On June 5, 2009, flowerspushthrudirt issued A Challenge to Xangans, asking us to “write non-controversial posts that uplift people and make people laugh” during the week of June 7-June 13, 2009.  In response to this, CelestialTeapot wrote Challenge to Xanga: Stay the Way You Are, in which he wrote, among other things, “Xanga is a platform for individual self expression.  For a lot of us, that means our personality and our voices are unreined” and “It is only when we challenge our beliefs in controversy that our ideas can grow.”

I definitely agree with CelestialTeapot that Xanga gives us the opportunity to express ourselves.  That is certainly true for me.  I write and comment about topics on Xanga that I would not really be confident enough to talk about with other people in person.

At the same time, however, I also think that flowerspushthrudirt’s idea is a good one.  As I commented on CelestialTeapot’s post, if her suggestion had been a mandate, a rule that we all had to follow, I would be very upset.  Considering it is completely voluntary and temporary, I thought about it, and decided to participate.  In between all the controversy, arguments, and resulting misunderstandings, I love a chance to be positive and write about the things that make me happy.

Therefore, while I doubt there is anything I can say that will be completely non-controversial and offend absolutely no one, I will attempt to focus on some nice, positive topics.  (I’m aware that this is actually late as I did not post it during the week suggested by flowerspushthrudirt.  I was going to post it during that week, but didn’t finish it in time, due to a combination of procrastination and other things.  Also, I was kind of upset about something, so I hope that finishing this and posting it will make me feel better.)

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There is a site called Gives Me Hope (GMH), which was started in May 2009.  It is staffed by Emerson Spartz, the founder of the Harry Potter fan site Mugglenet and his fiancee Gaby Montero, the founder of Daily Cute.  Gives Me Hope was created in response to the site FMyLive. According to the About Us page, on Gives Me Hope, “people share with the world their most hopeful, uplifting moments and allow others to draw strength from their experiences.  It’s like Chicken Soup for the Soul – the 21st Century, Twitter-style version.  Because with all of the hurt and suffering in the world, who couldn’t use a few more reasons to hope each day?”

I first visited Gives Me Hope for the first time a few days ago, and it really does live up to it’s description.  Some of the posts are just about the simple good things in life, while others are about finding some good despite a bad situation.

Here are some examples of the posts on the website:

John (Post #999) wrote “Three years ago, a friend of mine died in a car accident due to drunk driving.  I’ve taken care of her son ever since and today he hugged me and told me that he wished I married his mom before she died.  I was driving the car.  GMH”

Anonymous (Post #874) wrote, “I saw a story on the news today about a man who tried to rob a convenience store.  The shop owner subsequently pulled out a rifle and pointed it at the man, who immediately begged for forgiveness.  The robber explained he had no food or money for his family.  The owner gave him 40 bucks and bread.  GMH”

thesummaid (Post #993) wrote, “i was sitting on the bus depressed i had this little girl looking at me and smiled and asked “you look sad..did your fish die?  my sisters fish died and she was sad..but then she got another one and was happy again so don’t worry..you can get another fish” and then got off the bus with her mom.”

The site is still new, so there are not too many posts up yet, but Mugglenet is a very popular site, so maybe more people will join and post on Gives Me Hope in the future.

The description of the site on the About Us page is accurate.  It actually is a bit like Chicken Soup for the Soul, the main difference being that these are small posts instead of essays or stories written by professional writers.

I am usually a person who enjoys a well-written essay on a topic, but some of these posts were especially moving.  Also, I think it was a nice idea for them to create a site focusing on positive things in response to one that focuses only on the negative.

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As I mentioned towards the end of my previous post, I have been reading the Holy Bible.  (At this point you may be thinking, Wait!  I thought she was going to stay away from controversial topics.  I am going to attempt to talk about the Bible without being too controversial.  Let’s see if I succeed.)  I prefer to read books cover to cover, so that’s what I’m doing.  Right now, I’m in the middle of the Book of Judges.  Out of curiosity, I’ve been peeking ahead at the parts that I’ve heard are especially inspirational, such as The Book of Psalms, The Book of Proverbs, and the Sermon on the Mount.

It’s always been my belief that a reader can take away something good from most books, even from one with which he does not completely agree.  In fact, I do not think I have ever read a book that I thought was perfect (though some do come close, in my opinion).  I cannot pick one book that I would read continually, excluding all others, so I keep reading as much as I can.

I think this same rule, of taking away something good from whatever one is reading, can also be applied to holy book in which one does not necessarily believe.

I thought I should share one of parts that I found especially inspirational, with messages that people can appreciate even if they are non-Christians and, indeed, even if they profess no faith at all.

Proverbs 8

[1] Does not wisdom call out?
 Does not understanding raise her voice?
[2] On the heights along the way,
 where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
[3] beside the gates leading into the city,
 at the entrances she cries aloud:
[4] “To you, O Men, I call out;
 I raise my voice to all mankind.
[5] You who are simple, gain prudence;
 you who are foolish, gain understanding.
[6] Listen, for I have worthy things to say;
 I open my lips to speak what is right.
[7] My mouth speaks what is true,
 for my lips detest wickedness
[8] All the words of my mouth are just;
 none of them is crooked or perverse.
[9] To the discerning all of them are right;
 they are faultless to those who have knowledge.
[10] Choose my instruction ahead of silver,
 knowledge rather than choice gold,
[11] for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
 and nothing you desire can compare with her.

