Saturday, April 14, 2012

New Site

A huge "THANK YOU" to all my readers - you have been wonderful followers, and I am so thankful for your support. With the recent growth to my blog, I have decided to move to a new site: http://asingledropintheocean.com/ Please bookmark, share, and check the site often! You can sign up for email updates over there so you can be notified whenever I post.

I will not be posting here anymore, so check out my new site to stay up to date. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to enter them on the new site. Thank you!

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Squashing Manliness in America

Okay, ladies: Imagine you're walking through Manhattan. [Guys, hear me out. Your part is coming up.] Cars are whizzing by, people rush in every direction, and you're in your own little world as you walk down the street. You're now standing on a corner, and turn to look down the road to see if a car is coming before you finish crossing the street. You suddenly hear the sound of a car coming closer and closer behind you. A guy (who happens to be an attractive movie star) appears out of nowhere, and pushes you to the side as a taxi screams past you, just narrowly being saved from a nasty accident. You're a bit bruised, but alive. Whew!

Now answer this: How would you react?

A) Shrug it off and walk away with a quick "thanks"

B) Get mad at the guy for making you look like a damsel in distress

C) Profusely thank the guy for saving you from a messy accident

Easy, right? A guy saves you from being hit by a car. The least you could do is thank him! But that's not the case for a woman named Laurie Penny who was recently saved from a car hit by actor Ryan Gosling in Manhattan. She says:

“I really do object to being framed as the ditzy damsel in distress in this story,” she wrote. “I do not mean any disrespect to Ryan Gosling, who is an excellent actor and, by all accounts, a personable and decent chap. . . . But as a feminist, a writer, and a gentlewoman of fortune, I refuse to be cast in any sort of boring supporting female role.”

A guy saves you from a potentially life-threatening situation, and you get mad at him for making you look like a "ditzy damsel in distress" and giving you a "boring supporting female role"? Wow. I wonder what she'd say if he just walked on by as watched her get hit..... 

Sadly, though, this is not a new concept. In the last 100 years or so, women have gone from stay-at-home moms vacuuming in pantyhose to belly-button-bearing women on contraception who can't bear the thought of a males taking away their right to do what she wants when she wants. 

Many women find it insulting when a man takes it upon himself to actually do something manly [ie. slay the dragon, save from car accident, open door, carry heavy box]. Why? Because women think it means men are better than women. They'd rather men impress them by walking around shirtless showing off their six-packs than actually rolling up their sleeves and performing some manly act of valor. 

Now, what does this do to you guys? It makes you step back. You don't take opportunities to do manly things because women aren't thankful. Lift a heavy box? "I CAN DO THAT MYSELF, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!" Open a door for a girl? She just walks right through and ignores you. 

But let me tell you this: some people do still care. Women with at least an ounce of class would thank you for opening a door or lifting a box, not to mention if you save us from being hit by a car. 

Do not stop being a gentleman just because society tells you it's not cool. The right girls will appreciate it when you open the door for them! Men were made to fight for and protect ladies and children. Never give up because some wacko thinks you're degrading her by helping her. You were made for more than watching football and letting women take over the world. Stand up for your dignity as a man, and don't let women take that away from you.

Ladies: Let guys be guys. Seriously. If a guy opens a door for you, say "Thank You". If he offers to lift a box or do something else nice, let him do it. Stop trying to squash his manliness. Letting guys do these things does NOT mean you are a damsel in distress, or that you are not equal to men. It means you care enough to let guys be themselves. They were made to love and protect you, and YOU need to respect that. Stop trying to take over the world, and let guys take the lead....sometimes :-)

Never, ever, stop standing up for your dignity as a man or as a woman. We're equal, but have different roles in society. Accept it, and own it. Men, be gentlemen, and ladies: performing various acts of chivalry is WAY more impressive than any six-pack. Keep that in mind next time some movie star saves you from a speeding taxi in NYC.






* Keep up to date on all my writing endeavors by liking my page on Facebook!!




Sunday, April 08, 2012

He Did Not Die in Vain

ALLELUIA!

Jesus suffered through the horror of Good Friday, and died a tragic death on the cross for us. Can you imagine if that was the end of the story though? If it was, that would be kind of anti-climactic. I mean really? Jesus comes to save us all, spreads the good news, is persecuted, and then dies. Bam. That's one way to end a story. 

But Jesus is a better story maker than that, and rose from the dead today demonstrating that He is greater than any evil the world could possibly inflict upon His human body. He rose from a terrible and gruesome death, showing us that good always wins. Light drives out darkness, and good triumphs over evil. Alleluia!


"How blessed is this day, when earth and heaven are joined and humankind is reconciled to God!
May the light of Jesus shine continually to drive away all darkness. 
May Christ, the Morning Star who knows no setting, find his light ever burning in our hearts—he who gives his light to all creation, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen."


Adapted from the Book of Common Prayer




Have a wonderful day celebrating Jesus Resurrection and triumph over evil with your family and friends!!

Laura









Friday, April 06, 2012

We Are Spectators of The Cross

On this Good Friday, take time to think about the immeasurable sacrifice Jesus Christ made by giving his life for us on the cross.

He died for YOU.

Can you even wrap your mind around that? He loves each one of us so much that he would have suffered in the same way had there been just one person on earth, and this is the day we especially remember that on. Watch this video of Bishop Fulton Sheen speaking about how each of us is a spectator of the cross, and I encourage you to look up some of his other talks - he is an incredible speaker!



My Lord, 
your son has suffered so much, shed so much blood. 
I was born with so many faults 
and my nature is so full of weakness, 
and yet your son Jesus has died on the cross. 
For me. 
I know your grace has the power 
to cleanse me of my many sins 
and to make me more like your Son. 
Thank you for your goodness and love for me. 
I ask you, Father, to watch over me - always. Amen.