Tag: opinions

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Opinions

(Un)willing to Listen

By Anna Zimmerman

The word “perfect” can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. A perfect Houghton could involve Perry’s ice cream and the soft serve machine returning to the dining hall (a noble wish). It could mean that classes are shorter or that Houghton would magically have a town around it (one with a movie theater, mall, and more food options). Both are understandable and have my full support. On a deeper note, it could mean that it would be a comfortable and safe place for people to express the things that they’re feeling and thinking.

While Houghton may say that conversations about tough issues are encouraged, I don’t think it’s fair or correct to say that everyone is welcome to ‘come as they are.’ I know of too many people who have come as they are and have been dismissed, harassed, or legitimately threatened because they voiced their opinions with which other people didn’t agree. If someone is willing to be open about something that is deeply personal to them, respect should be given. It can be so difficult to say something that you know will not entirely be understood by the people you’re talking to. If you’re being a listener and someone is telling you something personal, it’s so important to understand and value the position that they’re allowing you to be in. I’m absolutely not saying that you need to change your mind to agree with what someone’s telling you. What I am saying is this: you need to respect and care for your fellow human beings and make it known that you value and want a relationship with them, no matter the differences between you.

In May of 2021, I took a course called Bridging the Gap. This course focused on ‘bridging gaps’ between people from different backgrounds. It consisted of students from Houghton University’s main campus, Houghton’s Buffalo campus, and Ithaca College. There were students who had recently immigrated to the United States, as well as students who were born here. Everyone came to the class with different experiences and backgrounds, which is what I believe made the program so beautiful and impactful. Throughout the May term, we spent time learning how to talk to others about things that were important to us. Equally as important, we learned how to listen to others. In listening to others, we show respect and care. On the other hand, dismissing what someone says (either by ignoring or arguing against it) shows a lack of concern. In order to grow, I think it’s important to be able to listen to others and acknowledge that while what they’re sharing might not be something you agree with, they are fully loved, whether or not their views change or stay completely the same.

I believe that there is something so dangerous about purposefully surrounding yourself only with people who have the exact same beliefs and ideas as you. I did this for too long and would base my opinions of others solely on what I knew about our differences. While I wouldn’t completely cut off relationships with people who I knew had different beliefs than I did, I would hold back a bit and found myself developing expectations as to what I thought each person would (or wouldn’t) contribute to my personal growth. I’ve experienced the most growth when I’ve been willing to be with people who are different from me. When I surrounded myself in an echo chamber of sameness, I missed out on relationships with people who could’ve added so much wisdom and goodness to my life.

Over this past summer, I spent five weeks studying at Au Sable Environmental Institute in Michigan. Going into the program, I had thick walls up and thought that I was 100% correct in the way that I saw the world. I thought I knew what was right and wrong and that anybody who didn’t see things the same way was out of touch. Over that month of living in close proximity with one another (think: summer camp cabins with bunk beds and everyone eating dinner together at the same time every night), something in me changed. As more deep conversations were had in class, I became more willing to think about multiple points of view. After a weekend of camping, a friend and I ended up being together for the three-hour drive back to campus. This was a three-hour drive with someone who I thought I was incompatible with and would never understand. Those three hours were filled with so many important conversations. I opened up about some things I hadn’t even fully realized I was wrestling with. The response I was met with was both gentle and confident and truly made me examine myself and think deeply about things I hadn’t been willing to consider mere weeks ago. 

My time at school in Michigan encouraged even the tough conversations with one another. It truly felt like we could bring all of ourselves to the table. Coming back to Houghton made me realize that it doesn’t feel like the same is possible here. 

If we’re all living together here, why can’t we have as many open and honest conversations? Why can’t we listen to each other? Why do we have to jump to conclusions about people, and why do these conclusions (which are often wrong) impact how we interact with each other? How do we forget the command to love and care for one another as we do for ourselves? How do we let the gaps get so wide that they seem too inconvenient to try to cross? Instead of focusing on what divides us, we should recognize what we have in common and let even our differences bring us closer together. 

