What better way to start my blog with a little cartoon that so describes me and what this blog is going to be about! =)

Idealism is normally associated with young people - because, according to the “wise”, they are those who have not yet experienced the world and thus naively still hold dearly to their idealism.

However, I’m not that young anymore. I am not naive nor ignorant of how this world works. And while I certainly have a lot to experience in this world, I am not without experience in my life. Yet I still retain much of my idealism…

Rather than listen to those (mostly old experienced people who think they are wiser than they truly are) who look down on idealism, I’m so much fonder of these guys’ words:

It is through the idealism of youth that man catches sight of truth, and in that idealism he possesses a wealth which he must never exchange for anything else. (Dr. Albert Schweitzer)

The great challenge of adulthood is holding on to your idealism after you lose your innocence. (Bruce Springsteen)

The youth gets together his materials to build a bridge to the moon, or, perchance, a palace or temple on the earth, and, at length, the middle-aged man concludes to build a woodshed with them. (Henry David Thoreau)

[Ahhh…no one beats Thoreau for wit, humor and true wisdom! =)]

Yes, this blog will contain a lot of youthful idealistic thoughts. As it’s not easy retaining one’s idealism in this world, there will be lots of times I struggle. Struggle to live a life as close to the ideal and perfect lifestyle that I believe God desires all Christians to live. We will all fail because we’re not perfect and never will be in this age. However, the call is to strive towards perfection - i.e. towards living that ideal life. The call is to deny oneself, take up the cross and truly follow Jesus. The call is to trust in Him, rather than in our own strength. It is to love all - even if that meant dying for others, which Jesus did. It is a call to pursue justice for the oppressed and suffering, to show mercy to the poor, naked and hungry. The call is not to build our own kingdom nor to lay up treasures for ourselves in this age. Rather, it is to build His kingdom.

Simply put, the call is to live out that idealistic and ideal life. It is certainly nothing less than that. Surely, striving to fulfill that call in a fallen world is a difficult thing. Yet being pragmatic for Christ is not an option. And the early Church knew that. They lived a radically idealistic life - a life I pray I’ll be able to live one day soon:

All believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. (Acts 2:44-45)

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had…There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. (Acts 4:32, 34-35)