Meals, TV shows, late-night studying sessions, and moments continually pass by.
Good experiences. After recalling a short story to a friend, he had replied: must have been a good experience. Upon hearing that description, I became irritated. It bothered me for a while. Why was I so annoyed by the term "good experience?"
Was it because the term appears to be descriptive of a fleeting occurrence?
Was it because I felt that my friend did not understand the experience I had experienced?
Or was it because I believed labeling something as a good experience is utterly inadequate to describe the series of events or event?
Probably a little bit of all of those reasons. However, I have become more aware that my irritability towards the term "good experience" is that my life has been characterized by a pursuit of good experiences. This pursuit has been the center of my attention for probably most of my college career. In high school I was always envious of all the activities that those around me were able to participate and become active in. The reason being is that I was home alone most of the time and had few resources to participate in research, write in the newspaper, take community college courses, and more. As a result, subconsciously and consciously, I became very aggressive during college to satisfy all my desires of having "good experiences." These would include writing for the school paper, working for a labor union, participating in congressional bill rallies, studying abroad, developing workshops for students, running the marathon, trying fencing and yoga, camping out for basketball games, working in a fancy office for wealth management, teaching in Korea, going to missions in China, and so much more. Although I am glad I pursued all these things, I reflect and realize it was all for me. All these experiences have shaped how I see, interact, and communicate with everything around me, but I am quick to acknowledge that all these pursuits for completely for my gain (perhaps at times I may have fooled myself it was for others). Maybe this is why I became irritable at the term "good experience." The term reminds me of my pride and inner desire to strengthen my reasons to be prideful.
I admit, I am a weak and pathetic fool.
Eager to learn and be part of what is to come, here I am.
"For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 26-31