A lot of the time, a “perfect” Houghton feels out of reach to me. But, I’m hopeful that if we all start to make continued efforts to not only speak about the uncomfortable things, but to listen to the uncomfortable things, we will be closer to the “perfect” Houghton than we’ve ever been. ★

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Opinions

I Couldn’t Agree Less: Debate in the Modern World

By Christian Welker

 I love to debate, sitting down with somebody who truly believes something I disagree with. I have spent hours sitting with friends, family, and even strangers on the internet, debating on all topics, from politics to religion, to what would happen if Time Travel was a reality.

However, it seems that as time passes, a debate has become less about exchanging ideas and more about beating your opponent in a shouting match. The “winners” of these debates are the people with a louder voice or more followers on their social media. This, combined with the echo chambers social media builds, which constantly feed people their opinions and views while blocking out alternative ones, makes it nearly impossible to share your idea without an argument and somebody feeling hurt at the end of the conversation. It seems we have lost the ability to debate.

The added tragedy to this loss is Christianity builds an echo chamber around itself and makes it difficult, if not impossible, to effectively show the light of Christ to the people around us. Nobody is going to believe that God is love if the way they are being told is by a man screaming in their face about sin and evolution.

I believe there are two leading causes of this new idea of debate. First are the social media echo-chambers that I mentioned before. These constantly affirm that your beliefs are correct while connecting other aspects of your life to them and making you see these opinions as your identity. The second is the idea that all debates need to have a loser. We defend our positions vehemently because we are afraid if we do not, the other side will “win the debate,” making our opinion, our view, and our identity wrong and, therefore, inferior.

This view is dangerous for several reasons. It pushes us apart from family, friends, and classmates who may have different opinions than us. We become convinced that those people are bad because they don’t share the same view that we do and we don’t want to associate with who we view as a “bad person.” We break away from them and find more people who agree with us on everything, going deeper into the echo chamber and making it even harder to hold a conversation with someone we view as different than us. In this process, it also becomes more likely that we become more extreme in our beliefs, vilifying those who disagree with us and eventually going so far as to view them as sub-human. These people become “heartless” or “too stupid to get it,” clear dividing lines are drawn, and crossing those lines becomes a traitorous act. 

So what do we do? How can we break ourselves out of our echo chambers and connect with those we’ve begun to see as less than ourselves? Over the summer, while working at a Christian Bookstore, a coworker would always tell me to “Remember their hearts,” to remember that the other side is just as much of a human as you are. They don’t believe what they believe because they are evil or idiotic. They have just as much heart as you do, as much love, compassion, and care for others. Pastor Wes Oden at Houghton Wesleyan Church said during a recent sermon, “When we look at someone, we need to remember, they are a child of God, made in His image.” Being a child of God does not rely on being Republican or Democrat, Pro-Choice or Pro-Life, LGBTQ or Straight. Everyone is a child of God, no matter what. So remembering that is the first step to being able to communicate with the other side.

We also need to break out of our echo chambers and remember that these views don’t encapsulate everything we are. Go to subreddits or Instagram profiles with different opinions than you, talk to someone who disagrees with your beliefs, don’t argue, listen. Everyone has a reason for seeing the world as they do, and if we know why they think that way, their beliefs will likely become less foreign to us. Thoughts also grow and change over time. Therefore, believing that you’d lose yourself if you alter your beliefs or become friends with someone who disagrees does not make much sense. Debates can be used as an opportunity to grow your opinions and views of the world in a calm environment, as long as both parties are willing to discuss it with you with clear heads and level emotions.

Viewing a debate as an exchange of ideas instead of a fight for survival, removing yourself from echo chambers that make it hard to hear alternate opinions, and viewing the person you are talking to as a human being and a child of God instead of a heartless monster are ways that we as people can grow. We will grow our connections between people,  our knowledge on the subject, and our own opinions and beliefs. While getting angry can seem inevitable, we can choose what to do with that anger, whether we lash out at our “opponent” or calm ourselves down to continue the conversation with our friend, family member, or classmate. Debating calmly and kindly will help shape your own mind and opinions and allow you to grow as a person. ★

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Letter to the Editor Opinions

Covid, Community, and a False Sense of Spirituality

By Haylee Conrad

On March 13, 2020, Houghton College sent out an email that marked the change for the rest of our lives. Now at the start of year three, we would think things would be different; the pandemic would be over, we wouldn’t need to wear masks anymore, but look at where we are.

