#103: Age of Missed Information

Have you ever seen this picture before? It's of Nihar Janga clapping in the face of Jairam Hathwar after Jairam just misspelled a word at the 2016 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

What is your initial reaction when you see this picture?

For me, I was pissed that this kid would show such poor sportsmanship. I shook my head in disappointment and faux rage at an internet meme. "Oh unjust world, how could this kid get away with such rotten behavior," I thought to myself as I stewed in anger over a picture that contained no context.

I wanted to know more so I looked up articles on the 2016 Spelling Bee in hopes of better understanding young Nihar and his ultra-competitive instincts. As I delved deeper into the story, I found that the meme misrepresented the truth. My opinion of Nihar as a poor sport was wrong. Yes, opinions can be wrong. Especially when you don't know the full story

Here's how the spelling bee went down. Jairam and Nihar were locked in a battle of wits. Jairam stepped up to the mic and was given the word Drahthaar. With the championship on the line, Jairam misspelled the word. Defeated, he went to his seat. Nihar would now have a chance at winning the championship if he spells his next word correctly. But as Jairam sits down next to Nihar, Nihar is clapping along with the crowd for the solid effort by Jairam. He then turns to Jairam and claps in his face but the clapping is not meant as disrespect towards an opponent, but as encouragement to a friend. You see, Jairam and Nihar had gotten to know each other over the past year and became close friends.

After the contest Nihar said this in response to Jairam’s miss. "I wanted to win, but at the same time I felt really bad for Jairam."

I had Nihar pegged all wrong. Although he displayed an entertaining flare at the event, he was by no means, a poor sport. It turned out that Nihar would miss his next word as well and the competition would end in a tie with both Jairam and Nihar being named champions.

So what did I learn in this endeavor? That internet memes and headlines are not enough to form a valid opinion. In a world of hot takes and breaking news, do not be quick to judge because there's more to the story then the headline.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvkUCzHRo2I

You awaken from your slumber
And see headlines of the day
Of this and that, and that and this
So many things at play

You glance over each story
And formulate your thoughts
But this type of opinion forming
Is much like casting lots

Dig in past the surface
And investigate the news
Learn to think with a critical mind
To better support your views

#102: A Refugees Decision

If a refugee comes to the United States, it is not only an opportunity for them, but an opportunity for us. It gives us the chance to love and care for that refugee, to welcome them, and to provide a confirmation to their hope. It is a chance for us to show what make's America great in the first place.

The refugee comes here with high hopes and in desperate need. Furthermore, a child refugee is the most impressionable of people. If they are welcomed here, they can become a part of our country and make a lasting contribution.

Two questions must then be posed. If not here, where then will the child go? And what will the child become? If they go back to their war torn home, they may become the very terrorists we fear. Our national security is not improved if we are creating more enemies.

He came to my porch with a gift

He knocked but there was no answer

He came from a violent land

He came for a helping hand

I didn't want to talk to a stranger

I didn't want to know who he was

I dared not answer the door

For I feared what he was here for

He went back to his old home

Impressionable but with no hope

They took him in the darkest of night

They taught him to hate and to fight

This boy who once had a future

Standing again at my door

He didn't knock this time around

He busted the front door down

I looked him straight in his eyes
Now hatred was all I could see
But if I had let him in earlier
What type of man could he be?

#101: An Adventure Begins

In January of 2015 I started this poetry blog with a goal of sharing 100 poems over the course of 100 weeks. Some weeks I couldn't wait to share a specific poem, whiles others were a bit more challenging. All in all, I had a blast putting together each blog post.

On Christmas Day 2015, right smack in the middle of this Poetry Project, I decided to sign up on E-harmony. I didn't know what to expect with dating online, but I was both nervous and excited.

Toward the end of January 2016, I stumbled upon the profile of Kelly Joiner. One of the things we immediately connected with was our love of writing and poetry. I was smitten by Kelly's ability to write about her life and her struggles in an honest manner. She wasn't and still isn't afraid to share her struggles but in a way that isn't self deprecating or as a plea for pity. Before we even met in person for the first time, we shared some of our poetry to each other and that helped forge a solid connection

It has almost been one year since I first met this amazing woman and now we are planning our wedding. A lot can happen in one year. What a blessing this adventure has been so far. 

