Why do we act the way we do?

Have you ever noticed that when someone wants something, they will do almost anything to try to get it. I ran into this tonight. Someone knew that another person did not like what they were going to watch, but they wanted to watch a certain special, so they orchestrated it so that the other person would be forced into dealing with it, regardless of the other person's feelings. The other person was put into a very miserable situation.

It is amazing how selfish we can get. We stop caring about other people's feelings because all we want to do is stroke our own. A sad state of affairs our selfish hearts fall into. I hope that I do not treat other people's feelings so casually. I know that I can be selfish, I just hope that there is a limit to my selfishness and that it stops at hurt or ticking off other people.

Happy Boxing Day

Well, everyone, in Germany the day after Christmas is a holiday called boxing day. So what did I do? Well with around 6 other people, I watched Band of Brothers. That is right...all 10 parts. It was tough. I have done the Lord of the Rings before, but that was nothing compared to this. That is longer to.

This marathon was hard because of how emotionally taxing the parts are. Sometimes you just didn't want to talk after finishing a part and I sure didn't want to go on to the next one. But we made it. I don't know if it is something that I really ever want to do again.

Merry Christmas to all...

...and to all a good night.

That is right y'all, it is Christmas. At least here in Germany it is. I just got finished watching 'The Bourne Supremacy' - a good Christmas movie :-)

I shall get some good sleep, but I wanted to wish you all a very merry Christmas. I can't even believe that Christmas is here. I am still trying to figure out what it is going to mean for me. I better do that soon. I am very grateful that this is the time that we have chosen to celebrate the birth of the greatest 'man' in history. It was this that was the greatest sacrifice that allows me to have my hope that I have.

Thank you Jesus.

What does Christmas mean?

This is the first time I will be away from family and friends for the holidays. And it doesn't feel like Christmas. Why?

I am not sure, but I think that I will maybe discover a different feel about Christmas. I know what Christmas is truly about, but it seems that it means more than just that. Maybe in our time even if something is the main reason for Christmas, there are other reasons that make it special. I don't know. I don't think that made sense.

So I am on a quest to find out what the holidays mean for me. Christmas is about Jesus, but what else is it about?

I believe in Santa Claus

At least the idea of him...

God Bless us Everyone...(cough) (cough)

Last night we had a Christmas party. We watched 'Muppet's Christmas Carol.' It is weird doing these things without the people you are used to. The movie is a movie that I have watched with many friends countless times since college. Watching the movie brought up all the jokes that we have developed over the years. These are jokes that I can make around friends and they will laugh, or vice versa. But not here. I don't have a history here. People don't know 10 year old jokes. We can't just laugh at one of those inside type jokes.

I never thought that watching the Muppet's would be a sentimental hard time. How many more times will this come up? I also missed the famed Christmas party that I go to every year. It started in college and I have been to every one. It has become as much a part of the season as anything and I missed it.

All these thoughts are from my perspective. I wonder what it is like to not have me there. I have no clue. Do they miss me? Do they not even notice? I would guess somewhere in between the extremes. I think about these people all the time. I may not contact enough, but that doesn't mean the thoughts and love aren't there for my family and friends. Sometimes those emails or other contacts are just too hard to make.

This has been an interesting season and will only get more interesting. As I get closer and closer to Christmas, I am sure that these feelings will get more intense. It should be quite the ride. I don't know what to expect and am a bit scared of it.

Back to movies, now I am going to try to watch 'Home Alone' without my family laughing in the background.

I got a hole in my sweatshirt

Yep, my Messiah college sweatshirt has a hole in it. Now I realize that this is nothing of note, but I like how I got it. If you get a hole in some clothing, it stinks, but to have a good story is helpful. Here it is.

I got it while climbing around a castle in France. That is right. I am so privileged to be living over here in Germany. I spent the afternoon walking around things that were being built around 1000 years ago. Incredible history. The part of France that I was in is 45 minutes from where I live. I saw something like 7 or so castles on hilltops all around today. It is incredible. Also getting to visit a walled city called Riquewihr was neat.

Perspective is interesting. What I did today wouldn't be that incredible to someone living over here, but to someone in the states where everything is new, it is completely different. I need to stop myself and just think about the incredible privilege that I have been given.