It's a Magical World

Life is beautiful. It is hard to escape the wonder and grandeur of our incredible surroundings, but often times the mistakes and injustices we see in our lives and in the lives of others can obstruct our view. As a result, we may often long for the innocence of a child. What would it be like to see life once again from a new and fresh perspective? The world is full of new beginnings, clean slates, and fresh starts for those who are searching. As we conclude with our final post, there's no better way to draw this blog to a close than soaking in the beauty of Bill Watterson's final strip, the grand finale to a dazzling masterpiece.

Cartoon by Bill Watterson.

The sheer wonder and excitement of a fresh snowfall captures the essence of Calvin's six-year-old spirit. The beauty of his young heart, passionate and eager to explore, matches the brilliance of his surroundings. Overwhelmed by this marvel of nature, Calvin joins his best buddy as they embark on a day of discovery and fulfillment.

They don't have their entire day mapped out, but they know it's going to be a blast. They have each other, and there's no one they'd rather share this incredible experience with. With adventurous hearts, they're ready for a new day of thrills as they bond, learn, and grow together.

In the world around them, the dirty, brown and bleak land that existed the night before has been transformed into something amazing. What was dark and gloomy just hours ago has been recreated with the snow and the dawn of a new day. Everything has changed, and there's no looking back.

             
                              This picture is compliments of Daily Dose.

So do we see each day as a big white sheet of paper ready to draw on? When we wake up in the morning, do we think of all the possibilities? Do we feel changed? Are we beautiful? How do we feel renewed?

The start of a new year is always a great opportunity to refresh the mind and begin with a clean slate. Major transitions in life may also help us feel like we're turning the page and starting anew, especially if those life events involve moving to a new town or getting a new job. However, I believe that the type of renewal that is powerful enough to leave me changed forever comes directly through my faith.

When you accept Christ into your life, He transforms absolutely everything. The old is gone, and you are a new person, free from the burden of sin and shame. The morning after a new fallen snow is a beautiful portrayal of what life is like after placing faith in Jesus. And while we will go on to make more tracks as we live our lives, the perfection of Christ's love covers all, and it encourages us to move boldly and purposefully into the magical world He has created.


This image is provided by Mena Mirhom.

What a Friend We Have

The world can be a pretty scary place sometimes. Whether we're facing difficult challenges or simply left to our own imagination in the dark, fear can develop rather quickly if we let it. When we're alone, that fear can quickly grow into something uncontrollable and mentally exhausting. This week we find our intellectual superstar Calvin letting his mind carry him astray. He's only six years old, and much like the rest of us, sometimes he just gets scared.

Cartoon by Bill Watterson.

"Things are never quite as scary when you've got a best friend." Isn't that so true though? There's so much peace, comfort, and security in knowing you have someone that stands beside you. Whether it's powering through a dreaded group project, standing at the starting line of a race, or experiencing a major life change, it's always so encouraging to know you're not alone. And not only are you not alone, but you have a truly good friend that will stick by your side.

How could we ever get through the daunting fears of life on our own? There's a lot of intense stuff out there! Even when things are going great, our minds can wander and lead us to dark places. But a best friend can make it all feel a whole lot easier. When you have someone that knows you intimately, understands your emotions, and often goes through the same experiences you do, it makes the hard parts of life drastically more manageable. When you're in it together with someone, it's almost as if the end result doesn't matter as much; even if things get ugly, at least you've got each other.

             
                           This picture is compliments of Tammy Flowers.

However, even though it seems like a best friend is the ultimate answer to handling our fears, even the closest of companions will eventually disappoint us. And that doesn't necessarily mean every best friend will hurt us, but it's just a reality that we will never find someone that will be there for us in every single situation life presents. No one will ever be able to maintain that kind of commitment, and such an intense level of devotion should not be asked of any person.

