Since I've moved here to Toronto I find that I get emotional really easy. I cry at the drop of a hat, I get heated when someone hurts someone else, and I get so passionate about things that it consumes all my thoughts and actions.
Well, last week I had to write a paper for my Romans class on Paul interpretation of human depravity in Romans 1:18-32. I started to write this paper with the stress that it had to be 10-12 pages and I had no idea where to begin. So I started with the current day and how depraved we are as humans, it sounded nothing like an academic paper but it was totally from me! Allow me to share with you the first few paragraphs:
In a world like today’s one can see the depravity wherever they go. Walking down a street you see the homeless, the drunk, the prostitutes, the addicted, and many more. The depravity of the human race is played out in many scenarios, for example, crimes involving sexual exploitation, murder, stealing, assault, vandalism, etc. Because of such heinous crimes there has been many programs and organizations devoted to the conquering of this depravity. Everyday, one could watch the news and hear a new story about some form of this depravity as it plays out in a larger city or even a small town. It seems that wherever you go, there is always some lagging behind you, following you, until you turn around and realize that it is the world that you live in, the crime and depravity is what is following you. You search for that gold lining, that something that will tear you away from the distrait world of yours, but nothing seems to be there. Every turn you make reveals a door that opens to a new kind of depravity, a new kind of sin that just will not subside. As you run frantic around like a chicken with its head cut off, you search, you plead, you cry, you break, you confess, and you wither, but still nothing, just the depravity of the human race.
Wake up, open you eyes and realize the depravity that you are experiencing is not new to the place that you call home. In fact, it is as old as the beginning of this great planet. There is a saying that every child hates to hear from their parent and that is, "you don’t know how good you got it", what is that statement supposed to mean? We don’t know how good we got it! Instead of stones we have guns to kill with, instead of crucifying, we have the electric chair, instead of lashing with wipes we have beatings with bats and Billy Clubs, instead of murder we have murder, instead of rape we have rape, instead of homosexuality we have homosexuality, instead of idolizing false gods we idolize celebrities. The saying then does not ring as true as one might think. There has never been a time when anyone had it better. Since the fall of man, depravity has become the main suitor for God’s beloved ones. Through out time and history many stories have been told of such human depravity. Writers have pleaded with leaders to help overcome the problems, however, none pleads the most like Paul did in Romans 1:18-32.
I got a little into it...don't ya think? That's the way I am though, heart on my sleeve! Sunday, I went to 614 Regent Park and I got to experience some of the greatest community there. I started to get really emotional towards the end when the enitre congregation stood around in a circle singing! It was beautiful! I was overcome with the thought that these people have nothing in this world, but they worship God and praise Him with a rich heart, while few hours earlier at 11, churches all over the city were in session and many hearts of the wealthy were cold and hard. Not letting God or anyone else in!
I think that is the greatest depravity I've ever experienced!
Pray!
Well, last week I had to write a paper for my Romans class on Paul interpretation of human depravity in Romans 1:18-32. I started to write this paper with the stress that it had to be 10-12 pages and I had no idea where to begin. So I started with the current day and how depraved we are as humans, it sounded nothing like an academic paper but it was totally from me! Allow me to share with you the first few paragraphs:
In a world like today’s one can see the depravity wherever they go. Walking down a street you see the homeless, the drunk, the prostitutes, the addicted, and many more. The depravity of the human race is played out in many scenarios, for example, crimes involving sexual exploitation, murder, stealing, assault, vandalism, etc. Because of such heinous crimes there has been many programs and organizations devoted to the conquering of this depravity. Everyday, one could watch the news and hear a new story about some form of this depravity as it plays out in a larger city or even a small town. It seems that wherever you go, there is always some lagging behind you, following you, until you turn around and realize that it is the world that you live in, the crime and depravity is what is following you. You search for that gold lining, that something that will tear you away from the distrait world of yours, but nothing seems to be there. Every turn you make reveals a door that opens to a new kind of depravity, a new kind of sin that just will not subside. As you run frantic around like a chicken with its head cut off, you search, you plead, you cry, you break, you confess, and you wither, but still nothing, just the depravity of the human race.
Wake up, open you eyes and realize the depravity that you are experiencing is not new to the place that you call home. In fact, it is as old as the beginning of this great planet. There is a saying that every child hates to hear from their parent and that is, "you don’t know how good you got it", what is that statement supposed to mean? We don’t know how good we got it! Instead of stones we have guns to kill with, instead of crucifying, we have the electric chair, instead of lashing with wipes we have beatings with bats and Billy Clubs, instead of murder we have murder, instead of rape we have rape, instead of homosexuality we have homosexuality, instead of idolizing false gods we idolize celebrities. The saying then does not ring as true as one might think. There has never been a time when anyone had it better. Since the fall of man, depravity has become the main suitor for God’s beloved ones. Through out time and history many stories have been told of such human depravity. Writers have pleaded with leaders to help overcome the problems, however, none pleads the most like Paul did in Romans 1:18-32.
I got a little into it...don't ya think? That's the way I am though, heart on my sleeve! Sunday, I went to 614 Regent Park and I got to experience some of the greatest community there. I started to get really emotional towards the end when the enitre congregation stood around in a circle singing! It was beautiful! I was overcome with the thought that these people have nothing in this world, but they worship God and praise Him with a rich heart, while few hours earlier at 11, churches all over the city were in session and many hearts of the wealthy were cold and hard. Not letting God or anyone else in!
I think that is the greatest depravity I've ever experienced!
Pray!
posted by Debs | 5:57 PM
2 Comments:
That is awesome Deborah. I think that is a very cool start to a paper. It will definitely draw the reader in, like an introduction is supposed to :)
I've been much more emotional the past couple of years too... but I think it is a good thing, as when I was younger I was paranoid at my stone-hard heart.
I've been lurking around yours and Lesley's websites the last couple days. It is making me excited about the opportunities for me next year in Toronto. I hope all is well with you guys!
Eh-oh! I'm super excited that you're coming here to live! We can go to concerts together, I'll settle for Hanson if you'll settle for Dream Theater:) Actually, I probably wouldn't settle for Hanson...who am I kidding, that grade 6 girl still comes out and I pop in Middle of Nowhere:) I gotta see them once before I die!
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