There's More Than Just Germs Out There

"5 second rule!"
It's kind of a common phrase you hear when someone drops something on the floor, quickly bends down, picks it up and eats it.
But the thing is, the five second rule doesn't really work. One of my friends put it this way: "The germs aren't just going '1, 2, 3, 4, 5, go!'"
Germs aren't the only thing that doesn't follow the five second rule. Temptations don't either.
We wish germs  would wait five seconds before springing up on our food; we wish temptations would wait until we were ready to face them. Well, sorry, but neither does that. Germs are always out there just like temptations.
They aren't waiting for us to be prepared so we've got to be ready for them. How? (Try not to drop food on the ground.) Scripture study (not just reading, studying and pondering), sincere prayer, regular church attendance.
It's never too late to start preparing. But the sooner you start, the easier it's going to be.

A Short Movie Review: Tomorrowland

Ever since I saw the trailer I've been wanting to see Tomorrowland. I mean, it looked really good.
I don't want to spoil it but that kind of hard to do when you're writing a review. So I'm going to try my best not to spoil it in case you haven't seen it yet but no promises.

I really liked how the movie was all about the power of one person and making a difference.
I also liked how the trio was composed of an older man, a teenage girl and a younger girl who is not what she seems. That was just a nice change from the usual trio, two guys and one girl or two girls and one guy who are all about the same age.
Tomorrowland is one of those movies that makes you think even after you watch it. Scenes and ideas from it just run through your head afterwards, at least it did for me.

There was some language but besides that it was a very inspiring, uplifting movie. And it's just reassuring to know that even in a world that is plagued with so much violence and confusion, we can still be inspired and make it a better place, if we just step out of a comfort zones, even if it's just a little bit.

Go tell the world

     If you could tell one thing to the entire world, what would you say? Would you give encouragement, advice, tell everyone to toughen up?
     Think about it for a moment. Everyone wants to change the world but the big question is how? How are you going to do that? Well, if what you could tell the world would change it, what would you say?
     It's hard to think of only one thing. I mean, look around and there are so many we wish we could tell everyone. You know?
     But if you could make it one thing, what would you say?
     I'll give you a moment to think it over.
     I was asked a similar question at a job interview, the question was "what do you think is the number one problem that teens are facing?" or something along those lines. So, I thought for a few seconds because the first things I thought of were drugs, cigarettes, things like that. Then I realized that we know that those things are bad but we do them anyway. Why?
     Anyhow, my answer was "I think the biggest problem today for teens are conflicting ideas that go against what we know to be true." I don't know how to put that in simpler words but I do know how to explain it. Drugs, smoking, it's not healthy. Both of those things can tear families apart, in fact on cigarette boxes it say that it can cause cancer. And we're always being told about drinking and driving and stuff.
     So, why do we do it then? Why do we smoke when it clearly says that cigarettes can and will harm our bodies? Why do we drink when we know that drinking can rip apart our families and our lives? Why?
     I think it's because there's so many rumors that are constantly going around that tell us that the things we know to be wrong are good and fun and won't harm you at all. We know it's wrong but when everyone else is giving into those rumors we can be pulled in because we want to fit in and it's the "cool" and "in" thing.
     But let me tell you, those addictions, they are not, in any way, worth it. Don't think that you won't be pulled in; that's what a lot of people thought. Popularity, peer pressure; don't let those things push you into things you know are not right. It's not worth it. I promise. The addiction is not worth it. Once you give in, you become a slave.
     So, I know that there are people who've tried it once and don't do it again but that percent of people against the percent of people who keep doing it...well, I don't have actual numbers but I think I'm safe in saying that the scale is heavier on the side of those who keep doing it.
     I know that addictions are powerful, they drag you in and trap you there. Escaping is hard.
     Be careful of the choices you make.

Open Your Eyes

"We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is it this the part of wise men, engage in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not and, having ears, hear not?" This is part of Patrick Henry's famous "give me liberty or give me death" speech at the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1775. Henry is one of the best examples of a patriot. He may have grown up like a regular boy in the 1700s but he ended up as one of the most important men in the American Revolution. But how did he go from normal boy running around in the hills and woods of Virginia, to one of the greatest men in history?

Henry grew up in Virginia and he and his siblings took advantage of the land all around them. We might say, "I'm going over to Susan's house," in the same tone as Henry might have said, "I'm going up the mountain." Fishing, hunting, swimming and exploring made up a large part of Henry's childhood. He played a couple different instruments including the violin and harpsichord. His father and uncle were Henry's main teachers though Henry did attend a local school in his early age.

Henry and his brother, William, tried to open a store together but the business failed due to the brothers generosity. Henry tried again at the mercantile trade but it didn't last long. After marrying, Henry took a shot at tobacco farming but after a famine that idea fell through. At this point he turned to law; he taught himself the guidelines, rules and points of law, and went forth to become a lawyer. He amazed the bar examiners and soon joined a law firm. It wasn't that much longer until Henry was widely recognized as a powerful speaker and lawyer. With his strong voice and passions, it's no surprise that Henry was one of the principle leaders in the revolution.