Thankfully, while even my best friends may fail me at times, I never need to feel alone. While relationships with best friends seem perfect, the only truly perfect friend I'll ever find or need is Jesus Christ. While philosophers, scholars, and intellectuals alike may debate over the existence of God for centuries, I feel loved by a Creator. I have a relationship with a God that loves me infinitely, and while I do believe that to be the reality, no alternative truth is going to change the comfort and security I have obtained through this relationship with my Savior. Regardless of what anyone believes or doesn't believe, I feel an indescribable sense of peace and protection everywhere I go, for I know I am loved by Christ, a friend that will never leave my side.

             
                               This image is courtesy of Student Devos.

Leap of Faith

When was the last time you did something bold or risky? Did you make the move because you trusted the end result? Were you motivated by the desire for some ultimate reward? Or did the drive come from something deep within that maybe you can't quite explain? The following frame from Bill Watterson's comic strip masterpiece is quite humorous, but it offers a valuable message for the critical thinker.

             
                                           Cartoon by Bill Watterson.

Hobbes reminds us in this strip that sometimes we just need to take a leap of faith. While Hobbes may not be providing the best advice under these particular circumstances, the value behind his comment reaches far beyond this simple occasion with Calvin and his helium balloon. We all have dreams, and while some of us have greater aspirations than flying with a balloon, those dreams will never come to fruition if we're not willing to jump. Often times the only way to get to where you want to be is to take this leap of faith, trusting that the outcome will ultimately be for the best. And even if things don't work out, at least you took the leap.

Often times, as Calvin will soon discover when he takes a step off that ladder, we don't find exactly what we're looking for when we take the jump. However, I believe there is exceptional worth in having the courage and motivation to take the jump at all. Whether being rewarded with success for taking a leap of faith or gaining an important learning experience from a failed endeavor, I find that there is usually great value in "going for it."

             
                         This picture is compliments of Andrew Dunlop.

When you step out of your comfort zone and act on something you believe in, you admit you're willing to face defeat, but you're placing your trust in the hope of something beautiful. You're acting out on something that makes you passionate and gives you energy, and you're saying the potential reward outweighs the fear of falling. Under the proper guidance, I feel that such risks are frequently worth taking.

And whether it's making a major life decision or simply asking someone a question, it's not as if we're taking blind leaps. We have reason to believe what we do, and the logic behind making a move plays a large role in getting us to stand on the top step of the ladder. But the rest is up to the heart. The will to actually step off and put yourself on the line in such a vulnerable way takes much more than facts and reasoning. Those things may only carry us so far, but the heart is what makes us take the leap.

Personally, I try my hardest to live with the love of Christ in all I do, letting his will be done in my life. When my heart feels pulled in a certain direction, I pray for wisdom to discern his will, and I pray that when it's time to take that leap of faith, God will give me the courage to jump.

             
                              This image is courtesy of Jessica Bishop.

What If Good Things Lasted Forever?

Is it possible to completely appreciate something in the moment?  Whether remembering a family vacation or recalling your senior year of high school, we often times regard past events that were generally good in a very positive light. Think back to such an experience and try to recall exactly how you felt in the moment. If you can remember what it felt like, was it really as good as you're making it out to be now? Are you idealizing your memories, or were they actually that good? I think the following question, posed by Calvin's wise and loyal buddy Hobbes, better addresses this concept.

             
                                           Cartoon by Bill Watterson.

I love the look on Calvin's face in this strip: sheer contemplation. It's a rather brilliant question, and I feel as if the answer may be different for everyone in different times. Personally, while I know there are exceptions in my life, I feel that the answer to this question is usually no.

If something lasted forever, you would never have the chance to truly reflect on it. You could take the time to try and appreciate it in the moment by reflecting on the current state, but you would probably miss out on the real value of reflection. For the most part, I don't think we're able to fully comprehend the significance or the beauty of things precisely while they're happening. I believe exceptions to this include moments of extreme sensation, like riding a roller coaster or going to a concert, but most things of longer duration are best appreciated after the fact.

