Speech on Tradition

So my history classes taken from Mr. David Raymond have probably been my favorite classes I've taken during highschool, besides chem. This quarter our project was to write a speech on Tradition. Being almost Christmas, I decided to incorporate my love of Christmas into my speech and answer the question: "Why do we love Christmas traditions?" These were just my thoughts on tradition. What do you think?

Hello, my name is Paula Jones. I am a senior this year and today I will be talking about the importance of tradition. 

So, here’s the thing. I love traditions and in particular -- Christmas traditions. This year my excitement and longing for the Christmas season has been stronger than it has ever been before. I did all my shopping extra early, started listening to “Jingle Bells” long before Thanksgiving and can’t wait to join my cousins and extended family in Indiana to celebrate together. To me, Christmas is a time of joy and peace. Two things that I very much need at this time of year. 

Businesses also love Christmas. They don’t call the Friday after Thanksgiving “Black Friday” for nothing. In fact, businesses tend to love all the holidays. Working in retail has made me even more aware of this fact. They seem to understand that if they can grab hold of people’s love and ultimately, their need for tradition, they can make alot of money. 

So, why the need for tradition? What is it about doing the same things, listening to the same music, seeing the same faces every year that is so important to us? 

In C.S. Lewis’ “The Screwtape Letters” Screwtape writes to his nephew that there are certain things in human’s lives that give them “a touchstone of reality.” He says that theses certain pleasures let man “peel off...the kind of crust” formed on him during the bustle and vanity of daily life “...and make him feel that he [is] coming home, recovering himself.” Lord Acton writes, “History must be our deliverer not only from the undue influence of other times, but from the undue influence of our own, from the tyranny of the environment and the pressures of the air we breathe.” Tradition, particularly Christian holidays let us throw off the frenzy of life for a time and focus on what matters. They allow us to do this because they have stood the test of time, are centered of family and bring us back to the reality of the gospel. I will expand these points using Christmas as my primary example.

Traditions that stand the test of time prove something. They prove themselves to be necessary and powerful. Chesterton writes, “Weak things must boast of being new, like so many new German philosophies. But strong things can boast of being old. Strong things can boast of being moribund.” December 25^th has no true historical significance to the Church. The exact date of Christ’s birth is unknown to us so December 25 - it’s just another day. And yet every year, we celebrate Christmas on that same day. Clearly, there is something to Christmas that is more important than exact historical dates. It isn’t the day that is important, it is the yearly Advent traditions, the joy of celebrating with family and friends, and the remembrance of Christ’s coming that is so powerful and mandatory.

I mentioned that I look forward to seeing my family over Christmas. This is because being with my family during this season is a source of immense joy. We get happiness from goofing off, swapping stories, dining together and giving lots of hugs -- but we get joy from being briefly connected to something bigger than ourselves. The holiday’s focus on family allows us to be connected to generations of wisdom and ultimately our own identity. Chesterton points out that by being “ignorant of [something’s] beginning, [we are] ignorant of it’s very being.” Spending this time with family actually allows us to better understand ourselves and in doing so, brings us a joy that we look forward to and long for throughout the year.

And finally, Christmas is a time to allow ourselves to be brought back to the reality of the Gospel. We remember Christ’s birth and acts and as a result let our hearts be changed, reworked and refocused - we have true repentance. We are allowed to pause and examine ourselves. To again acknowledge the truth of Christianity. Edmund Burke says “Custom reconciles us to everything.” Often at this time, after a long year, we crave reconciliation with Christ and the Church, with it’s celebration of holy holidays, helps us come full circle back to the reality of the Gospel and leave us to start a new year with peaceful hearts. 

In closing, I love traditions for the joy they bring, for the connection and grounding to our past and for the significance to, or revival of, our faith.

Pharisees vs. Magi

Hey everyone! I hope you all are enjoying this post-Christmas/pre-NewYear's time. I've found it to be rather relaxing and have been enjoying spending time with friends. I wrote this post a while ago and even though I'm not a huge fan of it, I wanted to share it because what I was writing about was important to me at the time. Maybe it will get your wheels spinning also. Let me know what you think! ~Paula (Reposted 12-27-2012)


If you read the "About" section, you know that I listen to lectures on C.S. Lewis and his works on the way to school. I did so today, and came across an interesting idea that has been on my mind since the lecturer first mentioned it. He just hit the major points and I want to try to flesh them out with my thoughts.
He was talking about "The Chronicles of Narnia," particularly the last book, titled, "The Last Battle." Forgive me for this, but I actually haven't read all of the chronicles and hadn't even heard of this one until I listened to the lecture. It was described as a sort of "Revelations" of Narnia and had some complex ideas, some that I didn't fully understand. The one I want to think through is one I call "Pharisee vs. Magi." (FYI I stole that reference from the lecturer. It was too good to not include here.)
It goes something like this.

