For Each A Road, 04-19-04 10:26pm

No need to apologize, Kyle.

Be thankful that you've never gone through any of that, don't feel bad about it.

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Re: For Each A Road, 04-20-04 4:18pm

Yeah, you're right Rachel... I should be thankful. I'm kinda like one of the lepors that Jesus healed and then didn't go back to thank him.

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04-19-04 10:33pm

welcome to the club buddy..

I watch the world go by because nothing goes wrong and i'm too scared to make mistakes like everyone else.

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04-19-04 11:36pm

Kyle, this may seem self centered, but I used to be just like you. Up until about freshman year, I did nothing, met no one, and led a sheltered life. Then I had a friend, and she did these changes to me, but I didn't like them. So I got away from her and her friends and made my own. Then I went out in the world, did what I wanted to do, and found the love of my life. I'm not saying my life is perfect, no, far from it. I had to make plenty of mistakes to get where I am now, but if anything I did differently back then would change the outcome of now, then I wouldn't change anything of it. I hurt people, I hurt myself, and I'm not saying to do that either, but these are the pains of life and don't go looking for them. Be happy that you haven't experienced them yet. Sorry that was so long.

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Re:, 04-20-04 4:22pm

I know what you mean, Andy, like when you look at those people who risked those mistakes and what they've become- and even the people who failed, but learned from their failure- it feels like you're missing out.

Starting a whole new business is a pretty big risk, though, so don't feel like you're totally out of the waters. :D

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Re:, 04-20-04 4:27pm

Thanks, Jackie; we can all learn a ton from each other. Yeah, our experiences and decisions become part of who we are. Learning from experiences and experiencing pain are very important.

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Re: Re:, 04-20-04 4:29pm

this is andy

i have a friends mom that i talk to. i think i get along with her better than the kid. anyway, she used to be a big drinker and all of that crap... and in the end they turn out fine. so i just don't get it. why do i care as much as i do to stay away from things when everything turns out fine in the end anyway?

i went to that old dam in your pictures today. i didn't know it was around here but i asked rachel last night.

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Re: Re: Re:, 04-20-04 4:44pm

You looked at my pictures? Cool! I didn't think anyone did. :D

I wasn't exactly talking about going and doing stuff like drinking or smoking for the experiences- whenever I talk to people who have done that, the regrets they have outweigh whatever they may have learned from it- plus other people get hurt in the process.

I was thinking more about how people just have stuff happen to them, you know? Like a lot of people I know have had to deal with abusive situations with their parents, or people in their family have died, or they have some life shattering health problem. And they always get hurt by that, but usually God helps them through it and they become stronger, better people for it.

I'll come up with some specific examples later, perhaps.

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Re: Re: Re:, 04-20-04 4:50pm

Adding on to my last comment:

Of course, there are risks you can take yourself that you might get hurt by, but aren't bad risks- even admirable ones. Like love, that's a huge one. Or starting a business, or speaking out in class about something that you disagree with. Things all of my friends do every day that I stay away from.

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Re: Re: Re: Re:, 04-20-04 4:51pm

Yes, yes. But if God thought you needed to grow in those areas or to become a better person from an experience then it would happen, no?

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:, 04-20-04 4:58pm

Yeah, I guess that's why He still lets our sinful natures and Satan tempt us. Of course, being able to reject temptation is part of the goal of growing.

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04-20-04 10:53am

Whatever you do, don't go looking for trouble. Been there done that.
As everyone will tell you, be grateful. Maybe God is trying teach you to learn from our mistakes, instead of you going through them yourself. We may have grown stronger, but we are still commiting mistake after mistake. You have had the sense to stay out trouble.

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Re:, 04-20-04 4:29pm

Don't worry, I'm not going to go do anything weird. Thanks. :)

I'm not TOTALLY devoid of mistakes, though, I've made a small few...

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04-20-04 3:35pm

Kyle u are a wonderful person. And i love who you are. dont feel stupid or unworthy. U are a friend that i can trust. and a friend that i know will always be there for me no matter what. U are not self centered b/c u care so much about the people around u. I think u can relate to people u just dont always want to. i dont know. i mean all i know is u are a great friend and a great person. and be careful.
luv ya
jess

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Re:, 04-20-04 4:31pm

Thanks, Jess, that means a lot to me.

Yeah, my not relating to people probably has other roots; this is a main one, though.

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