thank God He has a sense of humor.

    The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3 that there is a time to laugh. And who am I, as a young Christian with an honestly inconsistent fire for her faith, to ignore that profound truth?
    I love to laugh. There are so many funny things in life, and happy things, and things that are so perfect that I cannot help but giggle with joy. There are funny cat videos on Tumblr. And conversations I have with my little sister as we lie half-asleep on our bunks in the midnight darkness- if anyone overheard us they would instantly think us insane (and be mostly correct). And endings to my favorite movies, when the good guys win, or the boy kisses the girl as the music swells, or everyone dances and parties at the wedding, and I hug a pillow on my couch, my eyes shining like the utterly ridiculous romantic I truly am underneath my mask of cynicism and lame science puns. And laughter bounds out of me- sometimes high and girlish, other times without a sound as I breathlessly bend over, reveling in honest mirth.
    I firmly believe people tend to take themselves too seriously. I can say this with conviction, because as a tragically typical teenage girl I know what it is to make my so-called issues a stubborn part of my identity. Not to say that there aren't people whose lives are actually riddled with problems, but regardless of how sad things may be, we get beautiful sunrises and sunsets every single day- isn't that amazing? And parents have adorable toddlers who say the darndest things, and don't we all laugh at their innocence? And lovers get proposed to and married all the time- do we not laugh with them in their joy?
    There is so much humor and happiness to be found in everyday life. Like when I hear a new song and listen to it on repeat until it becomes my own. Or when I hear my little brother singing along to his iPod, alone in his room. Or when my mom's family gets together (enough said; they are more entertaining than cable).
    When I watched Les Miserables for the first time, the message I got out of it was: life sucks, but there's always tomorrow. And that's true. Whatever you may be going through could be enough to make you crawl into the fetal position and sob loud. But, darling, there is always hope for tomorrow- better yet, there's a little hope in the here and now. Hope for the present is everywhere- in the sarcastic banter between old friends, and hugs that lift you off your feet, and family drama you can reminisce over for years to come. So don't be afraid to laugh. It makes everything easier to bear and usually sets people at ease. Develop a uniquely hysterical sense of humor and don't be reserved with it. It's okay to be inappropriate and immature every now and again- you'd be surprised how many people's days can be made with a bit of middle school bathroom humor. There. I said it. And you should say it too.
--Laura :)

I'm a bad writer.

Hey.

    I'm a bad writer. I'm inconsistent and shabby at best. I keep my thoughts bottled up inside until they boil over into some confusing mess. Writing has always been very cathartic to me, soothing to my soul like cool water on a fresh burn. So, why do I put off posting on my blog, and writing down my prayers before bed, and jotting down the things I find inspirational in my everyday life?

    Essentially, I am a tragically typical teenage girl (young woman? I've reached that awkwardly vague part of my life when my age ends in -teen but I'm legally an adult). My priorities are spending time with people who make me feel good about myself and thinking too much about things that will never happen. I like to think I'm much deeper than most my age, that because I like to read books sometimes and have a bit of natural beauty, I must be complicated and wise beyond my years. I think my thoughts are startlingly brilliant, like I am the only one who sees the world the way I do. Then I go on the Internet and discover that I am just like every other Christian white girl in the world- awkward, emotional, and in love with being in love.

    So I put off my writing. I say, "after I take this exam," or "after I get home from this or that trip." Telling myself I'll get around to it feels almost as good as actually getting around to it. And then, I actually do it, and I ask myself why I let myself avoid it for so long.

    I've realized we tend to survive by hoping for the things we want and avoiding the things we need to do. Thinking about future events, the excitement and even the worry, keep people going. I'm looking forward to graduating. After that I'll look forward to going away to school in the fall. And after that I'll look forward to figuring out what God wants me to do with my life. It's a frenzied, but sadly pointless, cycle. And while we are hoping we are avoiding doing the right things in life- the hard things. Things like saying what needs to be said, even when we cannot anticipate the reactions of the people who hear our words. Or being really, selflessly humble, or trying something new. And while there is nothing wrong with hoping for the future for the right reasons, avoiding what we as people are called to do can have a dangerously lasting effect, on our own lives as well as the lives of those around us.

    So, don't put off doing what may seem hard, or boring, or controversial. Don't wait until the last possible moment to accomplish what God may be calling you to do. I'm not saying you shouldn't ever do what you love, only that what you're afraid of doing might be what you love. Don't be like me. Don't be a bad writer who thinks what she loves is a chore, only to finally get around to it and end up being pleasantly surprised by the burst of joy she feels when her words transcend every inexplicable thought jumbled up in her mind.

--Laura :)