? 
Do you think we cause Jesus to feel affectionate love for us, when we shun him, and hammer nails into his hands every day with our sins?

But he died a horrible death, to save the very people who made him die.

That is love.

~Shadoe Dystopya