intolerance

    You know...These past few weeks, months even, have been exhausting. Because of school, but not because of the work. Because of the people, and the conversations I have been hearing. I am getting tired of the intolerance of Christianity. Of Religion in general. I keep hearing about how people hate us for our religion, and how its our fault for everything. And, Just a few minutes ago from when I am writing this, I heard someone who I used to think of as a friend, say that the Holocaust was because of Christianity! That Hitler was a Christian, and that's why he was killing the Jews. This is getting so tiring. Everyone says that Christianity needs to be more Tolerant towards people, but I want to ask you, Why should we be, if they aren't going to be tolerant towards us. As we say, practice what you preach. For once, I would like to be able to Pray without fear in my school. To read my Bible in school. To be able to openly talk to my friend about my Religion, without fear of being sent to the office for "Forcing my Religion upon others." I say, If my friends want to hear about it, and ask me about it, I should be able to tell them the good word of the Bible. I still do. I break the rules doing that, and So I have fear, but, I won't let it hold me back from answering my friends questions. However, here is a story, true story, about what happened to me at my school, because of my religion. I had said that I don't approve of Homosexuality, and someone had twisted it around, somehow, to that I hate them, and they deserve to die. Not even close to what I said. At the time, one of my friends was a Homosexual. I had been trying to slowly tell them what the Bible says about it,  but when she heard it, she attacked me. Literally attacked me. She hit me, yelled at me, sent me to the office. She got in slight trouble for beating me, but that's it. I nearly got suspended, but the office knew me, and listened to what I said, and believed me. But my danger was intolerance. That's what they told me. I could have been suspended for Intolerance of Homosexuality, and for "hate speech". The next day, however, All the people who had been angry at me were talking about how they, and I quote, "Hate Christianity. All Christians need to die. Lets go kill them" I go to the office after a couple days of this, and tell them. You know what? They said they can do NOTHING about it. They can't get involved with anything religious. That night I read the code of conduct, under the bullying section, and in the Intolerance, Religion is included. They chose not to do anything, simple because it was religious, even though it was against the rules! Intolerance. We face it everyday. If we don't fight for our rights more, make our voices be heard in the government, I fear that soon our religion will be illegal!

Just One

Today, after Mr. Pollards sermon, I got to thinking about a word. Just a small, simple word. Three letters. One. I think that we all need to stop and think about what One can mean. I think we undervalue it. One of anything is never enough, it seems. Can you use just one dollar? One penny? One fry? One lung? You normally can't stop at one. But consider this. There have been many ones in our life. Alexander the Great. One man, who conquered one of the largest areas there was. Adam. The first man, the one man, who was used to create woman. God tells us to have one wife. To save ourselves for one person, and that is our spouse. As Mr. Pollard said, imagine what one person could do. One person in my life has changed in drastically. I am one person, but I can effect many. One is an important number. It also implies a beginning. It is the first true number. One is also unification. In weddings, at least a lot that I have seen, two candles, held by the man and wife, are used to light one candle in the center, representing the unification of their lives.
     What amazes me, is how one, a small thing, can have a large effect on people. Same with words. One word can change a life. For example: Hate. It is a small word, with big meanings. With it, you express how you do not like a person, to the point of desiring ill upon them. Another example. Love. It is something spelled and said so easily, but is a thing no one can truly understand until they have experienced it. I have to say that, I don't know if I have or haven't. I want you to take a minute. Just one. I want you to think about what you can do in someones life. Just. One. Person. Say hi to them every day. Help them with homework. Spend time with them. Give them a hug. Something. Tell them just one word. Tell them you care. And, I am not talking about someone you know, but someone that you don't generally hang with. Someone who you've seen alone. Someone who looks sad. If they are hurting, a few words can mean all the difference. I know. I have had many instances where i needed someone. But there wasn't. I try to be that person, but it's hard. I will admit it. It's not fun, but, think about it. That one moment could stick with them for the rest of their lives, and they will remember you for a long, long time. Don't you want that? Don't you want the feeling that yo helped someone? That you made some one's life easier? Just take a minute to think about it. Just one.