Responsibility

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

1 John 1:9

All politics aside, I was pleased to hear our President take responsibility for the airplane incident...To be honest, I have been too wrapped up in my current weight loss efforts to pay much attention. I do not fly American, but rather Southwest...Anyone who has been on Southwest knows a terrorist will not be on the congested plane.

Anyway...Do I think that the President is responsible for the incident? No, but I see where folks would argue contrary. I was simply relieved to see someone claim responsibility as opposed to offering excuses. In our society, NOBODY seems to be responsible for anything that is less than outstanding. It is almost as to say "I did not know, I was not aware, I did not bother to wonder why, etc...". As a teacher, I have heard almost every excuse from every person for every short coming. I too am guilty for excusing behavior and mannerisms that are less than ideal. Maybe we are programmed to achieve greatness and anything less is simply not our fault, regardless of the role we play in it? This brings up a question: why do we make excuses ?

We (I) make excuses because it is easier than apologizing. We (I) make excuses because we (I) are not comfortable admitting a shortcoming. Do not get me wrong, I sympathize with people, myself especially, who make excuses and are attempting to stop. However, I have started to look at it like this "WHO CARES?!?". If we make a mistake, own up to it. If someone is offended, and we are sorry, then too bad for them. Why do we not apologize? Obviously, if we are making excuses (which usually require more effort than apologizing), then we have some ownership in the issue that is at hand and, therefore, need to accept our share of the responsibility. Maybe our pride prevents us from acknowledging a mistake. I look at like this, and this development is recent, that a mistake is simply a path that did not work out for me.

From a Christian perspective, all that matters is His opinion. We can make excuses for people, but He sees all and knows all. So, accept our responsibility and move on. Responsibility empowers you! In our society, we need less excuses and more change, more ability, more people to say this is wrong, I am sorry, let us make it better...

In the words of Johnny Cash
"Well you may throw your rock and hide your hand
Workin' in the dark against your fellow man
But as sure as God made black and white
What's down in the dark will be brought to the light"

Thats all for now.......Paz y amor a todo....

Calling....

Do people really expect you to know what you want to be when you grow up? If so, when do you grow up? How am I supposed to know when I have to wear my "Big-boy" pants as scheide puts it? When, then, can I take them off....When we are adults, are we allowed, ever, to revert back to childhood? Or, does that desire signify that you are not an adult?
I do not have all of the answers to these questions, but I do have some ideas.....I say ideas because I am certain that, as I experience more of life, my thoughts will change. Since I am around kids all day, many looking to go to college, they are always asking me "Mr. P, when did you decide to become a Spanish teacher". They laugh when I tell them "Around graduation time" as if they expected something along the lines of "Well, since Jesus spoke to me and said "Rick, you will be a teacher". Sad to say folks, that usually is not how it happens...I realize that teaching is my thing for now, how ever long now is, is up for grabs. I refuse to define who I am by my job. I do not think a calling and a job are one in the same. Am I called to teaching? Yes. Do I have to be a teacher to do so? No.
I think that I grew up in college, around junior year, when family situations made me become completely independent financially. I learned the value of work and, more than anything, that exploration and questioning are needed to really live. I started to accept life for what it can be and NOT what it is now....People make that mistake so often. Life is a mixture of what you want it to be and what it is for now. You grow up when you have to, when you accept that you cannot control what happens in life, but that you CAN control how you react to those occurrences.
Wanting to take off those "big boy" pants does not mean that you are not an adult. To me, it means that you are an adult realizing that you need a break, so darn it, take one!
In a nutshell, I do not think that you ever really "know" what you want to be when you grow up because growing up is a process, not a single event :)

Day One

So, I decided to start writing a blog. My brother has one and it is really interesting, so I thought I would do the same....I have no specifics in mind with respect to what the blog content will be other than a mixture of who I am (faith, politics, love, Spanish)....Stay tuned...