When that email was first sent out to campus, I was down in North Carolina at a three-day-long Women’s Holiness Conference. I was there with Dr. Derck, Dr. KLP, Katie Allen, and Olivia Flint. The night we received the news that we would be sent home when we made it back to campus didn’t feel real. It turned out to be the night I would feel closest to God in a really long time. I was in the same room with over 500 other women, each who loved God and each who wanted to show God’s light in the world through ministry. The band had gotten special permission from Kari Jobe to play her new song, at the time, “The Blessing,” which was so new, it hadn’t even been released on Youtube yet. I know that song is well overplayed by now, but it has become my absolute favorite worship song. That’s because when I heard it for the first time, the women in that room were singing it. It was real, it was true, and it was genuinely filled with love for one another and for God. That is what true Christian worship is: gathering together to worship God and to love those around you.

In September, we started gathering in chapel twice a week, each week, shoulder to shoulder as if Covid wasn’t still running rampant all over the globe. This semester, we were told that streaming chapel was no longer being offered and online classes are slowly becoming less accessible. Houghton College is forcing a reality of normalcy in a world where normal is no longer an option. There are thousands of people dying on a daily basis. There are hospitals so full, people who need medical attention for heart attacks and strokes can’t be seen. There are schools where all their classes are being taught by subs because every teacher has Covid. Yet we’re expected to go back to normal just because it’s Houghton College and we’re a “community”?

I am, according to medical professionals, in the “high-risk” category. I know many other people on campus who also fit into that category. The new expectations on campus make us uncomfortable and make us feel unsafe. I get anxious about getting food from the dining hall to take it back to my room and eat. Imagine how I feel having to sit in a building with poor ventilation, surrounded by people I don’t talk to on a regular basis, to listen to speakers who seem not to recognize the reality of this deadly virus. As a member of Houghton’s so-called “community,” I do not feel safe or cared for. As a member of this so-called “community,” I wish the situation surrounding Covid was taken more seriously. 

As Christians, we are called by God to love those around us. Right now, in the situation we’re in, loving your neighbor means pulling your mask up above your nose. It means giving the people who aren’t comfortable being in chapel the permission to watch it synchronously or asynchronously from a different location. It means being gentle with those who don’t feel safe in a world that is putting their health at risk. Yet Houghton doesn’t seem to think the same thing. Instead, they are putting the mental health and physical well-being of their students at risk just to maintain a false sense of spirituality on campus.

Houghton College wants its Christian campus to go back to “normal,” but how far will they go and at what cost? ★

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Letter to the Editor Opinions

Finding Yourself in a Distracted World

Distractions. In 2022 with social media, an abundance of things on your list to do, and the fear of shutdowns, distractions are unavoidable. I’ll admit the first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is check my phone — it’s a terrible and an addictive habit. I’ve heard many different versions of the same thing: if the first thing you do in the morning is look at your phone, you’re doomed. Okay, so that’s not exactly what I’ve heard, but the essence of what I’ve heard was that it was a horrible habit and it should be done away with immediately. But what should you do to replace that habit?

 In one of my classes this semester, fellow classmate Sarah Halvorson mentioned how they started enjoying a cup of coffee in the mornings with a new activity: staring at their wall. Now to some, that may seem ridiculous. There’s so much to get done! How could one possibly waste time and stare at a blank wall, letting their thoughts take over them? My professor, filled with wisdom and always knowing what to say, replied to my classmate with “Ah yes, we are human beings, not human doings.”