In "The Last Battle," there is a character who is from a different religion (not a believer in Aslan).  Similar to a Buddhist or Muslim who doesn't believe in Christ. He is a faithful seeker of truth and his heart searched for a god to believe in. When he came across this other religion he latched on without even hearing of Aslan (by no fault of his own). He goes into a barn to meet the god he believes in and instead of finding him, he finds Aslan. The ultimate message is something like: if you search for truth - Aslan (or Christ) - and believe, he will be revealed to you and you can choose to accept or reject him when he does.

In the book, the character sees the reality of Aslan and accepts him. The flip side to this story is a group of characters that have known of Aslan the whole time, raised with the stories etc. and claimed to believe, but their hearts weren't right. I believe the lecturer said they were actually atheists in their hearts and their belief in Aslan was just a means to an end, whether they admitted it or not. When Aslan starts to separate 'the sheep from the goats' (a judgement day) the character to whom Aslan appeared was sent to paradise and the animals who supposedly "believed" in Aslan were turned away. 

It's like the difference between the Pharisees and the Magi. The Pharisees knew the scriptures through and through but didn't take it seriously. Perhaps they took it for granted, as I often feel I do. The Magi used their wisdom and knowledge to actively seek the truth and it led them like a map to the place of Christ's birth. That's pretty amazing.

And still my heart sympathizes with the animals sent away.

It doesn't seem fair that they've spend their lives trying to please Aslan only to get turned away in the end, when this other creature served a fake deity his whole life and is accepted into heaven with no questions asked!

Now, don't get me wrong. I agree with Lewis here. I believe that this happens - both sides of it. I believe God judges us based on what is in our hearts and from the surface, it's obvious that those animals hearts aren't right and they should be condemned. (Strong, very general language, I know, but bear with me.) I also believe that people can be converted in the last moment. The problem I am finding is that I automatically try to justify the animals sent away because I see myself in them. I was raised a Christian. I know the gist of the Scriptures and go to church as often as my work schedule will allow. And somehow, just like those animals or the pharisees, I lack something. I try to justify them, but I have to come back to the realization that there is no justification- only a call to live more fiercely for Christ.
Drat.

Doesn't it seem like it would be a lot easier to not know Christ your whole life and then accept him in the end when more pressing matters are at hand (for instance-- where you're going to spend eternity)? To me it does, but I guess the lesson here is that people who are in that situation miss out on a lot and I'll bet anything that they wish they had known him sooner so that they could have lived for him. Plus, the matter of where we're spending eternity is a pressing matter now. We just don't always see it that way. 

And here I am. With a chance to live my entire life for Christ and I find myself almost wishing it away because...well...because it's hard. It is so easy to get overwhelmed even though I know we aren't given anything we can't handle in this life. God promises us that, with Him, we can do all things. It still doesn't seem easier.

Here's my last thought on this. Maybe getting things to be easier isn't the point. The point is to struggle. To endure. To draw on His strength. To fight and push and trust. To not give up or wish life away. To come out changed. To come out of the fray having accomplished great things in Christ's name. 

Time for a paradigm shift, Paula. 

~~Paula~~

What are your thoughts on this? Leave a comment for me!

First Post and Stuff About Paula

FIRST POST EXCITEMENT!

Are you excited? ...Cuz I'm excited.

If you don't know why you're here or what this blog is or what it's about that's ok, because I am still figuring that out too. My section labelled "About" helped me better understand myself, life in general and why my parakeet is such a spaz. Just kidding, no one know the answer to that last one, but that tab does have info about this blog, so you should check it out.

I do introduce the blog and some general things about myself in "About" but I feel that a more detailed introduction is in order. Basically, I'm just going to tell you stuff about myself. Sound cool? Cool.

Stuff About Paula:
1. I am a senior in high school.
2. My favorite color is yellow.
3. I love science.
4. But not physics.
5. My favorite candy are those Mini Reese's that are unwrapped. That's genius right there.
6. I am happiest when I am playing guitar and riding horses.
7. Everyone in my family hates my parakeet
8. I am a vegetarian (that cheats because she eats fish)
9. I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!!!
10. My favorite movie is "The Sound of Music" with "Amazing Grace" in close second.
11. I really love country music
12. And alternative and Lady Gaga(?)
13. My orchid is currently growing a new stem that will have blooms on it. I'm so excited.
14. Life has gotten better recently. :)
15. I would like to go to Denver University or Missouri S&T for college in the fall.
16. My little sister, Kronk, is my lifesaver and best friend.
17. I have my whole life planned out.
18. My personality type is INTJ (just like my daddy) and we make up about 4% of the population.
19. I have recently become obsessed with moss.
20. I really, really, really can't wait for Christmas.
21. My dog is so chill we thought he was drugged when we first got him.
22. I am mildly obsessed with the shows: "Sherlock,""Big Bang Theory," and "Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman"
23. I am a huge fan of C.S. Lewis.
24. I am writing a novel.
25. I have an obsession with mountains.

I have opened the comments for anyone (even anonymous users) to comment, so leave me one with what you think of the blog and some stuff about yourself! It would make my day!
~Paula