Metamorphus

Metamorphosis- The eyes of a child gazes at the world in amazement. Not fully understanding their surrounds but taking in everything that is observed. The eyes of an adult does not gaze but watches, observes, analyzes and sometimes looks over. When we grow older our brains learn to critically think, a crucial skill nonetheless, but it is as if our brains were told that you can't believe in both logic and magic. I was reminded of this youthful amazement when a parent brought in some caterpillars to our class. When we presented the caterpillars and talked about the process with the children, and had them share their ideas, they were so excited about it that caterpillars and butterflies became the center of the world. I would often check on the caterpillars to see how the were doing. To see if they had started webbing so that we can move them to their nest. I looked at them merely as an observer not as an admirer. They were hairy and weird looking to me. After a few days I caught myself. I was treating these creatures, who in their first state weren't the most attractive things , like a daily task. I've talked about the process, spent most of my day reading books about these creatures but never stopped to really think how this process is truly unique, amazing and really unexplainable. How one creature can start off in one form and completely change it's genetic makeup. As we grow older and the responsibilities pile on everything because a job, or a task to complete. And half the time the most enjoyment we get is from consuming the contents of a bottle or from escaping on a vacation to a foreign place. Us adults need to remember to pause and realize the beauty, the wonder and the mystery around us and appreciate it. While our brain holds countless information, mostly of all the things we need to take care, it also holds our memories. I want my memories to be of something beautiful, remember the smell of a flower,or the smiles of my friends and families. Things will always need to get done, and eventually we will get them done, but if we don't appreciate the little things I feel like we are all caterpillars stuck in our cocoons. Stuck inside of chrysalis of routine, tasks, and order. Never letting ourselves become as beautiful as we can be, never turning into that butterfly and soaring through life. The irony of this story is that when we got the caterpillars we accidentally almost killed them. We put the container that they were inside in a glass jar that sealed tight. We thought an extra layer around their original jar would keep them safe in case one of our children decided to pick up the jar, or if it got knocked over. Didn't take into account that by locking the jar we were cutting off their oxygen flow. Luckily we reopened the jar just in time, right before the passed out forever. Taking this experience a step further, if you don't see the beauty and the wonder in a caterpillar turning into a butterfly take the time to find the beauty and wonder in your life. Whether its someone always remembering your birthday, receiving or giving a handmade gift. Look through the eyes of a child and see if you are amazed.

Costa Rica: Smile

You can survive! I remember walking into this community where the homes were brightly colored and looked barely put together. The children surrounded us with smiles and looked at us with curious eyes. Hugo, the founder of the children's center called Smiles with Hope in which we were visiting, greeted us as we came in. Before knowing his title I could tell he was a person who was loved. For as he walked in the children ran up to him with glee and attached themselves to his arms and legs, and began swinging and dangling from his limbs. Walking into the center we walked across a small bridge over a ravine. We walked into a large room that was very hot with a small stage in the back in which we were brought to. We gathered on stage with a group of children and suddenly music started to play. The song was in Spanish of course so we all just went along with the movement of the children. They would move to the right we'd move too. They would raise their arms up and do a silly dance and we would mimic their moves. Then, to our surprise, we were bombard with laughter and little hands tickling us. After realizing what was going on we started tickling back. For those 2- 3 minutes the song was going on I couldn't stop laughing. Not just because of what was going on but because there was this energy of love in the room. These children welcomed us, not knowing our names, not really knowing who we were but simply trusted us. After the song and after some playing around the children had to leave to go to school and we were invited to sit down and listen and learn more about the place we had just entered. The place we were at was built as a safe haven. The children of the community at a very young age are exposed to drugs, violence and prostitution. Their childhood is filled with distress and chaos. Sonrisas con Esperanza , Smiles with Hope, was built for children to have a place where they can be themselves. To smile, laugh and be children. Not only does the center provide a safe place for the children but for the mothers as well. Teaching them crafts, and skills to such as doing hair and nails, so that they can make better choices in their lives and have a opportunity for success. There is always hope, even in the darkest of places. But you have to believe in that hope to be elevated by it. Hugo's life was far from pleasant, and saying it was difficult may even underestimate the struggles he went through. Orphaned at the age of 5, for most of his childhood he lived on the streets, ate our of garbage cans and was constantly surrounded by drugs and prostitution. He even tried taking his life at a very young age. Fortunately, one day a friend told him about the Lord and his faith was renewed. He followed the word of God and was cared for in a safe environment. When he got older he started working as a clown, because he wanted to make children smile. And as time went on he created the center where many smiles pass through every day. What is also more inspiring about Hugo besides his triumph over his childhood experiences, is that he works for no income. He works by faith and every month himself along with his family is taken care of, through the generosity of others. Whether you believe in God or not, it is vital to always believe in something better. Always have Hope. I think to myself what would have happened if Hugo had given up? The the children of La Cuenca, Guararí,Costa Rica may have walked amongst the streets without a smile on their faces. They would have been trapped in a world that would ultimately destroy them. But it is because he didn't give up and let is struggles overcome him that many children and families can find peace, love, hope and a second chance. "This ministry was born as a result of God seeking to put smiles of love and hope in the hearts of these families, especially the children who have tears in their hearts" Fore more information about Sonrisas con Esperanza, visit their facebook page at : https://www.facebook.com/SonrisasConEsperanza?fref=tsm Children are born with hope, and it radiates through their smiles. Even when children have experienced or seen horrible things their hope still flows and exist through them. Sometimes when we get older we see so much evil that it kills our hope. But if a child can believe in the good out there, why can't we let out minds do the same. It's not because we know more or that we are wiser, it's because we stop believing and appreciating the little good that is there.

Friendship

I found this new magazine called Rebel magazine which is actually a men's magazine but i didn't discover that until after reading the first couple of pages. but its a magazine against pop culture, promoting men to think and act differently then what pop culture shows them. It give men a different image to look at.
I read this article about friendship vs. buddies and it talks about the true meaning of friendship. Sense friendship is an ever recurring issues in the lives of everyone young and old i thought quotes from the article would be relevant.

The Path of Friendship
BY: Matt Teei


" a friend is someone who will tell you what you need to hear, not what to hear want to hear"

" Aristotle says that a friend wants what is best for you, not whats best for himself"


" there is a friendship continuum and most of us only hang out on one side of it."

" a friend isn't going to tell you to " go for it" unless it's in your best interest"

" a true friend will tell you the truth even at the risk of you being mad at him "

" in a friendship, you hold eachother accountable and you cover each other's back... you care about eachothers integrity"