And so there I was, in the middle of a class that was supposed to be about narrative and personal essays and I found myself struck with this earth-shattering new thought process: I just have to exist. That’s all I need to do in order to be considered a human being. How refreshing! So often we might find ourselves wrapped up in expectations; ones we have placed on us from jobs, parents, professors, friends, families, significant others, and even ones we place on ourselves. How do we find the time to just exist? The time to sit in our rooms and stare at blank walls, to roam around with no destination, to let our minds run wild in all the thoughts we avoid during the day-to-day, too concerned with what we have to do.  Am I saying you have to look at your wall every morning? Nope. But I am suggesting you find time in your day to simply exist — or even find time in your week to start, because this isn’t something that comes naturally to us anymore and might take some training. Forget about the to-do lists, forget about the obligations and responsibilities. Of course, you can’t forget about those things forever, but the key to this is to find the balance that works for you and for your life. Maybe it seems impossible for you to fit existing into your full schedule, and if you’re sitting here reading this article and finding yourself in that position, then this is exactly the thing you need to hear. When I look back on the past four years here at Houghton, I don’t remember every homework assignment I had, I don’t remember every shift I was scheduled or every thing I checked off my checked list. I remember the moments I truly enjoyed. I remember taking a break from homework to go get Chinese food with a friend, I remember sitting in Java for a few hours and not getting anything done, but simply enjoying the atmosphere. That is what I encourage everyone here at college to do. Take time to enjoy every day, even if that means you stay up five minutes more just to give yourself that time. I can’t promise it will solve all of your problems, I can’t even promise it will make you happier, but I can promise that your body needs those breaks. If you take anything from this article, I hope it’s this truth: you are more than a human doer. You are a human being. So take the time to just be.

Distractions. In 2022 with social media, an abundance of things on your list to do, and the fear of shutdowns, distractions are unavoidable. I’ll admit the first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is check my phone — it’s a terrible and an addictive habit. I’ve heard many different versions of the same thing: if the first thing you do in the morning is look at your phone, you’re doomed. Okay, so that’s not exactly what I’ve heard, but the essence of what I’ve heard was that it was a horrible habit and it should be done away with immediately. But what should you do to replace that habit?

 In one of my classes this semester, fellow classmate Sarah Halvorson mentioned how they started enjoying a cup of coffee in the mornings with a new activity: staring at their wall. Now to some, that may seem ridiculous. There’s so much to get done! How could one possibly waste time and stare at a blank wall, letting their thoughts take over them? My professor, filled with wisdom and always knowing what to say, replied to my classmate with “Ah yes, we are human beings, not human doings.”

And so there I was, in the middle of a class that was supposed to be about narrative and personal essays and I found myself struck with this earth-shattering new thought process: I just have to exist. That’s all I need to do in order to be considered a human being. How refreshing! So often we might find ourselves wrapped up in expectations; ones we have placed on us from jobs, parents, professors, friends, families, significant others, and even ones we place on ourselves. How do we find the time to just exist? The time to sit in our rooms and stare at blank walls, to roam around with no destination, to let our minds run wild in all the thoughts we avoid during the day-to-day, too concerned with what we have to do.  Am I saying you have to look at your wall every morning? Nope. But I am suggesting you find time in your day to simply exist — or even find time in your week to start, because this isn’t something that comes naturally to us anymore and might take some training. Forget about the to-do lists, forget about the obligations and responsibilities. Of course, you can’t forget about those things forever, but the key to this is to find the balance that works for you and for your life. Maybe it seems impossible for you to fit existing into your full schedule, and if you’re sitting here reading this article and finding yourself in that position, then this is exactly the thing you need to hear. When I look back on the past four years here at Houghton, I don’t remember every homework assignment I had, I don’t remember every shift I was scheduled or every thing I checked off my checked list. I remember the moments I truly enjoyed. I remember taking a break from homework to go get Chinese food with a friend, I remember sitting in Java for a few hours and not getting anything done, but simply enjoying the atmosphere. That is what I encourage everyone here at college to do. Take time to enjoy every day, even if that means you stay up five minutes more just to give yourself that time. I can’t promise it will solve all of your problems, I can’t even promise it will make you happier, but I can promise that your body needs those breaks. If you take anything from this article, I hope it’s this truth: you are more than a human doer. You are a human being. So take the time to just be. ★

Jacie is a senior majoring in writing with minors in Psychology and Photography. Her favorite things in the world are rainy days, iced coffee, a good Spotify playlist, and books!

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A Holistic Approach to Balance

By Evan Tsai (‘22)

Almost all college students struggle with balance. In an environment that stresses productivity and involvement, there is always something around campus that can fill up your time. This semester I am taking an 18 credit course load, working an on-campus job, leading a new club sport, serving on a committee, planning for my career/grad school, and doing consulting work. At times it can feel overwhelming. However, as I reflect on my busyness, I am grateful for the opportunities that I have been given. The question then becomes, how do I maintain balance while striving for excellence in everything that I do?

