His Plan

This past week I really focused on finding some comfort as well as inspiration because I was given a grand challenge I needed to conquer. My biggest fear is uncertainty for the future, and last week I lived by one of my favorite verses found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

" 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'Plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' " Jeremiah 29:11

This is God's promise to all of us who are scared that things may not turn out so great immediately, but we must also realize that tomorrow is not in our hands, but in God's. I was overwhelmed with school work, college recruiting, and life in general, but reading this verse and meditating on it really widens my perspective on what is really important in life, and that's God. You see, I can set goals for myself and plan my life out, but I never know what could happen tomorrow or the day after that. I am unaware of where my life is headed, but I can trust in someone who knows where my path lays. This support really helped me last Saturday as I faced adversity but also was given hope by the grace of God.

I was able to attend a soccer recruiting camp this weekend at Cedarville University. Only hearing of me from my desperate efforts to set up an appointment with them during my visit there on PSAT Day, the coaches had no idea who I was or what I could bring to the table. All of the odds were against me, and I knew it. The pressure was on, but I was absolutely determined to show the staff and players what I had to offer.

Twenty four hours later, after spending the night with the team and training in 3 sessions with the 75 other recruits there, the head coach took me aside to tell me I was offered a spot on the team and that I would be receiving a scholarship to play for them. Although I am unsure on whether or not I decide to commit there, it was incredible how it all turned out. Having no prior contact with the coaches except and invitation to go to the camp, and only a day of them seeing me play, I was able to receive an athletic scholarship from a D2 school in just one day. I don't understand why good things happen to me even when I sin, but I guess God is being good to me for a reason, not because I deserve it all, but because he loves me.

American Greed

I began my week by minimally reading the story of how Mark Zuckerberg's billion-dollar, social-networking phenomenon, Facebook, was started in a small, but tidy Cambridge dorm room at Harvard University. As startling as his incredible journey may have been, I can't help but think about how he cheated his best friend and a pair of twin brothers out of the riches, keeping all of the money to himself. Creating the software hides the fact that he stole an incredible idea under the covers, and using money that wasn't his in order to obtain some start-up funds is then taken out of the picture after billions of dollars are made. An wonderful state of bliss for one man, but a bitter hunger for vengeance lies within the hearts of those who were victims of corruption and greed. But the Facebook empire is at the least of concerns. Instead, I must ask a question so thought-provoking I may be unable to answer....

Does anyone care that our world is becoming full of nothing but greed?

Why are people cheated out things but are never granted adequate justice for what has happened to them?

What should people do to change the hearts of those who verbally debauch or condescend others in horrible ways?

There is no easy way to answer these mysteries, but that doesn't mean they can't be answered. The answer to these questions lies within one simple word: Fear

People are simply scared of what will happen next in life, so they decide to steal, cheat, and harm others. Fear is the reason why Walter White continues to produce, manufacture, and distribute meth. The fear of financial failure, with no source of income; so instead, people like him decide to what's illegal to get what he needs. Or it could be the less serious of offenses, but just as dishonorable such as cheating. There is so much drive for people to get what they want, but how they achieve success is sometimes awful. Just think Lance Armstrong and his problem the performance-enhancing drugs. Even the greats don't only do what's right to get what they want. People like him are afraid to fail; so they decide to do what is wrong in order to prosper.