When good things do come to an end, it gives us an opportunity to reflect on the value they had in our lives, and it lets us better grasp how they've impacted us as people. Not only do we tend to remember most of the good parts and forget the bad, but we can pull out important lessons we've learned in the process. In the end, we wind up looking at a past experience and often remembering it as something better than it actually was, but I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

             
                              This picture is provided by Robert Black.

That being said, there are certain life-long qualities I do appreciate that will never end. The love I share in faith with my family and my closest friends (though relatives may pass away and friends may grow distant) will never die. In contrast to most of life's experiences, which are set in time for however long a duration, these bonds may and should be fully appreciated each day. I don't need to step outside of my faith or my community to understand just how precious they are; I just know.

But for most of life's experiences, I believe there's a reason most good things don't last forever; reflection on past events helps us appreciate their beauty and value. I also believe it is absolutely critical that we strive to appreciate the present moment as much as we can; I just feel that we're not always capable of doing so to the fullest extent until after it is finished.

Everybody's Changing

Do you feel like you're a significantly different person than the person you were yesterday? Do you find your life to be dramatically different than it was a day ago? Do you think you have changed as a human in the past 24 hours? With the exception of some radical life event, my guess is that you would answer no to each of these questions. But what if I asked you to observe any differences over the past three years? You've probably experienced some significant change in the last couple years, but how did it happen? Our beloved comic strip philosopher Calvin raises questions such as these to his buddy Hobbes, forcing the audience to think a little deeper.


Cartoon by Bill Watterson.

Do you feel that Calvin's analysis holds true to your life? The process of internal transformation is one that Calvin is wise to investigate; it is quite peculiar. If our day to day life seems to be constant routine, with each day being similar to the last, how do we turn into a different person? I personally believe I have changed over recent years, as I feel we all do, but I find it difficult to pinpoint the exact causes. As Calvin says, one day you're just not the same person you used to be, whether you decided to change or not.

Although most of life consists of routine, I do feel that we face certain critical times in life, brief moments that have the power to leave a lasting impact on us. However, I am not entirely sure if those moments are solely responsible for the changes I see inside of me and in my life. While they've played a crucial role in shaping me into the person I am today, I think a large portion of the differences I see ultimately stems from the ordinary, not just the extraordinary. So the question remains: how exactly does this change occur? I'm trying to come up with a better answer than "It's just the way life goes", but I'm struggling to. Calvin might just be on to something here.

I feel that the answer must be rooted somewhere in the values of learning and experience. I believe the acquisition of knowledge has the power to change who we are, as do the experiences we partake in. However, the same dilemma arises when I try to trace the exact things I learned and the exact experiences I had that ultimately made me a different person. Perhaps this style of reflection is best saved for many, many years down the road, which may be what makes it so difficult for someone like me or Calvin.


Quote from Donald Miller.

Turning our focus to the second half of the strip, Hobbes deserves credit for throwing his signature subtle jab. After Calvin's profound examination of life's inexplicable transformations, Hobbes is ready to deliver a witty remark on Calvin's character. However, I believe that Hobbes should have taken advantage of this opportunity to weigh in with a more meaningful and insightful opinion; I think Calvin's ideas have some value behind them.

It's All Relative?

Imagine you're reading the funny pages one morning, just relaxing while you eat your breakfast, and you stumble upon an innocent little strip that changes your entire day. Bill Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes often has this effect for the devoted reader, and the strip's profound commentary on life can spark some fascinating philosophical conversations. Calvin makes some incredible points for a six-year-old, stretching beyond the intellectual boundaries of a typical boy. However, sometimes Calvin shares a viewpoint that differs vastly from my own; this just makes it all the more blog-worthy!


                                                        Cartoon by Bill Watterson.

In this strip, Calvin is touching on principles of relativism that I simply won't agree with. Calvin argues that there is no such thing as "good", because all sense of value is relative. What he means is that my beliefs about what is good may be completely different than someone else's beliefs about what is good, but we're both right in our own way. In this sense, an absolute value common to all people can't exist, as something that is "wrong" to me may be "right" for somebody else.