When evaluating balance in your life, it is important to look at your personal health in multiple areas. Throughout this article, I will help you holistically evaluate your health in five different ways and provide tips for improvement. 

Academic: A unique part of college is the freedom to structure your work and study schedule around your personal habits. This is more flexible than the fixed schedule we had as a K-12 student or will have as working adults. However, with this new flexibility, it can be challenging to figure out how much time you should be spending on a class. If you find yourself spending more than 45 hours per week working outside of classes on a 15-credit course load, consider asking your professor for help, requesting a tutor, or consulting your classmates. Although you should strive for A’s in all your classes, sometimes it is important to acknowledge that a B is more realistic in a class that you are struggling with.

Sleep: Most college students struggle to develop healthy sleeping patterns. The National Sleep Foundation says adults should get around seven to nine hours of sleep. Although nine hours may seem very difficult, getting at least 6 hours of sleep is key for your ability to function. Loss of sleep can also lead to poor appetite, focus issues, and increased anxiety. If you are struggling with sleep, consider setting a consistent bedtime and wake-up time every day. It is also good to avoid screen time an hour prior to bed. Developing a night time routine that helps you to slow down and prepare for rest could include: taking care of your personal hygiene, reading, journaling, listening to music, setting out clothes for the next day, and making sure all your needed materials are in your backpack for class. Some of these tips have helped me ensure that I get enough sleep every night.

Physical: Living in Western NY, it can be very hard to be motivated to exercise in the harsh winters. The CDC recommends a minimum of 150 minutes of exercise per week, which can be broken down to 30 minutes, five days per week. If you are an NCAA athlete, that can be easy. However, if you find yourself struggling like me, try planning three times per week where you can exercise for 30 minutes. This could be going to the gym to bike, taking a walk with a friend, or joining in on a recreational sport being played around campus. Physical activity can help with maintaining a healthy weight, preventing anxiety, and improving your energy level.

Mental: Adjusting to college life can bear a huge mental toll on many students regardless of their age and experience. According to the APA, over 40% of college students suffer from anxiety, and over 35% suffer depression. Missing family, feeling the pressure of academic performance, and navigating social conflicts are just some of the many challenges you may struggle with. It’s important that you are able to develop healthy practices to process and work through these issues. Although it’s intimidating to reach out for help, there are many great resources at college. If you are struggling with mental health, the Counseling Center, your RA, the Dean of the Chapel’s Office, and even some of your professors are here to help.

Spiritual: Even at a Christian college, it is easy to neglect your personal faith. Chapels, Bible classes, and other required spiritual activities provide a good way to grow in a corporate worship setting. Some people may think that is enough, but part of your walk with God is growing in your personal relationship with Him. Specifically, morning or evening devotions are a great practical way to do this. Take 5 minutes in your day to sit and reflect. Read a short passage and pray. These moments can be critical in aligning your heart with the Lord. When you are overwhelmed by the constant demands of college, being reminded of God’s faithfulness, goodness, and peace is important.

These five areas of personal health are relevant to the struggles of college students. I hope that you are able to gain some insight into balance, and I encourage you to pick an area where you can improve your balance. It’s ultimately an ongoing journey as we seek a balanced lifestyle while striving to be successful with all of our responsibilities. ★

If you would like to talk more about balance, you can email me at evan.tsai23@houghton.edu.

Evan is a senior Business Administration major, with minors in Communication, Economics, and Organizational Management.

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The Only Kind of “Radical” God Wants Us to Embody: Radical Love

By Brianna Engler (’22)

Out of all the commandments that Jesus could have focused on during his ministry and time on Earth, he chose the two commandments centered around love. Not only did he speak of love, but he also lived it. He did so as an example of how us Christians should love each other. Yet, as I look around today, I seldom see this radical love. As Christians, we are called to “love our neighbors as ourselves” and we are failing. This is the part where you may say, “But I love everyone.” If you are truly honest with yourself, do you though? This radical love I am talking about is more than a surface feeling or description of your agreeable personality. This is action. You may be kind to someone to their face, or tolerate their presence when you are near them, but what about when you aren’t around them? Under your breath do you say “ugh, those [democrats/republicans/fill in the blank]?” Do you talk to your like-minded friends about how wrong someone else is? I have. I am writing this as someone who is in the midst of figuring out how to love radically. I am failing, but I am striving to be better. 

