Stoics and Christians

I think I've been misunderstanding verses like Romans 1:3 that identify Christians as those who are to rejoice in our sufferings.

Am I alone?

The way I have recently found myself responding to suffering and and bad stuff that happens to me and around me is to just not let it get to me - to essentially remain stoic.  People treat me bad or make fun of the faith I hold so dear, and I say nothing.  When I see tragedy strike, I just remain calm, don't get emotional and keep my thoughts to myself.

Is this really what Paul means when he describes rejoicing in suffering as leading to a strengthened character?  How can suffering strengthen you if you don't even feel it or feel it's effects?  Its like if I'm lifting weights, if I don't feel the pain, then I'm not actually getting stronger.

Romans 1:3 must not be instructing us to remain stoic because if we look at Jesus, he was always crying!  It's not my intention to be flippant or simplify Jesus, but instead to point out how my stoicism may be leading to a dangerous character comprised of of insensitivity and aloofness that may keep me from reaching out and empathizing with others who are hurting.

5 Simple Rules of Etiquette for Airplane Travel

As we enter into the busy travel season, it is wise to remember (or learn) some the basics of air travel etiquette.

1) Watch where you are going at all times in every direction.  You surely know from the days of grade school how to look both ways when crossing the street.  There is far more traffic in an airport, especially during the holidays, so please look to your right, look to your left, but also remember to look behind you and in front of you before rushing to the flight status monitors or bolting into the bathroom or stopping on the crowded walkway.

2) When going through the rigmarole at security, keep moving forward, even if you have not yet fully unloaded your laptop and liquids, don't pause.  Continue to move your bins forward to allow the people behind you to begin their unloading process as well.  You may get to the belt and still have to take off your shoes, but it will surely allow you and everyone in line to speed through security more quickly.


3) The person in the middle seat should have full access to both armrests on either side of their seat.  The aisle and window seats both avail the seated passenger extra room and comfort.  The passenger in the middle seat is essentially stuck, so if you are sitting on the aisle or window, please keep one of your elbows in your lap to allow a bit of space to your neighbor in the middle.


4) When the plane comes to a complete stop and the pilot turns off the fasten seatbelt sign, please remember, rushing to grab your heavy roller bag out of the overhead compartment will not allow you to exit the plane any faster.  Everyone's natural response is to stand up and flood the aisle.  Adding luggage makes it even more crowded.  Instead, just wait until your row is up and calmly exit the row, pull your luggage from the overhead compartment and head to the front of the plane.


5) Speaking of exiting the airplane, this process should occur row by row.  Allow passengers in the rows in front of you to move out of their row, retrieve their luggage from the overhead compartment and begin the trek to the front of the plane before you do the same.  Even if you have ignored rule #4 and you already retrieved all of your luggage, you should still patiently wait and give space to those exiting in front of you.


Vaya Con Dios!

A good friend

Friendship is on my mind today, mainly because it's what I'm lacking the most. Funny how that goes, that what you don't have or what you don't have at that particular moment in time is what occupies most of your mind. What I wouldn't give for a friendly word or a smile, for a friend to say my name. The answer to my own need is actually in answering that need for someone else.