kill me with kindness.

Dear Emos, Punks, Preps, Wannabe's, Goths, Sluts, Jocks, Loners, Hicks, Hippies, Surfers, MOD's, Nerds, Geeks, SceneKids, Artists, Skaters, Gangsters, Hipsters, Hardcore kids and Bandgeeks,

STOP!


We are all beautiful human beings, not animals. We’re not to be categorized as if we were a breed of dog.

No matter who you are, or what the "rules" of you subculture/social group(s) are; you all know it's wrong when you judge someone by their looks, and by their actions.

don't judge them at all.
just love them.
no matter what they do to you.
be the bigger person.

you know, often the best thing to do is to kill someone with kindness. no matter what they do, it is not your place, nor mine to judge them. what right do we have to judge them? For if we were to judge them, we would be absolute hypocrites. We all mess up. We all sin. We all are different in our own way. So, whether it's your looks, actions, speech or the people you hang out with, that's yours and God's deal. not mine. Yes, I may offer input at your request. but I have absolutely no right to judge you, and vice versa. I understand that it is human nature, and no matter what, there will always be gossip, drama and judgment. but, we could and really should control it better.

Lately, I've heard people gossiping more than they used to, or so it seems. I either overheard or they were telling me the gossip, I assume they were trying to converse in gossipblahtalk, but I wanted no part of it. Because I now try to think before I talk. and in no way am I perfect at that, many a times something has come out of my lips and I didn't realize till after everyone in the room had heard it, that it was rather hurtful. So, you help me, please. Keep me accountable. Minimize the judgment.


This is the only judgment that I try to think about; Judgment. The final trial of all people, both the living and dead, at the end of the world.

meaning, judgment day, when God judges us all by our actions, sins, speech, faith, unfaithfulness. everything.


I tell you, on the Day of Judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
—Matthew 12:36-37

And I don't think anyone could say it better.

c'mon, this is pretty basic guys. Anyone remember the golden rule? 'Treat others as you would like to be treated.' Yeah, I like that. It’s not that hard to remember. It might take some time getting used to actually applying that to your life. But practice, practice, practice! :)
practice makes perfect, right? hah.

All those things, then, which you would have men do to you, even so do you to them: because this is the law and the prophets.
-Matthew 7:12


Also, another thing, do you live in a fantasy world? I shall not judge you for this, because I live in one as well. Although I imagine mine is a bit different than yours. Mine consist of never-ending beautiful acoustic music, the melodious voice of a certain someone at such a volume that you could hear it in the background. But it's not really drowning out the words we say. That perfect volume.


It frustrates me when I hear people talking about such spurious things.

Who cares if Jessica Simpson had her breast enhanced?! I don't.

Do you care that the Jonas Brothers have girlfriends?! I certainly do not.

Do you care that Kevin Jonas is talking about proposing to his long-time girlfriend?! Well, I do not. because it doesn't concern me, unless I'm a friend of the Jonas's or of that long-time girlfriend named whatsherface.

Now, I'm not saying every time you open your mouth I'd like to hear deep theological debates flying off of your tongue. but, I'd like to converse about something that actually matters. for once. please. Something about love, hope, God, beauty, music, art, books etc etc etc. I mean, seriously. so, Lohan is gay. FINALLY, Duff has something over her!
uhh, what?
how is that going to help you in your life?
I've got news for you; it won't.

seriously, gossip about photo shopped celebrities all day long. I'd rather not. but that's your choice. but when it comes to people that you know, and supposedly love. watch the words.

Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
Ecclesiastes 5:2

[I apologize if I forgot anyone’s social status/subculture/clique in my opening]

my thoughts. pure and simple.

"Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that the stuff life is made of." - Benjamin Franklin

I've come to the conclusion that days are too long, and nights are much too short.

I firmly believe that time is all relative. If you're a busy person, you don't have "enough time",
and if you're a very dull and boring person, you'll have "too much time".
but the truth is, believe it or not, we all have the same amount of time. Our activity is based on what we choose to do with it.
This is obvious, I know. But it's just one of those things that's so painfully obvious that no one knows what it is because it's just expected that we know it and so we think we know it because everyone else seems to know it so we don't pay any attention to it and therefore we have absolutely no clue what we're talking about.
if that makes any sense at all. I think that a lot of life is like that.
Some things are so simple and so obvious, that we are expected to know them, and then we think everyone else knows them, so it turns into common knowledge and therefore we know it, so we don't pay any attention to it and instead we focus on the bigger things, the more complicated things, the things that require more of us. this is why we need to be in this together. we're all in this together.

We're so caught up in things, we forget about simplicity. the pure and simple things.
But simplicity is the stuff that keeps life together; the stuff that keeps us from going absolutely insane. simple things.
but, alas, no one cares. simple things are simple, so we assume we know them.
but we don't. at least, I don't. If you do, hallelujah, please enlighten me.
It's like guitar... the Chris Carrabba gets drowned out by the Synyster Gates.
the simple stuff gets drowned out and shoved aside by the complicated stuff.

One question: why?

Time is so important to us. We seem to spend it faster than we can make it. So pretty soon, our "little black books" are full and everything that really matters has no place. Because the stuff that matters most is the simple stuff. and nobody wants the simple stuff... because the exciting stuff intrigues us. we want that, because it's busy and it's fun and it's exciting! but what value does it have, when the simple stuff is neglected?

the bare essentials in life are too often neglected. forgotten. shoved aside. abandoned. gone. We live by this mentality of "the more the merrier", and then we fill our schedules with the all of the good' stuff, the things that will entertain us, and then we have no time for the little stuff, the stuff that really matters, the stuff that keeps life together. we can only hold on and live like this for so long.

