Through despair and hope, through faith and love

Seven years ago, everything was changing. Little did I know that just over a month later, everything would further spiral out of control. Me, the control freak that I am, would be left utterly helpless and shattered. How was I to know that age 18, soon everything I knew would change? How was I to know at 18, everything was going to be different soon? How was I to know that I would soon sink into utter despair, and not know when I would find hope again?

September 28, 2005 was the day I totally melted down from stress in the middle of my College Prep World History class. I remember just bursting into tears during a study period, and my teacher trying to console me. But me, being the stubborn person I am, threw up my walls and refused to let him in. Idiotic move there, Ang. Soon things would change so much. But I wonder how different it would have been had I opened up to the teacher then. But I was scared to death. I was only 18 and while legally an adult, if I told the other people at school what was going on, legal systems would be involved. Kind of funny how just over a month later, my faith in the legal system was shattered as well. Kind of funny how my faith in the church and the legal system both took a suckerpunch, and I still haven't regained faith in the legal system.

I guess it's kind of funny now that I'm going into the ministry. It's kind of my ultimate "screw you, bitches!" to the people who hurt me in the church. It's the proverbial middle finger to those who told me I'd never amount to anything, I'd never graduate college. Because you know what? I'm going to make a difference. My story of despair was not for naught, and I can turn it into hope. If I can make a difference in just one life, I will have had an effective ministry. If I can help just one teenager, just one child, if I can protect the child that others failed to protect, my work is complete.

I want to help the ones who slip through the cracks. The ones who fall to the wayside. It doesn't matter if no one else loves them, I want to love them. To turn despair into hope, and to administer faith and love. To be someone they can trust, and not someone who will shatter everything when one of the darkest secrets come to life.

And that is my dream. One of them. The other is to work in a summer camp for disabled children, but that's another post. Another day. Another night.

It's bedtime. Alarm goes off too early, but it's another little sleep night. Been too many of those lately, but not much I can do about it at the moment.

hello darkness my old friend

Hello darkness my old friend, I've come to talk with you again
Beause a vision slowly creeping, left it's seeds while I was sleeping
And the visions that was planted in my brain stil remains
With the sounds... of silence. 
- Simon and Garfunkel

I recently came across some details and information that hit me hard. And once again, it traps me in darkness and silence. I don't want to be silent about it, but for now I have to be. And once again, I'm talking with the silence. Once again, my voice goes unheard. And I don't know what to do with that. I don't know how to feel about that.

Details about the past that made me angry, hurt, and confused have left me feeling even more so. While the queestions are answered, the anger rages. WHY is this person still allowed in a position of authority in the church? WHY hasn't anyone spoken out? The answer is simple - if they do. they will be hurt. And I clinch my fists in anger and rage because, just like I was when all this shit hit the fan when I was 18, I am helpless. I cannot do a goddamn thing about it, and it breaks my heart. More people can be hurt, but I have to stand there wordlessly and watch it happen.

I've been asked with all the shit I've dealt with within the church, why I am still a Christian. Why I'm not an outright atheist. Why I even want to go into the ministry.

I know that there are people hurt by the church.
I know that there are people who are standing there in the sounds of silence, unable to speak for fear of what might happen.
And I know that there's another side.

I also have a side passion, but that doesn't fit with this blog entry so I will blog about it later.

One day... I will leave the sounds of silence.

I said, sometimes I hear my voice and it's been here...
silent all these years. 

Someone's waiting to love you

To all the unloved;

One day, you will be loved. One day, you will break free of the vicious cycle of abuse. One day, you will find hope, peace, comfort, and joy again. You may scorn now. You may feel like no one could ever love you. If the people who created you can't love you, how could anyone? If your boyfriend beats you, why would you deserve any better? You may scoff and feel like you'll never truly be loved.

I've been there. I know what it's like to cry myself to sleep, feeling lost and unloved. I know what it's like to be alone in the world, to have no one but yourself to look out for you. I know what it's like. I'm no stranger to abuse.

But I also know there's another side. I know that there's another way. And you don't have to be here forever. There are people who want to love you, if you just let them. There are people who want to help you. And if your abuse is "just" emotional? Emotional abuse hurts too. There is never any "just" for abuse. Here is a PSA I did on emotional abuse last fall for a class.

If you are a teenager and a victim of child abuse, please get help. It doesn't matter if it's happening now or if it happened in the past, if you're still feeling unloved and in danger, seek help. Check out childhelp.org . If you are being abused by the ones that claim to love you, young or old, check out thehotline.org

You don't have to live this way forever. You did nothing wrong. You did nothing to deserve it. And one day, you will find someone that is waiting to love you.

Someday she'll understand the meaning of it all

It's kind of funny - at times people expect me to have so many answers because I'm a Ministry major. I feel that I'm expected to know all this stuff about Jesus, that I'm supposed to have the answers. But the thing is, I have my own doubts and struggles, and I feel that some of them would cause me to be labeled as a heretic. I hate how people automatically assume if you believe something controversial, you are automatically being heretical.

I don't think it's wrong to have beliefs that go against the grain. But I am terrified to make those beliefs known - because they are the cause of so much debate within the Christian community. I think it sucks that I keep silent on what I struggle with in Christianity, for fear of being called out and treated like dirt.

One of the things I personally struggle with is an issue of dogma versus doctrine, and that's where it's hard to speak it. I absolutely believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. I believe in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and fully believe they all exist. I believe that Jesus died on the cross, was crucified, buried, and rose again.

But there are things I struggle with. And the fact that I don't feel I will be treated with respect if I made them known sucks. Knowing that people won't think I'm a true Christian if I voice some of my struggles, sucks. :(

Arise and seize the day, or, 100 reasons part 4.

So I started this series back before the last semester ended, and didn't really come back to it. Oops. Considering this is how I feel about the current semester:

I thought it might be a good idea to come back to it. :D

If you're curious about the other entries, here is Part 1, 2, and 3

31. Fairly Oddparents. They are fun, zany, and an awesome show to watch when I just need to take my mind off stuff. Or I want something to watch when I don't feel good, having a pain flare, etc.

32. 

The past hurts, but it doesn't mean that I always have to hurt. It doesn't mean I have to run from it. It doesn't mean I have to dwell in it, or that it's a reason to die.

33. "Sometimes things have to change, and maybe sometimes it's for the better." - Lilo and Stitch.
I don't like change. I fear it. It makes me run for the hills screaming. But change isn't bad, and in fact, it can be the complete turn around that I need. As much as I hate it, it's a reason to be.

34. COOKIES. COOKIES ARE YUMMEH. COOKIES ARE TASTY. YAY!!

35. KITTEHS!!

I want a kitteh cat and dead people can't have kittens. Well, PEOPLE can't have kittens, CATS have kittens. But I can sing Soft Kitty to the kitty! ^_^

36. Rock band/guitar hero. Is fun. ^_^

37. Can't be a youth minister/camp director if I'm a dead. Zombie youth director ain't my callin', mates.

38. SESAME STREET.

39. Berries. Berries are yummy. And tasty. And stuff.

40. I want to learn to play violin again. :)