About Sameer

I seek to live my life in a way that keeps me joyful and young at heart, and helps me to continually see the world and the people in it with awe, wonder, reverence, and thankfulness. It's hard, but it's definitely possible, and it's actually what God wants for us! I love reflecting on and writing about the human condition, and the desires and battles common to us all. I would love to connect with you - please reach out anytime! Learn More...

When You’re Always Caring What Others Think

Courage|

I've been thinking a lot recently how people have dreams, and they even feel those dreams are from God...and they let other people know about their dreams, and have full faith for them, and wait for them, but it just doesn't happen. Well, it at least hasn't happened yet. And it makes me think about David, and how in his poems and writings, he asks God repeatedly to not let ...

Believing for the Best and Preparing for the Worst

Courage|

I've been thinking how well-intentioned people, in reference to having a particular outlook toward an event, or experience, or even life in general, say "Expect the best, but prepare for the worst."  Expect the best.  Okay.  But prepare for the worst.  Um.  Okay. I've decided I hate that line.  It sounds good, it sounds conciliatory and maybe even soothing.  But it's so neutral, it's so...antiseptic.  It's so weak, honestly.  At ...

My Goals and Dreams Poster

Faith|

Every year, I try to make a Goals and Dreams poster just to force myself to articulate tangible things that I want and hope to work towards over the next twelve months.  It seriously helps me. I first pray about a "theme" that God would want to give me for the new year - sort of a defining and encapsulating big picture that will regularly be relevant in interesting and ...

Living on the Edge

Courage, Strength|

I've been thinking a lot about the edge recently. And living on it. I know that sounds vague. So I'll try to explain. I've been going to yoga relatively regularly for the last few months. The goal has been to really try to increase my flexibility and balance. My hamstrings, for instance, are always tight because I've been running around on fields for decades and I guess I don't really ...

The Beauty of Being Vulnerable in Relationships

Courage, Dating, Strength|

Ive been thinking a lot about one of C.S. Lewis's most famous and most profound quotes: “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it ...

Testing our Strength

Courage, Strength|

I have this friend, Wil, who I have known since he was eight.  He will be turning sixteen in January.  I hang out with him and his siblings (they are so much fun, and such great kids!), and his parents mentor me in a variety of ways that help me through life.  It's been really neat to see Wil grow up.  I remember being able to toss him in the ...

How Do You Want People To Think of You?

Wisdom|

I've been thinking about the legends of the Bible.  It's interesting that if you just think of a particular person, one particular story or aspect of their life comes immediately to mind.  For example, if I said Jonah and __________, you would say, "the whale!"  If I said, David and __________, you would say, "Goliath!"  If I said Samson and __________, you would say, "Delilah!".  If I said, "Job," maybe ...

Why You Should Choose Someone Who Is Pursuing God

Dating|

So, I mentioned in my last post about girls and standards that I believed a shared faith is so essential, at least to me.  I mentioned that she should be headed in the same spiritual direction as me, and she should earnestly try to live her life with integrity in all areas.  And I think it's a very reasonable standard to have, and one on which I could never compromise.  ...

What Should We Have In Common If We’re Dating?

Dating|

My friend Mo recently mentioned how she wouldn't date a guy who wasn't into the same type of music as her, and so it got me thinking about our standards for the persons we want to date, and/or fall in love with, and/or spend the rest of our lives with.  Sometimes I feel like my standards for a girl are incredibly - no, insanely - high.  And we all know ...

How Are You Getting Through Life?

Faith, Strength, Wisdom|

Earlier this semester. my friend Lucas recently twisted his ankle badly while we were playing ultimate frisbee at school. I was pretty close to him when it happened, and we heard a loud pop and so we thought he had completely broken it. Thankfully, though, a visit to the ER revealed that he had a severe strain and would need to stay off of it for a few weeks. So, ...