Maybe that's the pain. maybe the weight of time is bringing us down. maybe that's why the divorce rates are high and relationships are low. that's why suicide rates are up and compassion is at an all-time low. because no one cares. life and death seem so simple, that we neglect them.

and yes, life is hard. but not nearly as hard as we make it out to be.
it's hard because we've made it harder than it needs to be. we've added things that don't really matter, and we've taken away what makes this life a good one. or a potential good one. we take out love and hope and faith and replace it with sex, weapons, drugs and money. money can't buy happiness, but it sure can buy a lot of booze, right? will that make you happy? will it? yeah, it will. until you wake up.

And maybe I'm being completely unrealistic. maybe my peaceful fantasy world is trying to merge with the real one. but I honestly don't think it has to be like that... And I don't claim to have all the answers. As I'm sure you know, only God does. maybe this is complete and total rubbish, and maybe I'll know the truth in a few years once I have more experience in this busy and complicated life...
Or am I right? maybe I'm being completely sensible and maybe you agree with me. maybe the rest of the world would agree with me. It may be that I'm too simple-minded for them. Maybe people judge too much, so they won't listen to me because I'm too young and I'm seen as immature and irresponsible and stereotyped as just another angsty teenager, when in all reality I've come to realize that life is very good, and the world is very beautiful, and we're all in these things together...


I hope you'll tell me if you think I'm being ridiculous.

I have much more to say, but... not the words or brain power to form the words and sentences... This life can be so overwhelming...

I have a few busy people on my mind as I write this, but their type of busy is inevitable. work.
And I admire them for the work they do. no. not necessarily the work they do. but the reasons why they do the work.

They work for money. money for their families. Teens choosing to support their families. parents and siblings. Teens putting their lives on hold to work. work for their families well being.


and that, that is sheer beauty...

wake up and stand with me.

This is just something that has been on my heart and mind lately. figured I'd write it out. I didn't expect for it to come out like this. I often have trouble morphing my thoughts and feelings into words. but, ohwell. what can you do?



Words of wisdom: The president will not change the future of this country. You will change the future of this country. You and I. us. The president can't change the world. You and I can change the world. We can change the world. He may have more power, but you both have authority.



"Wake up and stand for something."

If we all become passionate about something, think of what we can do… here we are, in dreamland, all talk and no walk. This country needs love, and in case you haven’t heard, love is a MOVEMENT. stop talking about it and start living it. It's one thing to say “I'm a musician”, but until you sit down with a guitar and some words, you’re nothing but a talker. you can say you believe in something, but until you start living those beliefs, you're nothing. so wake up; stand for something. look around you. look at the people in your neighborhood. look at the people in this city. your city. Your town. Your home. look at them. these people are beautiful, but they're lost. you're lost. I’m lost. we're all lost. we're all walking around, with places to be and people to see, things to do, once again that whole time relevance thing plays a factor in our lives... but we're all asking the same questions, a thousand different ways. we pass each other on the street with no regard for each others lives or potential.

If you only knew who we could be someday…

God, we have so much potential! so much goodness and beauty inside of us. we don't need it from an outside source. we already have it. we have this potential; this passion; this hope, swelling up within us. you're ignoring it, and as a result, it's dying. the longer you let it die, the harder it will be to revive. you've gotta do something. you can't keep waiting. because time doesn't wait for you, and time kills. you have to take action. you have to wake up; stand for something.

it's a fire. let it die out. and it will just take longer to rekindle the flames. stoke the fire. and it keeps burning. stoke the fire.

no, we're not all going to become the next big thing. in all honesty, I don't want my name in lights. but I do want my thoughts, hopes, dreams and ideas out on paper for you to read, for everyone to read. I want my music out for all to hear. I people to sing along with my lyrics. I want my poems to bring tears to peoples eyes. I want my life out for all to see. I want to live my life so that it's pleasing to both God and man. but the type of mankind I think of, is just out of reach. I am so broken. I’m lost. I'm nothing without God. It’s as if I'm asking so many questions, and then not taking the time to find the answers. It is such a pity. This wasted potential in so many people. I am pitiful. I really am. but it's in this pity, this sorrow, this weakness, that I often find strength. Strive to be better. Because when you're at the bottom, all you can do is look up. and up, there is light. there is hope. down here, there are shadows. there is nothing but darkness, things my eyes cannot see or comprehend. But in the light... oh there is so much in the light. The light gives us all that we should ever need or want.


wake up and stand for something

the graveyard is the richest place on earth.

I want to die empty… but full.
I don’t want a single ounce of potential left within me.
And I don't know how much time I have left.
Nobody does, except God.
but I want to get it all out.
all of it.
all the love.
all the hope.
all the peace.
all the fears.
all the tears.
all the laughs.
all the jokes.
all the dreams.
all the stories.
all the songs.
all the words.
all the hugs.
all the kisses.
all the joy.
all the pain.
all the compassion.
all the life.
all of it.
everything I’m capable of giving, I want out of me before I go.
before I die.

So, I'm going to start now.

wake up and stand for something.


something.
anything.
please.


wake up.


Wake up and stand up with me.