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We can definitely control who we are becoming. Yes, we have certain predispositions that affect our choices. Yes, sometimes we are limited in our choices for the future. But we still have just that. Choices. God gives us free will for a reason. He gives us talents, abilities, and experiences that shape us and help to guide us but in the end, it is the choices we make that decide the future.

-Ashley Baughman

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Why Live a Meaningful Life? Why Not Just Live?

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Why Live a Meaningful Life? Why Not Just Live?

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While thinking about the idea of living a meaningful life, I know that there are many people who have many ideas and many of them sound about right. However, the question that none of them seem to answer because they never seem to ask it is "Why even bother with having a meaningful life?" Could we not all be content with having a life that no one notices? Would living a life that is simply comfortable and gentle be good enough? As Christians, we have a call to spread the gospel, love God, and love others. But what if we do this in a simple way, a way that most people would say is no more meaningful than any other life? I think if we get so caught up in thinking about living a meaningful life, we could forget about the normal things that may not be considered meaningful but still beneficial. If we are all special snowflakes, then no snowflake is special. If we all live a "meaningful life," then how is that different from a "non-meaningful life"?

-Ashley Baughman

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If you can't, who can?

There will always be things you can't control. But...you reactions and responses to them are yours. If this weren't true, then why would self control be one of the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)?

If you don't like who you're becoming, a heart check is in order. Where are you putting your attention, how are you responding to the circumstances you find yourself in, and what does God have to say about this?

It's not easy, but your are your own responsibility and the only person you can change is you.
-Rebekah Goodwin

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Matthew 25:31-40 (NIV)

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."'
-Rebekah Goodwin

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Matthew 6:33-34 (NIV)
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

What is balance? Equally devoted and divided time and attention? Is that what we are looking for? Or is peace- tranquillity and reassurance of the state of our life, really what we're searching for but in our misguidance have mistaken balance as the way to achieve peace? I struggle with calling balance possible because I don't think it is... If we are living in the way Christians are called to: God, and our relationship with him, is our top priority. Making the concept of balance as most people seek it out, a contradiction - you can't place one thing as most important and devote equal time, attentions, and devotion to something else. This doesn't mean that we can't experience blessing in other things or receive a sense of fulfillment from other areas of our lives. But by seeking God first, we aren't relying on our ability to multitask to achieve peace. And in the end this frees us from the very dangerous construct of balance and the idea that we can be can perfectly control our lives.
-Rebekah Goodwin

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Yes. Our lives are not predetermined. God knows what we will do but that doesn’t mean he dictates our every move to us. He created us so that we could have free will in life to follow him.

One thing that has stuck with me throughout my ‘artistic journey’ is this quote. I’m not exactly sure if someone else has said this or if I made this up.

- “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

That is a statement I believe deep down I’m my heart is true to the very core of art and that is a statement I live by.
-Anthony Anderson

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People are always worried about their image and how others see them. If that be their job, what they’re wearing, how popular they are on social media, whatever the case may be we shouldn’t let that determine our value. Our value is worth so much more than our job. I don’t like to be philosophical so I won’t go into what our value should be in but it’s not in worldly things.
-Anthony Anderson

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If you were to ask the internet how to achieve a work-life balance, you would find tips like:

-let go of perfectionism

-unplug

-exercise

-manage your time

-have a social life

And these are all good tips for life in general. But do they really help achieve the coveted “life-work balance”? Is this balance even possible? I think that the first step in creating balance in life is realizing that sometimes, balance is not possible. After all, how would one balance two things that happen at the same time? To sacrifice one for the other would be to create an imbalance, but to not sacrifice one would be impossible. Instead, we should understand that we are only human and humans can only do so many things.

-Ashley Baughman

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I have a tendency to allow my situation to dictate my emotions. But I have learned that my situations are only one part of the equation. It is up to me to decide how I respond.

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When I was younger, I thought getting a calling meant hearing a voice in your soul that spoke of a certain and undeniable truth that showed you where your path in life was meant to lead, however, I get that feeling when I think about chocolate so I know that’s not right. To clarify, I grew up in church and had been hearing about “callings” since I was born. Well, not exactly since I was born, my memories don’t go back that far. I also highly doubt that my parents looked at my wrinkly, ugly, seconds-old baby face and thought “boy, this is a great time to start a career in ministry”. So maybe not since I was born. But you get the point. I grew up hearing about how Bob the missionary got his calling at age 15 and about how Sally the other missionary got her calling after a mission trip. After listening to these people talk about their “callings,” I had many thoughts and questions. The question that stood out above them all, however, was the question of how will I know when I hear my calling? I had always thought that a person gets one calling that they either catch or miss. After reading and talking through this course, however, I now know that this is not the case. To think that we have one chance to do what God wants us to do would not only be really stressful for us but would say that God only gives us one chance, which we know is not true. And maybe that feeling in my soul when thinking about chocolate is my calling, who knows? The world could always use more chocolate makers.