This logic stems from the basic idea that all truth is relative, and absolute truth cannot exist. It's easier to say that what's true for you is true for you, and what's true for me is true for me, and neither is right or wrong. However, the very concept of the statement "there are no absolute truths" assumes that that statement is an absolute truth! And since there are no absolute truths, that means there has to be an exception to that statement, meaning that an absolute truth does exist! Confused yet? You should be because it's a paradox!

             
                              This image is compliments of Quickmeme.

Think of it this way: relativism says that my truth is true to me. So if my truth says that "relativism is false," is it still true? If you answer yes, then the case is closed, and relativism is false! If you answer no, then what is true for me is not true, which makes relativism false. It's definitely a tricky subject that commands more than a 500 word blog post, but do you see my point? Calvin's argument that all values are relative is seeded in this concept, and it's the same logic that leaves him without the need of a New Year's resolution.

In all likelihood, Calvin is framing this logic as an excuse to be selfish or lazy; he doesn't need to change because there's no such thing as getting "better". If there's no meaning behind morality or a common value, how can there be any drive for change or self-improvement? How can there be a collective drive for societal improvement? If all values are relative, and there are no "true" morals, we're living in a selfish world where we should essentially just do whatever we want.

That's not the kind of world I believe in. I believe in a world where people love, people live selflessly, and people make sacrifices for others. I believe in a world where true morals do exist, where absolute truth can be found, and where individuals seek fulfillment in something higher. We need the courage to stand up for what we believe in and live a life of responsibility, virtue, and purpose.

             
                           This picture is courtesy of Brenda Dingley.

Now let's say everything I just wrote is actually wrong, which it could be. Let's say Calvin has it all figured out, and the theory I'm expressing in this post is simply inaccurate. Even if Calvin is right, which life do you want to live?

Why Worry?

You've got a paper due Tuesday night, calculus homework that desperately needs your attention, a lab report you haven't started, and an exam to study for tomorrow! How will you ever get it all done in time? The clock is ticking each second you contemplate your distress, and as you frantically worry about how you're going to get all these things done, you remember you have tickets to the basketball game! Consumed by the anxiety of all you need to do, you make it through your week in a heightened state of miserable tension. But in the end, you got it done. In fact, as you look back on your week, you realize something funny: you ALWAYS find a way to get it done.


                                                     Cartoon by Bill Watterson.

Our comic strip hero Calvin may not be the most studious boy of his time, and his poor time management skills leave a lot to be desired, but the basic message presented should ring true to a lot of us. We've all been there before; we have a huge project or assignment hanging over our heads, and whether we've been too busy to touch it or have simply procrastinated, we find ourselves in a pickle.

Now I want you to think back to all those times you felt overwhelmed and tell me one thing: when was the last time you simply didn't get it done? Was it ever so bad that you actually couldn't complete a project or submit a paper? Maybe it was late, and maybe it wasn't high quality, but I'd wager that you've almost always found a way to get it done. And if you couldn't get that book report done to the quality you wanted in 10th grade, how has that impacted your life? Is everything ruined?

My guess is it stopped mattering within a couple months. Maybe you feel that the stakes are much higher in college, and every point is essential for achieving your dreams, but does that mean you should be stressed out over question number 6 on your physics exam? Will that problem make or break your future?

My point is not that we should blow off our assignments like Calvin and forget our responsibilities because they don't actually matter; my point is that "worrying" about them is utterly useless. When has worrying about something ever helped the outcome? We should try our best to get the job done, maintain a positive attitude about it, and let go of the anxiety! Have some faith in your ability, enjoy the present, and be an encouragement to others. Planning out your schedule and making a task list is a great idea, but allowing your workload to consume your thoughts and defeat your spirit just isn't worth it. You're a healthy, free, young individual with a bright future; you owe it to yourself for more.

So as THON approaches this weekend, and I try to deal with an insane to-do list (including a deliberation!) I'm going to stay positive and have some fun! By allotting myself enough time to complete the things I know I have to get done, I can trust myself and enjoy an amazing THON weekend. I hope you do too!

             
                           This image is compliments of Good News Text.