perfection

I just had an odd realization. Odd because it's kinda something that everyone knows, but I've never really thought about it much. And what it is, is that nothing is perfect. You know the phrase "no one is perfect", but just think for a second. With the one notable exception of God, everything is flawed. There is no such thing as a perfect marriage, the perfect photo, a perfect blade of grass. No matter how amazing the one you love is, they'll still let you down sometimes, no mater how awesome your business plan is, it still might not take off, and no matter how long you look past your own faults, you can still always find another one. Maybe that's kind of it, that we can't have anything really and truly perfect without God. That really everything in creation is screaming out for him, because nothing really measures up. I had to face myself today. I was looking at a photo of Grace. We were going to the Titanic Exhibit at the Science Center, and she took the photo and put it into a frame along with this really cool heart thing and a sweet note. Anyways, I had just watched an episode of Scrubs in which JD realizes that he doesn't love Elliot (or however you spell that), and that he was looking at the things she did, and he liked them, but he didn't love them, and eventually he realized he didn't love her either. So I looked at Grace, and I thought about how she gets so excited about summer, about how much she cares about the people around her, how good she is with names, how she loves to cuddle, how creative she is, and how much she trusts me to know what the heck I'm talking about sometimes. And I realized that I do love those things about her. I really do, and I'm pretty sure I will continue to love them, and occasionally make fun of them. And then I looked at her picture and I thought to myself, "Do I love her? Can I imagine spending my life with her?" And you know what? I didn't know. I know how desperately I wanted to just scream out yes, but I don't want to let myself get away from this. It's scary. Because I know that there's so many things that could go wrong, that we might end up just being defeated by distance, that we're not the ones for each other, that I might say something stupid. But maybe that's where God comes in, when we're scared. Maybe it's because of him that on our wedding day we can look into each other's eyes and say that we'll love each other through thick and thin. Because nothing is perfect, but God is big enough that he can hold it together even despite that, maybe it's even because of that. So Grace, do I love you? Yes. I do. Sometimes I honestly don't know, but I want to, and maybe that's enough for now. I don't know. I'm not perfect. But with God's help I hope my love for you can be.

Ten Myths about Introverts. Meaning, me!

Myth #1 – Introverts don’t like to talk.
This is not true. Introverts just don’t talk unless they have something to say. They hate small talk. Get an introvert talking about something they are interested in, and they won’t shut up for days.

Myth #2 – Introverts are shy.
Shyness has nothing to do with being an Introvert. Introverts are not necessarily afraid of people. What they need is a reason to interact. They don’t interact for the sake of interacting. If you want to talk to an Introvert, just start talking. Don’t worry about being polite.

Myth #3 – Introverts are rude.
Introverts often don’t see a reason for beating around the bush with social pleasantries. They want everyone to just be real and honest. Unfortunately, this is not acceptable in most settings, so Introverts can feel a lot of pressure to fit in, which they find exhausting.

Myth #4 – Introverts don’t like people.
On the contrary, Introverts intensely value the few friends they have. They can count their close friends on one hand. If you are lucky enough for an introvert to consider you a friend, you probably have a loyal ally for life. Once you have earned their respect as being a person of substance, you’re in.

Myth #5 – Introverts don’t like to go out in public.
Nonsense. Introverts just don’t like to go out in public FOR AS LONG. They also like to avoid the complications that are involved in public activities. They take in data and experiences very quickly, and as a result, don’t need to be there for long to “get it.” They’re ready to go home, recharge, and process it all. In fact, recharging is absolutely crucial for Introverts.

Myth #6 – Introverts always want to be alone.
Introverts are perfectly comfortable with their own thoughts. They think a lot. They daydream. They like to have problems to work on, puzzles to solve. But they can also get incredibly lonely if they don’t have anyone to share their discoveries with. They crave an authentic and sincere connection with ONE PERSON at a time.

Myth #7 – Introverts are weird.
Introverts are often individualists. They don’t follow the crowd. They’d prefer to be valued for their novel ways of living. They think for themselves and because of that, they often challenge the norm. They don’t make most decisions based on what is popular or trendy.

Myth #8 – Introverts are aloof nerds.
Introverts are people who primarily look inward, paying close attention to their thoughts and emotions. It’s not that they are incapable of paying attention to what is going on around them, it’s just that their inner world is much more stimulating and rewarding to them.

Myth #9 – Introverts don’t know how to relax and have fun.
Introverts typically relax at home or in nature, not in busy public places. Introverts are not thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies. If there is too much talking and noise going on, they shut down. Their brains are too sensitive to the neurotransmitter called Dopamine. Introverts and Extroverts have different dominant neuro-pathways. Just look it up.

Myth #10 – Introverts can fix themselves and become Extroverts.
Introverts cannot “fix themselves” and deserve respect for their natural temperament and contributions to the human race. In fact, one study (Silverman, 1986) showed that the percentage of Introverts increases with IQ.

Quote of the day

“If you're placed in a situation where you suspect your convictions will be labeled intolerant, bigoted, narrow-minded, and judgmental, turn the tables. When someone asks for your personal views about a moral issue-homosexuality, for example-preface your remarks with a question. You say: “You know, this is actually a very personal question you're asking, and I’d be glad to answer. But before I do, I want to know if you consider yourself a tolerant person or an intolerant person. Is it safe to give my opinion, or are you going to judge me for my point of view? Do you respect diverse ideas, or do you condemn others for convictions that differ from yours?" Let them answer. If they say they're tolerant (which they probably will), then when you give your
point of view it’s going to be very difficult for them to call you intolerant or judgmental without looking guilty, too. This response capitalizes on the fact that there's no morally neutral ground. Everybody has a point of view they think is right and everybody judges at some point or another. The Christian gets pigeon-holed as the judgmental one, but everyone else is judging, too. It’s an inescapable consequence of believing in any kind of morality.” –Greg Koukl