-Ashley Baughman

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-Ashley Baughman

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How much can I describe with 26 letters?  A combination of letters and numbers only tells so much about a person. If I say I am a type 9 and an INFJ, what does that say about me... I'm introspective? As I thought about what these "types" said about me, I realized how much they don't say. They don't say that I love designing or that flowers are the way to win me over. They don't share my testimony, or past experiences. They don't describe how music speaks to my heart or how I loose myself in literature. When I first read about what "type" I was, I was very excited to see that someone "got me", almost excited enough to disregard how some of the "classic descriptions" didn't pertain to me. After thinking it over I have realized that though these classifications are helpful, they can also be harmful... another mold to force identity into. It left me with a caution, any tool can be misused.
-Rebekah Goodwin

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Well, I guess I would say first and foremost I am a child of God. And then a child of the Internet. In this day and age everyone’s reputation is determined by how they act and what job/title they possess. I don’t like to label myself like that (Other than a Professional Idiot). I like to make people stop and go “he’s an odd one.” I don’t like to be ordinary. That’s ironic because im a 4 and my personality doesn’t like it when I become ordinary. One thing I like to do in my close friends circle is everyone has a like they don’t cross. I see the line and jump over it. I really don’t like to be philosophical but this song speaks to me on a spiritual level and I really connect with it. So give it a listen if you wish
-Anthony Anderson
https://goo.gl/images/AWyXju

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This song by Sleeping At Last poetically describes experience of an Enneagram Four living with wonderlust for the simply profound -Sofy Vida

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This poem has inspired me since high school to find balance in a world precarious world.  - Sofy Vida

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Just ride the wave out and let it wash you wherever it decides. Life is too full of surprises to try and control it. Let God take the wheel and enjoy the ride he takes you. I don’t like making choices for myself and I’ve lived that why all my life unless it feels 100% right to do it. I don’t mean that in a lazy hands off approach. More as a let God do his work and my part will follow.
-Anthony Anderson

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Carrie Underwood - Jesus, Take The Wheel (VIDEO)

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Lead with Mercy, walk in faith. Encourage the down hearted and bring peace to the hurting.

It's been about four years since I received this charge ... and though it's not a career path it can be achieved wherever I go and in whatever I do. I'm still waiting for a "go here" or "do this" message (I love detailed instructions). But for the time being God has given me my purpose and asked me to wait patently for what comes next in my story.
-Rebekah Goodwin

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-Mishawaka, October 4,  2018
* Ring ring!*
Me: Hello?
Life: Hello, I am calling again to alert you that your entrance into the Outside World is coming up.
Me: Oh yeah. I got your messages about that. But, I found them a bit cryptic. Some of them carried very strong emotion, but when I tried to follow up, they put me on hold. I don't mean to complain, but, at times it feels like you're leading me on.
Life: That is a normal response. This is a work in progress. You are now setting up the supports for your bridge to the future.
Me: Um..Ok. Thank you for that vague building metaphor. Could you please just tell me which path will lead to happiness and fulfillment?
Life:  It isn't the destination, but rather the million little choices you make everyday that determines your level of satisfaction.  My best advice is to stay on the path.
Me: BUT WHICH PATH?!
Life: The one in front of you. Keep going until you can't go any further. There you will find your next step.
Me: But please, which-
*Dial Tone*
"I'm sorry. Your call could not be completed due to poor reception. Please hold for the next available Life Calling."
Me: I guess I'll take this path. I'll go until I can't. Then I'll see where I can go from there.
- Sofy Vida

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Life’s calling... If it’s important it’ll leave a message

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Life’s calling... If it’s important it’ll leave a message

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I haven’t really heard my ‘calling’ per say or I have and I just haven’t paid attention but I think my calling involves home construction on some artistic level. Somehow I feel I want to incoperate God/faith in the art but in a lowkey way.
-Anthony Anderson

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The Avett Brothers: The Pretty Girl from San Diego
Verse II

"People, people, people, they make it sound so easy
They say just do what your heart tells you to.
But sometimes you cannot feel it.
Sometimes you cannot hear it.
Sometimes it won't talk back to you."

Does this resonate with anyone else?

-Sofy Vida

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"27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me,is greater than all no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand." - John 10:27-29 (NIV)
- Sofy Vida

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Indianapolis, July 18, 1997

* Ring Ring!*
Me: Hello, who is this please?
Life: Hello, the Outside World is requesting your presence immediately.
Me: I'm flattered, but it's cold out there. I'd rather stay here.
Life: I'm sorry, but that is not an option. You see, you are in a special position. Perhaps you are not aware, but you have already passed major obstacles to get here. Many people do not have the opportunity to make it as far as you.  And most of those who do are called into far more hostile environments.
Me: Gosh, I didn't realize I was so privileged. But what on earth am I supposed to do once I get out there?
Life: There are many wonderful opportunities ahead of you if you only seize them.
Me: But what about my purpose?
Life: That is for you to find out.
Me: Ok, I guess I'll make a go of it. But don't you have any advice for me?
Life: Well, the world you're entering isn't perfect.  The key to happiness is -
*Dial Tone*
"I'm sorry your call  has been disconnected. Please hold for the next available Life Calling. Enjoy your stay in the Outside World."
- Sofy Vida