So, How Are You?

Often times, I think we claim to be a lot busier then we really are. God forbid we exert more effort during our daily grind of life. We get so consumed with what we are doing that, we forget about the simple things of life. For example, conversations, asking how some is doing, helping someone out.

Yesterday, I was reading for a class. I was trying to catch up on some reading. For the last couple of days I have been getting no sleep. So, I figure I read at school so I could go to sleep when I got home. However, while I was reading I was interrupted by a former classmate from South Korea. He sat down and proceed to talk in his broken english. He said hi.... he paused waiting for me to reply. In my mind I rolled my eyes and asked ... So,how are you?

He then basically talked to me for about a hour. I had lost my place in the book. I did not remember what I read,or what notes I jotted down. But Sung Sue was happy I listen to him, even though he had no idea I was sleepy and grumpy.

But the reality is I had time. I could have easily said " Hey man, I'm reading nice seeing you." Sure, there are times for that, those times are appropriate. But I was just reading, I was in no rush. The truth I just did not want to be bothered.

Sung Sue, left. I started my reading all over. But it hit me, I would want someone in my position to do the same thing. I thought of all the times people asked how my day was... or listen to me.

The principle is simple ask someone how they are doing. And you have made more of an impact then you can imagine. In many ways, its a lost art, it shows you care. That you are willing to take up some of your time. Let's face, we have down time. We are not that busy, we just claim to be.

So, how are you?

The Cost Of Honesty

I parked my car, grabbed my backpack and started to walk towards campus. Suddenly, I heard a loud noise, metal colliding against metal. A guy had swung his car door to hard and hit some one's car. The hit was minor, nothing to fuss about. However, the guy went to his dashboard pulled out a pen,notebook and started jotting down his information.

Honest, right? There are many scenarios that require honesty. The reality is a lot of times its easier not to be honest. No one was around the car that the guy scarped. He could have easily walked away. No one would have known. I bet the owner of the hit car would not even recognize the mark.

But this individual, took the liberty of making sure the owner had his contact information. Who knows what will come of it. But it cost something. Perhaps, nothing that will make the guy cringe, but he hit the car.

A lot of times we are put in a scenario where it is quite obvious that we need to be honest. Sometimes the cost is high or relatively low. Regardless, honesty is important. Honest does cost something: reputation, relationships, security, money etc.

Honesty is not about comfort or convenience. Its about, owning up to what you need to be honest about.

The question that lingers in my mind.

Will I be honest, even if it proves costly?

Scared and Excited

It appears that its only habitual to be scared and excited at the same. When we are confronted with something completely new. The only analogy I can come up with is a new boyfriend or girlfriend. You excited about the potential and what it brings like love, companionship, and a friend. However, there's the scared part... that it might blow up in your face. The unexpected elements that it brings like heartbreak, opening yourself up to a stranger, and the conflict that it produces.

In short, I am eluding to the mission field as a mate. You pour your tears, effort and time into a particular people group, country and try to assess the needs. Each situation provides different obstacles and challenges. In many ways, our time and experience is determined on how we respond. Adversity and conflict is inevitable no matter what we do.

My underline point is that we want something so bad it becomes reality. We can't help but have a whole host of emotions like being scared and excited at the same time.

As I received my letter which holds the country in which I have been picked for. Those emotions came into place. I smiled and opened it and was not surprised by the choice.

A simple stroke of the pen will commit me, to this country. I'm afraid, I have doubts... However, I have excitement of the potential and challenge it presents. This place is not my first choice, but God is pulling in a direction I never saw coming.

My mind has been spinning since. A decision must be made.

By faith....

The Missionary Road

I walked in all dressed up, which is rare. I took a seat took my jacket off and he asked " How are you, Jose?"

I smiled and said... "Good, thanks." I had just entered my interview for potentially, becoming a full time missionary with the International Mission Board. It was a long time coming in mind, for this very moment.