It is all over the news: we are an extremely divided country. We love our neighbors, as long as they think just like us. Any other individual is not one’s neighbor, but rather an evil being. We love to demonize the outgroup almost as much as we love our ingroup. Let’s make this a little more convicting with examples. Have you ever heard, or said, “All those democrats are baby killers,” or “All those republicans are homophobic”? How are these statements helping anyone? Answer: they are not. Why are we all high and mighty? Jesus lived among the sinners, he loved them and cared for them. One thing Jesus did not do was demonize them or look at them as lost causes. Yet we, each and every one of us sinners, believe it is our right to point out the sins in others and ostracize them for it. To that I repeat the words of scripture, “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye.” We are called to be the light of the earth, butI do not believe that people see light when they look at Christians right now. Rather, they observe our hatred towards one another, our anger, our hypocrisy. Each side unwilling to seriously talk to the other. This is where we are failing. We should be able to have a conversation with those we disagree with. By this I do not mean a conversation in which you are trying to disprove the other by demolishing them, nor do I mean a conversation where you hide your true views. I mean an authentic conversation in which all parties are open to learning about the side of the person they are talking to. One in which each person is not yelling at one another but are trying to learn from the other. Do not get me wrong: this is hard. It is so difficult to hear another side when you so desperately believe that you are right. I have had these moments. Moments where I want to shake someone until they see the truth and scream “why don’t you understand, why don’t you see?” Where did I get the idea that I know the whole truth? Currently, we all believe we have the truth, but we do not. The only way to get to the Truth is to communicate with others and be willing to learn and grow together.

Just to reiterate, I am not advocating for everyone to “agree to disagree.” We should be able to disagree respectfully and still learn from that. In addition to this, part of radically loving someone is helping them. If someone you know has been given misinformation, you should call that out. Just a few examples of topics that many people are misinformed on include COVID, the vaccine, and voter fraud. With so many variations of the truth swirling around, we may need to be directed to reliable sources. Ones like NPR and The Wall Street Journal are fairly neutral and are fact reporting (according to Media Bias Chart, 2018). Using resources like this can be very helpful. One thing that is never helpful: telling someone they are not a Christian because of the political party they align with. Let us remember that we have all fallen short of the glory of God but are saved through grace. We are Christians first and foremost, our political party is not, or at least should not be, a large part of our identity, especially when compared to the image of God that we bear. While I focused on political affiliations, since it is the most prominent area in which we are failing as Christians, we are divided in so many more ways. Be diligent at looking into yourself and work with God to pluck out any hatred. Work with those who see things differently than you in order to reach Truth. Above all, look to the greatest example of radical love and do likewise. ★

Bri is a junior majoring in psychology with a minor in diversity studies.

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Life Through the Lens of Death

My father is a mortician, someone whose career is involved in the business of funeral rites, the embalming and cremation or burial of the deceased, and the planning and arrangement of the funeral services.  To put it simply, he works with dead people.

Photo by: Nate Moore
Photo by: Nate Moore

Growing up, it was normal for me to ride in the car with my dad on a late night “removal,” to walk to the funeral home after school to catch a ride home, or for the flowers on my dining room table to be a mix of whatever was left at the last services. I grew up surrounded by death. It is something I have experienced first hand as well. Be it close grandparents, aunts and uncles, or classmates, it is safe to say I have seen more than a normal amount of my contemporaries die.

You might think that constantly experiencing death and witnessing grief would spiral me into a deep state of depression, but surprisingly it hasn’t. In fact, it has had the opposite effect on me. Don’t get me wrong, grief and death have played their fair share of sadness in my life. However, being constantly reminded of the mortality of others, and myself, makes me handle life differently. When you realize life is fleeting, it changes how you prioritize your intentions and time. It makes a lot of seemingly huge issues in the world seem like petty distractions, and it makes the gamble of faith seem all the more logical.

