Empathy

By no means do I wish to complain. In fact, I am fully aware how blessed my life has been. I have been given almost everything a person could ask for in life.

And yet, I too have had my heart broken and my dreams dashed by the inevitable tumults of life. Although I try not to talk about it too much, I once knew a girl that I was very, very fond of. To this point in my long 23 years, she is the only girl I have ever loved. Things didn’t work out like I had hoped, and she ended it in the worst of ways.

That experience taught me a very important reality; we all have dark days. It made me want to dedicate, at least a small portion of my life to easing the pain of others. While there are many things that I could do better, I hope that at least in some small way, I have made an impact on others.

For example, this week a friend and I brought cookies to some members of our church congregation. Between work and school, I knew how hectic their lives were at times. If anything, I just wanted to reach out and be their friend.

I’m not claiming that anything I’ve done has changed the world. However, I am convinced that even the smallest acts can forever change us. For this reason, I hope to be more emphatic, and to be a friend to people around me.

End of a Season

For anyone who has followed this blog, you know by know how big of an Ohio State fan I am. For someone who grew up in the Columbus, OH, each Saturday represents a hope for something new. This season especially has excited Columbus far beyond normal levels.

Coming into the week, Ohio State was ranked number two in the country after number one ranked Alabama miraculously lost to Auburn. Given all that had happened last week, we were all set to go Pasadena this January for the BCS national championship. All we had to was beat Michigan State in the Big Ten championship game Saturday night.

Unfortunately, the game was a huge disappointment. We got 17-0 early in the game, and the outcome looked bleak. Late in the second quarter we came storming back and were able to tie the score at the half. By the time the fourth quarter expired, we were trailing by 10 points and were firmly out of the national championship.

After the game there was bedlam in the Jenkins household, as both of my younger siblings went to bed crying, and my mom locked herself in her room.

Sometimes I just wished I didn’t care about sports.