One rare exceptional deed, is worth far more than a thousand commonplace ones.
This quote really speak to me and what I have been taught growing up as a child. It particularly resonates with me as an RA. I think that what Ignatius was getting at is that the quality of the acts of service that we do should matter far more than the frequency with which we do them.
For me, as an RA I am required as a part of my job description to interact with my residents on a regular basis. While I certainly do love meeting new people and getting to know them, especially my residents, I find that many times doing things for them feels forced. Between doing floor programs, and one on ones and roommate agreements I have to interact with them quite a bit. These interactions are all meaningful, but never quite as fulfilling as I want them to be. It is so much more fulfilling when I can interact with them intentionally and have unforced organic conversations. I think that these are the exceptional and good deeds that Ignatius was talking about.
In a world where we are so inundated with quick conversations and likes on Facebook and Instagram, it is always good to show people that you love them on a daily basis. These thing should be meaningful. I know that from personal experience when people do things for me that are meaningful, as opposed to just a hundred small hardly meaningful acts, it means so much more. Not only that, but to do so etching truly exceptional it requires thought. This thought is what really makes all the difference.
As humans we always desire to have something really. Beyond the mundane, and trivial, we desire what real and what will last. I think that that is what Ignatius was trying to get us to see. That we need something of significance. Something of substance. Something of value, and the reality is that they can't happen as often as we'd like, because these things truly take time and thought.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Blog #2- Evil Spirits
Joshua Byrd
September 13th, 2015
Much like Ignatius believed in evil spirits, I too believe that there can be evil forces in the world. I truly believe that there are evil forces acting against your life. These evil spirits are especially present when you are doing the work of God. I have never actually come into contact with this evil presence personally, but I have experienced the affects.
Growing up in church I know that I have always been aware, and always been taught that there is evil in the world. Leaning about Satan, Lucifer or the devil, had always been apart of the Sunday School lesson. Now that is not to say that this was the only thing that I was taught about the supernatural world, but I definitely remember learning about it often. Not only was I taught about evil, but I was also taught about the good as well. I was always taught that what is here and now, that is this flesh and this body, is not the only thing that exists. Yes, we are supposed to be concerned about this body, but is should not consume us or make us anxious. I find myself constantly battling between my what I want to do, that may not necessarily be good, and what I know to be best. I think that part of this battle may come from an evil presence, but I am not fully convinced.
I know that whenever someone has committed their live to God, that evil presence that we speak of is always at work to distract us. It is easy to succumb to that presence, but it is far better if we resist, and surrender to God's will. Much like Ignatius did. I truly believe that those evil sprits that we are talking about are powerful, and greatly affect the trajectory of our lives. However great and powerful those spirits may be, it is always encouraging to know that we do not have to be subject to them. God is greater that those spirits and even greater than our own will. I think that that is the way that one should learn about evil. Always in conjunction with God's goodness.
September 13th, 2015
Much like Ignatius believed in evil spirits, I too believe that there can be evil forces in the world. I truly believe that there are evil forces acting against your life. These evil spirits are especially present when you are doing the work of God. I have never actually come into contact with this evil presence personally, but I have experienced the affects.
Growing up in church I know that I have always been aware, and always been taught that there is evil in the world. Leaning about Satan, Lucifer or the devil, had always been apart of the Sunday School lesson. Now that is not to say that this was the only thing that I was taught about the supernatural world, but I definitely remember learning about it often. Not only was I taught about evil, but I was also taught about the good as well. I was always taught that what is here and now, that is this flesh and this body, is not the only thing that exists. Yes, we are supposed to be concerned about this body, but is should not consume us or make us anxious. I find myself constantly battling between my what I want to do, that may not necessarily be good, and what I know to be best. I think that part of this battle may come from an evil presence, but I am not fully convinced.
I know that whenever someone has committed their live to God, that evil presence that we speak of is always at work to distract us. It is easy to succumb to that presence, but it is far better if we resist, and surrender to God's will. Much like Ignatius did. I truly believe that those evil sprits that we are talking about are powerful, and greatly affect the trajectory of our lives. However great and powerful those spirits may be, it is always encouraging to know that we do not have to be subject to them. God is greater that those spirits and even greater than our own will. I think that that is the way that one should learn about evil. Always in conjunction with God's goodness.
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