Let me explain.

mikequoteGrades are important. Having things like a stellar resume and a steady supply of internships are important. Landing a killer job after graduation, being successful, and paying off loans are important. However, if they are all I have when I leave college, my time would be a waste. Instead, I would be a robot who was efficient in taking the steps to be successful in life, but I would know no one. Relationships and connections are more valuable in the end. When you are 92 and in the hospital on your deathbed, who is going to be there with you? Your success, or the ones you have poured your life into?

That seems like a lot of big picture thoughts, but really in my everyday life, it makes me react to things with a different perspective. It shifts my priorities from the everyday into the long term.

It may seem morbid, but I think that we would all be a little better, a little kinder, and have more of a purpose if we lived life more like we were dying. After all, we are.

Michael is a junior majoring in communication with a concentration in media arts and design, and minors in fine arts and sociology.

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Married To My Maiden Name

In May, I got married. It was cold, chaotic, and it snowed. It was everything I imagined and more. Months leading up to the ceremony were filled with so many decisions it made my head spin. One of the biggest decisions I had to make, though, was if I wanted to change my last name following the wedding. It was the normal thing to do, so normal I found myself changing my Facebook name and Instagram handle the day after the wedding. That’s just what you do, right?

Photo by: Anthony Burdo
Photo by: Nate Moore

It should have seemed like a natural thing to do, so I was confused when I found myself struggling to go through with the legal process. It was so permanent. I thought about it for months, and the more I thought about it, I couldn’t make myself go through with the process, at least not at this point in time.

When it comes down to it, people, whether adopting a nickname, naming a child, or taking a spouse’s last name after marriage, should spend more than a moment deciding to make the switch. Names are important and should reflect the unique identity God created in each of us. However, with cultural expectations and unique names encouraged by a ‘hipster’ culture our making names are less meaningful and more practical. Celebrities are calling their children Satchel, Sistine, Sunday, Casper, Apple, Suri, North, Reign, Blue Ivy, and Elula. This speaks volumes about how little we value names, and their potential to foster the identities of future generations.

To me, my name is so much more than letters placed on a legal document. My name is years of family loyalty and memories. My name is, and always has been my identity. My name grew with me, as I shed the formality of Danielle Eaton, and matured into Dani Eaton. To give that up felt like giving up part of myself.

daniquoteNames, once a source of identifying profession, have evolved over the years with their importance being overlooked more and more. Names have become more labels and cultures than anything. Think, for example, of the Kardashians. This is a name so many people recognize around the world, but, instead of fostering a unique identity, has fostered a culture around their name, making it a material item. Children born into the Kardashian family will be forced to follow into their footsteps of producing an image and being known for their iconic looks. This is (hopefully) not what people think of when they think of Eaton.

Additionally, today’s society spoon feeds the idea of uniqueness to people, but not the identities that come with a name, and the identity that God wishes us to have. In the Bible it says God knows us by name. In John 10:3 it says, “To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” He calls his sheep by name, not by “the one in the red shirt,” “the unique one that has the cool hobbies,” or even “the one with the purple hair.” If our name was nothing more than letters on paper, then why would God make a point to call us by it?

Right now, I don’t know who Danielle Bullard is. She seems foreign and unfamiliar to me, and maybe in time that will change. I’m sure as Danielle turned into Dani, if Eaton turns into Bullard, my identity will then, once again, change. But that’s okay with me, as God didn’t intend for me to stay one person for the rest of my life. He intended for me to grow, and for my identity to change, as he intends for all of us. Value your name as God values you, and please don’t name your children after fruit.

Dani is a senior majoring in communication and writing

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Opinions

Re-Examining Western Materialism

Take a second to think about the things you or your family own. How many of them did you make? My assumption is very few. I’ve come to realize that I have made very few  items by hand. Those I have made, I have taken incredibly good care of. In high school, I once made a secretary-style desk in wood-shop class and I cared for it as though it was worth a fortune. If anyone so much as touched it I would watch like a hawk. Why? Well, I understood first-hand how that desk was made, I knew the amount of work put into it.

