Chisel

I am currently reading Alter's The Promise: Obama Year One. The book offers first-hand accounts of how Obama has handled the campaign, the victory, the transition and the presidency.  The book is actually quite good except I am pretty sure that the author is a flaming Democrat.  His book can be summarized in a sentence: Obama is the best thing since sliced bread. :-p

Actually, I think Obama deserves some credit for surviving the presidency so far. He has had to face such grueling circumstances.  I am still very reserved about him. However, I think, overall, history will judge him kindly.

Reading the book made me reaffirm one thing though. Some things are pre-destined.  Obama was chosen by the heavens to be the US President at this moment in time. His collective experiences as a boy, student, husband, senator and so forth, tempered him with the right attitude to become a good candidate.  It also helped that he ran at a time when everyone hated the former administration and that his opponent was too politically motivated to do a good job as a candidate.  The election was Obama's to win.

And because I am self-involved, I want to use what I learned in relation to my life.  (Insert inspiring music)

I realized that God is currently chiseling me. My current circumstances are actually very good (relative to my "past life" and to other people's lives).  However, I have a sneaky feeling of unrest.  I feel like I am being challenged to clean my life.

So far, I have stopped reading gossip blogs.  It has freed my mind from so many trash.  I have also stopped talking about other people and "it is none of my business" has become my most common reply. Okay, every now and then I do make comments but every time I do so, I feel like throwing up.

I have also started hating piracy with passion.  Before I just thought it was illegal and avoided supporting it. Now I am really angry about it.

I am also starting to question why I am friends with people whose values I question.  It is not my job to judge them but it is my privilege to avoid them. I can no longer tolerate people who speak of all things high and mighty yet engage in useless, brainless chatter which often involves proliferating hatred and insult. I want to cut myself out of these people's lives. Screw worldly popularity. I have the loyalty of very good people whom I actually respect. These relationships are enough to sustain me.

What I just shared are snippets of how I am being chiseled, pruned and changed. Why this is all happening is beyond me. Maybe I will be president of Finland. Hahaha. Major imagination much?