Praying for Patience

The title of today's blog is Praying for Patience because I know this amazing family who wants to adopt another daughter from Ghana, Africa.  Her name is Patience.  The adoption center caretakers say she utters a prayer for a family every night.  She desperately wants a family, and I say we help give her one.

This family I know just recently found out about Patience a few months ago.  They were told by adopting officials that they should move quickly to adopt Patience because of some changes that might happen to adoption policies.  This caught this family unprepared financially and they could use any help they can.

So let's help bring their daughter home!  Let's give someone a home and family that will love them for the rest of their life.  You can contribute to their efforts by donating a few dollars or by spreading the word, or both!  To donate go to prayersforpatience.blogspot.com or by sending money via Paypal to prayersforpatience@gmail.com.

"To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world."  Let's bring her home!

You can read and follow this family's efforts at prayersforpatience.blogspot.com.  

Agency vs. Fate: Do we control our life?

The sun is shining and it's a beautiful day outside, and a great day to write a little blog!  I discussed an interesting topic with a few friends this last week and I'd like to share it and get people to think.  That's probably one of my favorite things to do.

So here's the beans.  What we discussed was the idea between fate and agency; whether our lives are dictated by our own actions or the decision of some higher power.  Or perhaps it is three goddesses who cut the strings of life.  :)

First of all let's see what the good 'ol dictionary says.  Fate is "the development of events beyond a person's control, regarded as determined by a supernatural power."  Agency is "action or intervention, esp. such as to produce a particular effect."

Here are some questions to tickle your intellect about the subject:

1. Do you believe that everything is already decided, and no matter the decision, it was meant to be?
2. If you believe in a God, does he/she already know what is going to happen to you and dictates your life accordingly?
3. If you believe in a God, do you believe that you control most decisions, but God influences your life at times?
4. Do you believe in God, but believe that your decisions and choices are the only source dictating your future?
5. Is life just life, and no matter what you do it will end and that is it?

Probably don't want to hear it, but here's a little bit from the Book of Frans.  No matter what you believe, I think our decisions still play a major role in our life.  Take for example two people, one who sits around waiting for the end versus the other who travels to new places, helps people, experiences life, etc.  If the question were asked, "Who lived a fuller life?"  The real answer, it depends. But most would say the one who kept busy and gained experience.

Well, there you have it my friends.  Some questions and ideas about how one aspect of our life works.  What do you think, fate or agency? 

Learning From the Past

Wisdom from Rafiki...

Simba: Ow! Jeez, what was that for?

Rafiki: It doesn't matter. It's in the past.

Simba: Yeah, but it still hurts. 

Rafiki: Oh yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it, or... learn from it.