Patrick Henry was all about taking action. He taught it and he lived it. So, how can we do that too? The Declaration of Independence, written one year after Henry's liberty speech, says "that Mankind are more disposed to suffer…than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed." It's easier to stay silent when someone asks for a volunteer for prayer; it's way easier to let someone else open the door for that elderly couple. Patrick Henry was surrounded by people who were too hesitant to act. Henry's friends said things but, as the saying goes, "it's easier said than done." Open your eyes! Do you really notice everything around you? The answer is that you probably don't. Our brains don't recognize all the crazy, wonderful and troubling things that happen all the time. We only focus on what's most important; which might end up being what we think is most important, not what actually is important. The problem is that we live in a world like Henry's. There's just not enough people who stand up and stand out. Our nation is binding itself in troubles and snares. The chains are thick; the keys to the locks are missing. Do we notice the hole America is in? Drugs, shootings, live-in boy and girlfriends. That's only some of the problems. We've got to stand up to these things. And to do that we've got to open our eyes and pay attention. Many of Patrick Henry's friends noticed that he did a lot of observation. By listening and watching, Henry learned a lot about human nature. That's why he was such a great orator, he knew how to captivate and draw people's attention. He saw what was happening and he took action.

Henry lived in a world that is so different but yet so alike to our own. Henry didn't have to worry about bullies in the same way that we do now but he stood up for the right and we can too. But to do so, our eyes must be open, our ears listening intently. Henry lived over three hundred years ago but his example still shines brightly in a dimming world. Put down the phone, get away from the computer, turn off the TV; the world needs to see your light. As Henry asked, "Why stand we here idle?"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an essay I wrote for an online class I'm taking this semester.

Looking on the bright side

     I recently attended a local youth soccer game and I was helping one of the teams out. So I'm standing on the sideline, it's the second half, and I couldn't help but notice that the other team's coaches were really negative. Now, I know that saying things behind people's backs is not okay but it really reminded me about how important it is to be encouraging and focus on the positive, uplifting things.
     I think that sometimes we forget to congratulate those we know. But, you know what's interesting? We seem to be very quick to judge and point out others faults and weaknesses.
     Can we at least strive to recognize the accomplishments of our family members, friends and co-workers? I think so.
     I play soccer (or football) and I've found that you've got to look on the bright side. Because, let's face it, "you're going to win some, you're going to lose some," as one of my coaches once said. So look on the good side. It's kind of like that saying that says something like, "if you think you're going to lose, you're right."
     Besides, when you look on the bright side, you feel better about it later. That's because you recall the good things that happened, not just the bad things. And the good things are things  you can be a little proud of.

"You never see a fault in anybody. All the world are good and agreeable in your eyes. I never heard you speak ill of a human being in your life." ~Elizabeth Bennet about her sister, Jane. Pride and Prejudice.

      I wish this could be said of me. I'm still working on it and that's okay because everyone is. Judging and seeing the faults in others, that's natural. But if we can remember to see the positive things that happened, we're happier. (And, you know, soccer is just a game. And as players, we just want to play. Sure we want to win and it feels great when we do but we're not going to die or anything if we don't.)

We don't choose the consequences, either good or bad, that come from the choices we make but we do get to choose our reactions.

What would you do with 275 feet?

This video illustrates the importance of doing well in school now. We have to stand our ground and fight back.

Ever since I learned about Joshua Chamberlain, I've admired him. His bravery and faith was incredible.

We all have a Joshua Chamberlain inside us who is determined and ready to charge, we just have to let him take over. 

We cannot take this lightly! This is the real deal; we need to decide that we're going to charge and then do it. We cannot afford to think about it too long. In the big picture, your years in high school are short. And essential. This is the time when you are transitioning from a child to an adult. Your habits in high school will heavily affect your life. If you take high school lightly and push it aside, letting your grades slip and spending time with people that don't lift you up, how much harder will it be to change? If you work hard and keep your grades up, college life and life in general will go much smoother.

275 feet. That's less than half a mile. It seems small and insufficient but trust me, those 275 feet are essential.

If Joshua Chamberlain hadn't charged, he may have lost the battle. If he lost the battle, the Union line would have fallen.

If we let our guard down and we let the enemy in, our future is in jeopardy. No one knows exactly what their future is going to be but one mistake can cause a whole bunch of problems.

John and his friend left the party. John's other friend did not. John and his friend stayed in Japan and became successful. John's other friend was sent home.

One choice, one small, seemingly unimportant choice, changed their lives.

I cannot lose my ground. You cannot lose your ground. If we do, we will not get that land back, at least not without a whole hoard of trials.

What are you defending against? What is your enemy? Are you letting them win? 

Don't give up, don't give in.

There is a war raging all around us. We have to stand up and fight. We need to arise. We need to do this now. 

Now is not the time for sitting back and letting others fight. This is our time.

What are you going to do with your 275 feet?

-----------

Note: These two videos can be found on YouTube. The first one is called How 275 feet can change your life for ever, just like it changed America. It was made by Tatiana Fallon (who happens to be a great teacher and mentor.)

The second one is called Leave the Party and was made by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

9/11

Today we commemorate the 2,977 people who died when terrorists crashed 4 planes (although one wasn't really crashed by a terrorist).

When you hear about the events that happened today 14 years years ago, you just feel depressed. But you also feel proud of the brave souls who went in the Twin Towers to rescue others, the passengers of the fourth plane who overpowered the hijackers.
People gave their lives on September 11th, 2001. Police officers and firefighters and EMTs did all they could to save people. None of the passengers on the fourth plane survived.
These people are heroes.