Posted by Mister Metal on November 17, 2002 at 13:39:16:
In Reply to: O.K. I think I know how I feel now. But, before you read this, tell yourself: I'm going to LISTEN and not just respond without THINKING. Thanks. Bill posted by giveawayboy on November 16, 2002 at 16:53:42:
: First off --I'm not complaining and I'm not angry. REALLY! Actually, I'm quite happy! I am very glad this board has people on it. In my current pedestrian state (not complaining) I enjoy this board as a way for me to connect, not only w other Christians, but with friends. It is an important part of my life. So, what I'm about to write is not complaining, although it might sound like it.
: Here goes:
: I feel disconnected alot. That might be O.K. God did not call us to feel good all the time. I just feel like I don't know how to get to know you guys. I know this seems strange. I've LIVED with some of you, but still don't feel like I know you. Also, I have trouble talking to people here. What I mean is that I don't know what things are interesting to you all. I painstakingly create posts that I feel have significance and importance, and are things I want to share w others and they get overlooked or maybe they are read but they do not always get a response. I'm not trying to lay a guilt trip on you all. There is no guilt here. I just feel that I don't know how to connect w people, and that is something that is very important to me. I admit that it would be wrong to expect everything I post to get responses, and I don't. Certainly at times I have expected far too much out of a message board, and I'm not trying to go down that route either. I'm not sure what I'm really saying. Lately I have shared a few things which I feel worthy of note, particularly information about Marcos and PLANET EARTH LOCATIONS, which I feel is AMAZING! Is it just that I'm the only one who sees what Marcos is trying to do? Or is it that people here don't want to learn about foreign countries? There is nothing wrong with this. I realize that people don't come here for a history or geography lesson. They might have other reasons for coming. That is fine. I just feel that we have a great teacher with us, Marcos, who is willing to teach us some fascinating things about other places and cultures. I feel that is a great resource. Perhaps I'm just making mountains out of molehills, but at I enjoy learning about them both. I was amazed once when I met a girl from Norway, Vibeke. She spoke five languages, including Hebrew. I was blown away. Here in America, unless we were raised in a bilingual family, do we even speak two? I couldn't tell you a alot about our U.S. presidents. Not only did Vibeke know about OUR presidents, she could tell me WHAT happened during their terms in office. And she was from Norway. Remember, I'm not condemning anyone. What I'm trying to demonstrate is that we can always afford to learn more about other countries. People who come to the United States from other countries have to pass citizenship tests. They learn more about our country and government than we know ourselves. They also have an advantage over us as they have lived in a different culture before encountering ours and they also speak another language. I am hurt, not because any response from you all to PEL was right or wrong, but because---- here goes----I see it as a precious jewel and because I do not want it to go overlooked. I think we could really benefit from what Marcos has to share. That's all. Really. I'm not trying to be a hard ass. I just really feel like we don't know the GIFTS that each of us has to offer. But, it takes TIME TO LISTEN and LEARN and SEE where another person is coming from. That is all. Also, I realize that my posts do get responses alot of the time. I just felt weird I guess since in the last week when I was sick I posted alot of posts that to me were 'ignored' posts. You have to suffer w knowing that I am very sensitive to being ignored (whether or not that is a fault--it is a fact) or interrupted, which to me tells me I am not important. Maybe I'm oversensitive to this, but I feel this way regardless. I wish I didn't take everything so personally but I do. I feel by interrupting each other we are not esteeming that person as important. I'm not pointing my finger at any one person, since I myself am also guilty of this. Frankly, we need to get to know each other better and understand each other better. The reason--we will miss the treasure by not discerning properly! Marcos is a spiritual and intellectual giant. He knows about prayer and about LISTENING to others. He also knows a hell or alot about other countries. We could learn TONS from this man. But we have to give him a block of time. We have to make the sacrifice.
: O.K. Now that I said all that, I don't want you to go check out PEL out of a feeling of guilt or pity. I don't even demand a response, and I certainly don't expect one. I just want you all to be aware that there are wonderful things in each other that we will miss if we don't stop to acknowledge them, like all those times G posted his website....he put so much work into that site. It was really creative. I don't even know if it still exists. O.K. My hand hurts now and I think I want to go make some grilled cheese sandwiches.
: Bill
yeah i hear ya bill..at times..like last week..i just didnt wanna care anymore..i didnt wanna even be seen with christians..i didnt wanna "fellowship" i am sick of tryin..this is what i am tryin to be real about..its just how i feel..its nice to see that the very people i felt didnt understand do really understand..i am so there with ya bill..yeah..its nice to see that i am not the only one who feels very detached..