Photo by: Nate Moore
Photo by: Nate Moore

My hope is that you have had a similar experience. Unfortunately this attachment to material items, like the one I had with my desk, embodies the very opposite of the consumer culture in which we live. We so often buy things as cheaply as possible, only to discard them and buy more. In fact, the things we buy are often conveniently made to be disposable in order to fuel our culture’s love for shopping. Author William T. Cavanaugh put it this way, “Our relationships with products tend to be short-lived; rather than hoarding treasured objects, consumers are characterized by a constant dissatisfaction with material goods.”

Our emphasis with regards to the material world, especially in the Christian tradition, is to try to disengage ourselves. This view comes from the way we interpret scripture. In Matthew, Jesus rebukes storing up treasures here on earth. In Colossians, Paul attacks greed. It’s obvious that the way we relate to the material world is a spiritual practice, but does this mean we need to become detached from the material world? From my observations, the problems we face in our culture do not come from excessively storing up treasures, or becoming too attached to the things we own, although this something we must still be on guard against. Instead, it is that we have no regard for the things we own, the things we buy, and especially where they came from or how they were produced. Because of this, we have no issue filling up dumpsters with our unwanted things. I know this all too well. I may have engaged in the act of dumpster-diving once or twice.

landonquotePerhaps the issue stems from the fact that we very seldom play a part in the making of our own goods. In pre-industrial society, homes were a place of production. Whether this involved farming the majority of their own food or making a portion of their own goods, there was pride and meaning in a person’s work. This is not to romanticize those times, it had its fair share of challenges. However, it would certainly be a lot harder to waste food that had come from your own garden, or throw away clothes you made with your own hands.

I’m not writing this to give you a guilty conscience, or to demand that you start hand-making all of the things you own. That would be a bit ridiculous. I’m writing this as a reminder. A reminder that the things we own, the things we buy, and the things we eat all have an impact on our lives and the lives of the people that make or produce them. They are our voice in the dark.  As election season is in full tilt, we know that our vote can play a small yet significant role in our own lives and in the lives of others. We do not only vote on November 8, though. We vote everyday with our wallet. How can the decisions we make as consumers help to bring God’s kingdom to earth?

Landon is a senior environmental biology major with a minor in international development.

Categories
Opinions

From the Editor’s Desk: Stirring the Pot

img_3297We scroll through our Facebook feed, sighing at our racist uncle that’s sharing an opinion written by one of his friends, riddled with inaccurate facts and stereotypes. On the flip side, we shake our head at an article we read, although accurate and factual, because it clashes with our view of the world, irritating us. We make one crucial mistake when we continue to scroll though, we encourage a lack of dialogue and discussion that has the potential to help us grow and educate ourselves.

I could go into a rant about how we need to listen to one another with love and compassion, but we’ve all heard that before, and more than once. Once we’ve made the decision to listen, we need to take the next step and make the decision to respond. Response is a crucial part of educating ourselves and playing our part in bettering society, both as people and as Christians.

We should take every opportunity for discourse presented to us as a chance to grow and challenge our views. Challenging your views solidifies that you not only, are firmly grounded in your beliefs, but also that you have a rounded, educated opinion. If we are privileged enough to have opportunities and sources to grow our knowledge, then we shouldn’t waste them.

webquoteThis, fellow students, is my challenge to you from myself as editor-in-chief of The Star. I would ask that you use The Star as a platform to educate yourself and others through educated discourse. If an opinion published in The Star challenges your personal convictions, ask to write an opinion, comment on the article online, or, better yet, write a letter to the editor.

While The Star may not have an opinion written by your racist uncle, it is just as easy to ignore. Stars practically litter the campus, you don’t give it a second thought as you toss the version you got after chapel in the garbage or leave it on your table at lunch. It’s easy to vent to your friends, or complain via Yik Yak about how ridiculous someone’s opinion is. Instead of forgetting about it, leaving it behind, or letting your voice be lost in the anonymity of an app, use the paper to remind yourself to develop your opinions and strengthen your beliefs.

Don’t be afraid to be challenged and grow. The Star serves as a place for voices of students, staff, and community members to be heard. My hope is that The Star to be a vehicle for a variety of opinions and perspectives, whether they be similar or contrasting. Don’t be afraid to stir the pot, ruffle some feathers, and most importantly, promote discussion. So go ahead; comment on that racist uncle’s Facebook post, just make sure it is educated, thoughtful, and compassionate.