However, butterflies were erupting out of sheer excitement. Yet, once the interview started, I realized something was going to change fast. The interview was hard, revealing, and refreshing at the same time. He asked, every personal question known to mankind. He asked, questions my friends have never asked me.

He came in shooting. I came in unprepared. All in all, the interview was humbling my 4 days in Richmond, Virgina were humbling.

Bombarded with a plethora of opportunities in the mission field, that take you all over the globe.

I learned in my short time, that the mission can be unforgiven and treacherous. But it can bear fruit that will last a lifetime. I have been called down this missionary road.

For along time I have dreamed of traveling to spread the Gospel to others. Yet, the 4 days of orientation serve as a remind that the road will be hard and rewarding.

There will be days I will feel like throwing in the towel. Others, I feel on top of the world. I have the learned that this road is about deny yourself, all the time!

God has control, no matter the continent. He will reveal Himself to the lost. I am merely a messenger at best.

The missionary road will undoubtedly, be life changing....

Incremental Progress

I was 18 years old .... I was in many ways at a crossroad in my life. At 18 is when I started to see things, in a different light. I was becoming more mature, took people's emotions into account.

Five years later... I can safely say, I have grown. However, there is still a lot to learn. Yet, the progress was incremental.

Many of us need to change want to change. Yet, we allow fear and laziness to lurk. We see progress when we put work into it.

A lot of times, it maybe incremental and that is okay! Usually, progress is not meant to be conquered in one day. For example, a basketball players... they practice multiple hours, days, and even years. The progress is incremental, but it comes full circle its quite the sight.


Keep going....

Maxed Out

Is it possible, to have reached your fullest potential in one particular place? That it might be time to move on?


Often times, especially with college students I see discontent. They are not happy with what they are doing, they see no purpose. Perhaps, this the the common dilemma most college student encounter.

To be honest, I can relate I feel a purpose, yet I feel, that I'm ready to go. To leave what I know best, the comforts of familiarity and luxury. Is it weird to think, I can learn more elsewhere?

These are questions I ask and many others. Wanting a change of daily reality.

Rather, the question I ask ..... is have I maxed out? One season leads to the next.

My impatience has hit critical mass. However, the time will come.....

Just wishing it would happen sooner.

Just a thought.....

Just Pray

The other night my dad received a call from his sister who lives in Monterrey, Mexico. From the look on his face, he looked concerned. After the conversation I asked what happened? He told me, that one of my aunt's clients in front of her laundry mat was robbed at gun point. It was a member of the drug cartels in Mexico.

Recently, the border of Mexico has seen a spurt of killings from the cartel. This problem is not old, however, the cartel have gotten more sophisticated over time. It's not just the poor people, who are easy to exploit who are being targeted, but people of middle class status, not to mention wealthy people. This new turn of events has caused a stir within the entire nation of Mexico. People are canceling vacation plans to visit family. The resorts are seeing fewer people coming to vacation on the beaches. The Mexican government thus far, as shown that they are not capable of preventing this unrest and fear the drug cartel have instilled in all of Mexico and the border towns of the U.S.

The other day in the San Antonio Express News there was a story about a missionary who was shot driving back from Mexico. The Cartel wanted the nice looking truck.But her husband started to speed up, but the cartel started shooting and a bullet went through the head of his wife. Senseless, right? A couple pouring their lives into a region that is in great need.

I can't help, but think about what if that was my aunt. My family, my blood and that's a cold reality to this. I stood there trying to formulate thoughts on what next? My aunt could have been that woman, my aunt witnessed the whole thing.

What can I do? I want to do something, but what? Later that night, I began to pray for the nation of Mexico.

So that's, what I will do.... pray. Pray for the cartel, the government, the people of Mexico. This comes to my main point. Who are you praying for? There are a lot of needs around the globe. The reality is we can't be there to help with all of them.

But God can, He is our hope. The light of this very dark world. This lesson may seem cliche, but when tragedy strikes, who else do we turn too?

Pray..... It's the beginning of something powerful and special.