[12] “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
 I possess knowledge and discretion.
[13] To fear the LORD is to hate evil;
 I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
[14] Counsel and sound judgement are mine;
 I have understanding and power.
[15] By me kings reign
 and rulers make laws that are just;
[16] by me princes govern,
 and all nobles who rule on earth.
[17] I love those who love me,
 and those who seek me find me.
[18] With me are riches and honor,
 enduring wealth and prosperity.
[19] My fruit is better than fine gold;
 what I yield surpasses choice silver.
[20] I walk in the way of righteousness,
 along the path of justice,
[21] bestowing wealth on those who love me
 and making their treasuries full.

[22] The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works,
 before his deeds of old;
[23] I was appointed from eternity,
 from the beginning, before the world began.
[24] When there were no oceans, I was given birth,
 when there were no springs abounding with water;
[25] before the mountains were settled in place,
 before the hills, I was given birth,
[26] before he made the earth or its fields
 or any of the dust of the world.
[27] I was there when he set the heavens in place,
 when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
[28] when he established the clouds above
 and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
[29] when he gave the sea its boundary
 so the waters would not overstep his command,
 and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
[30] Then I was the craftsman at his side.
 I was filled with delight day after day,
 rejoicing always in his presence,
[31] rejoicing in his whole world
 and delighting in mankind.

[32] “Now then, my sons, listen to me;
 blessed are those who keep my ways.
[33] Listen to my instruction and be wise;
 do not ignore it.
[34] Blessed is the man who listens to me,
 watching daily at my doors,
 waiting at my doorway.
[35] For whoever finds me finds life
 and receives favor from the LORD.
[36] But whoever fails to find me harms himself;
 all who hate me love death.”

- Proverbs 8:1-36 (Holy Bible, New International Version)

I love the personification of wisdom in this chapter, and I think that the advice given is sound in many ways.  Verses 5 through 11 are particularly wonderful, in my opinion.  We would all (whether religious or not) do well to seek wisdom when she calls and we should value her advice.

The idea that wisdom was among the first beings in creation and observed the creation of the world and of humanity (in verses 22 through 31) and even helped with that creation (in verse 30) is very poetic and I think it helps to emphasize its importance.  While I was reading this, I was literally imagining a lady watching creation and being sure to pay close attention.  I could imagine wisdom literally trying to get our attention, trying to get us to listen.

I think it’s a very beautiful image.  The fact that I think it’s an example of figurative language does not in any way lessen its beauty or the importance of wisdom.  I think it is an example of how we can think about the abstract, formless ideas in our minds.  It helps to get the idea across in a meaningful and elegant way.

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My time in AP Calculus class during twelfth grade is very memorable to me.  Before this class, I had always done well in mathematics classes, but I never found it all that interesting.  There were times when I thought all of my other subjects fascinating; I found science awe-inspiring, history thought-provoking, and English absolutely divine.  Even when my mathematics teachers were nice and explained the material very well, making it easy to understand, it all just seemed like a bunch of numbers.  (When the teachers were bad or did not explain the material well, it was truly boring and I would watch the clock.)  Calculus I was the first mathematics class in which I really found the subject interesting.  I saw how the number related to science (specifically physics) and I saw that the calculations I was performing were actually about something.

My teacher was absolutely great, and he was very passionate about the subject.  He was very positive and encouraged us.  He understood that Calculus class would be very different from any other mathematics class we’d taken in the past, and he always told us that he knew we could succeed.  He explained the topics very clearly and made them interesting to learn about.

He was among that rare and extremely important variety of teachers who actually teach well, encourage students, and make the class memorable.  Everyone should have teachers like him.

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Works Cited

Anonymous.  Post #874.  Retrieved on June 7, 2009 from http://www.givesmehope.com/view/GMH/874.

CelestialTeapot.  Challenge to Xanga: Stay the Way You Are.  Posted on June 5, 2009.  Retrieved on June 7, 2009 from http://celestialteapot.xanga.com/703887551/challenge-to-xanga-stay-the-way-you-are/.

flowerspushthrudirt.  A Challenge to Xangans.  Posted on June 5, 2009.  Retrieved on June 7, 2009 from http://flowerspushthrudirt.xanga.com/703851382/a-challenge-to-xangans/.

The Holy Bible, New International Version.  Michigan:  Zondervan, 1984.

John.  Post #999.  Retrieved on June 7, 2009 from http://www.givesmehope.com/view/GMH/999.

Staff.  About Us.  Gives Me Hope.  Retrieved on June 7, 2009 from http://www.givesmehope.com/aboutus.

thesunmaid.  Post #993.  Retrieved on June 7, 2009 from http://www.givesmehope.com/view/GMH/993.

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To all those who will try to be happy once in a while, to alleviate the sadness...

May the Force be with you.