We've come to the foot of the trail

You and me together

We see our life ahead

For the worse and for the better

I see the path but only so far

I see the mountains that we'll climb

I see the streams, the trees

The scenery so fine

We found each other along the path

And love would soon arise

I never saw such a pure heart

Until I looked in to your eyes

And though I'm far from perfect

You help me to find

The goodness hidden in me

Of holiness intertwined

You have all your baggage 

And me I have all of mine

But from here we'll go hand in hand

Until the end of time

#100: Where love has no way that’s better

 Thank you to anyone that's encouraged me to write (I see you Drew Tan), helped me write a poem (Chris Tan and Drew Tan), edited a work I've written ((Donald Westbrook), memorized and recited (my wonderful niece Hannah and nephew Caleb), and cheered me on along the way and provided great and meaningful feedback (my fiancé Kelly). 

Thank you to anyone that stumbles across these poems. May you find encouragement, inspiration, fun, and joy. 

The family

The seasons of this world spiral downward 

The hope of mankind’s peace is all but lost 

We have hardened the hearts of our precious children 

Turned them cold as the ice and the frost

So I cry mercy aloud to my redeemer 

To wash away the wretchedness of my heart 

To carry me across this arid desert 

To the place where His glory’s set apart 

This is the place where His grace is expressed 

Where love has no way that’s better 

We can be with our God in heaven 

And dwell in His house forever 

 Hallelujah 

#99: Beauty of the Redeemed

Why does God love us? We don't deserve God's love. But here it is for us to experience. God loves us, because God is love. As for our ability to love. It's not in what we can do, or what we project as our image. Love and it's capacity for good has nothing to do with status and everything to do with willingness and desperation.

Above the surface 

Is a plastic smile

He puts on his mask 

To hide what’s defiled

For beneath the surface 

Hides a pitiful soul

A broken life 

That has taken its toll

He manages his surface 

with careful preparation

As his soul descends down 

Towards desperation

It’s within our depths 

That true man lies

When he sees his soul; 

That true man cries

He calls out 

From the depths of his mind

As he witnesses the weakness 

That he can’t put behind

For whom he is 

Needs reparation

This created being 

Cannot endure separation

He is as lost as a ship 

Tossed out to sea

Pummeled by the storm 

That is his own iniquity

Mankind seeks to find 

Hope in redemption

He seeks to find peace 

Purpose and direction

#98: In the Palm of Your Hands

The Lord delights in you. The Lord who created the universe, who knows all and sees all, delights in your existence. Both powerful and personable, God is for you and wants you to know that. You may feel God is distant, or doesn't exist at all. Or you may feel that God is disappointed in you because of something you've done or failed to do. But God does not count your shortcomings against you. He delights in you and want's you to share in the joy that was made for you to partake in. To know God is to know His son Jesus who came to this place so that you can know God without any inhibition.

The Last Supper by Da Vinci

In the palm of your hands

The oceans were made

By your outstretched hands

The heavens were laid

Through your nail pierced hands

My sins are paid

From your guiding hands

You lead me to your grace

So what is this love?

Who is this God?

This is perfect love

You are my God

From your thunderous voice

You lit up the sky

By your mighty voice

You let the birds to fly

Through your tender voice

You respond to my cry

In your compassionate voice

Your son came down to die

#97: Will you marry me?

What a fantastic day! While in Espresso Cielo, the coffee shop that we first met in exactly nine months ago, I had the privilege of proposing to the love of my life, Kelly Joiner. I gave her a box of poems and encouragement notes written by her family and friends. Included in the box was the below  acrostic.

What is the meaning of life in this land?
Is it to love and live as best we can?
Lo and behold, it is so much more,
Love is the root of us at our core.

You understand what the Lord has conceived
On embracing how love must first be received
Under God’s word, you live what you believe

My very best, I choose to give to you
All of my life, from now till it is through
Reflecting on that which could not be greater
Redeemed by a grace given by our creator
You demonstrate how great love can be

My love, may I ask, “Will you marry me?”
Enter in to a union of matrimony?

The poem

She said "Yes!"