This Thing Of Mine

This thing of mine,

It isn't the greatest, but maybe it could be more.

It isn't the strongest. I know, I've broken it.

It's not the kind of thing everyone wants, but it's the only thing I could ever give.

It isn't big. In fact, sometimes it seems the smallest I know of.

It isn't the brightest. Most wouldn't consider it dark, but it has its shadows.

It isn't colorful. Its tones are faded, not robust and exciting like others.

It isn't the most musical. Its song is nice and common, but it's just a song.

It isn't the warmest. It can give comfort, but not enough to be sought after.

It isn't the most beautiful. It's appealing at times, but it always gets covered.

It isn't special. I wish it were, but it isn't.

It isn't the most interesting. Maybe for a moment, but it won't last.

It isn't the most enjoyable. It may give you a laugh or two, but you'll forget why.

It isn't the most dependable. That's how I learned it breaks.

It isn't the softest. I thought it could be, but I've seen it scratch. I hate it for that.

It isn't the thing I wanted, but it's the only thing I have,

This thing of mine.

EXTRA: Addition to "Whale" and other stuff

So hopefully you guys know me enough to know I listen to many different types of music and that I like techno stuff...
Well, I was exploring music this morning (which was a SUPER COLD morning, btw), and I found this song, Deadmau5 - Strobe (Mr FijiWiji Remix).

It has a good sound and all, but what I hope you'll listen to is the bit from the 2 minute mark till the end. It has an excerpt from the movie The Great Dictator, which relates in a few ways to what I talked about in my last post about the blue whale (it also incorporates bunches of stuff I hope for as well). Just thought it may give you a bit more insight.



Besides that, the only other thing I can think about is that I should probably start posting more about what actually happens in my life, rather than that "welcome to the mind of mikey" thing I often do.

So, to do that, I'll simply fill you in on what's up lately.

• I'm taking 3 classes this semester for a total of 14 credits (which feels kinda lame, to be honest). Those classes are Calculus 1 (meh), Genetics (interesting), and Organic Chemistry 1 (double meh). 
• I recently joined the Ambassadors Program at my college, which I think will be pretty fun actually, lots of neet things to participate in (although I don't know if I'm the best person to represent the school). 
• I launched a Guide To Manliness page on both Twitter and Facebook last month (which will be very developmental for both me and my participating buddies).
• I'm actually writing songs this year and am even learning how to use my voice (HUGE thing for me since I've always wanted to make my own musc).
• I've joined a Bible Study Fellowship, BSF, group here and I think I will continue to for a while. I've also been reading Cloud Atlas, which isn't a big deal, but it's still interesting.
• Things have changed a lot lately and, even though they're still not sorted out and offering certainty/stability, I'm very happy with them. I feel good, like I'm actually where I want to be.
• And one last thing has happened lately that I like very much, but unless you're one of my good friends I'm not going to tell you much about it. Let's just say I'm very happy about it, so much so that there is a smiley at the end of this sentence. :)

Besides THAT, I don't think there's much else I want to blog about. 

Hope all is well, ttyl.

Whale

"Mwoooaaaaa..." - Blue Whale

On average, an adult blue whale is 90ft long, weighs more than 180 tons, and lives over 80 years. It is about 12ft tall from belly to back, and its front flippers are about the length and width of a small town car. Its heart has the similar size of a Volkswagen Bug, weighing 1,600lbs, and its deep blue eyes have a diameter of about an inch wider than a CD. They are considered by many to be the loudest animals on earth, with their calls reaching over 200 miles, and they are known by all to be the largest living creature within the history of the animal kingdom.

I'm telling you this because the blue whale is one of, if not my most favorite animal. Furry animals, such as otters, lions, and dogs are all well and good, but the blue whale is by far the most wondrous amongst thema all. A living, breathing giant. 

I like the blue whale not only for its size and greatness, but also for its serenity. Yes, it is the biggest animal to have ever roamed the earth. And yes, it does make everything else around it seem minuscule when compared. But, regardless of where it sits in the hierarchy of the animal kingdom, the blue whale is no more a living thing than any other.It was not created to rule the seas nor treat the ocean as its domain for living and expanding. It was not made to be seen as "the giant of all" nor be set any higher than the rest of the ocean's dwellers. It simply lives, coexisting with all life, conscious of its size no more than the sea to the sky.

Now, you may be thinking, "okay? What's your point, Mike? We all know the whale is pretty big."

Think of it this way... what happens when you give a man power? He wants more. What happens when you give a man authority? He uses it. And what happens when you give a man greatness? He sees himself as great. Follow?

The reason I like the blue whale is not because of how great, majestic, or powerful it is. I like it because it is all these things yet behaves as if it is none of them. They are not aggressive, invasive, nor are they territorial. They simply live their lives beneath the surface, abiding by every rule that applies to every other animal in its world.

This is an example of what I consider to be real power or greatness, the ability to be set higher than everyone else, to be considered great amongst all others, yet intentionally ground yourself to even a low level. There are so many stories of men who want to rule and be great, and even men who are capable yet use that ability in fault. I don't think it should be like that. I think real greatness comes to those who have so much respect for it that they don't feel worthy, who would even give it up for the better.

I think this is something God believes in too. Throughout the Bible, we continuously see Him leaving man the right to make his own choices, refraining to intervene or dictate. He gives us free will, even though He doesn't want to see us to use it wrongly. He leaves it up to us, knowing how much disaster we may cause. After all, we are "fearfully made."

But that is where He uses His power justly, He gives us the option to intervene, to trust Him with our lives in hope that He will save them from being shattered by ourselves. He takes that step back, but He holds His hand open to use invitingly. It's kind of like that moment of, "I love you, so I'll let you go. But I will always be right here." Some may say, "maybe He just doesn't care enough to automatically save us," but it's quite the opposite when you think about it. God is all powerful, but He is also all loving. 

If you truly love someone, you will let them live the way which makes them happy. You may warn them again and again, never stopping regardless if they're still listening or not. You may offer your help time after time, even when they admit they don't want it. But if you love them, you will never give up.

That is why I like the blue whale. It reminds me that, even though we may hold all potential, we will only be great after we have set ourselves as little, sacrificing any greatness for what is better than us, for Him. After all, isn't that the point He made? That if you truly love someone you will give up everything for them, all of yourself for their sake? True love isn't loving someone so much it fills your heart, it's loving someone so much you'd give it away for them.



Maybe I'm just over thinking my favorite animal, but this is still what I think of when I see pictures of it sailing through the ocean blue. Either way, I have great respect for the blue whale. Not because it's a mammouth wondering the seas, but because it is a titan who has the gentleness of the small. It is a giant who sees himself little in a world of large.