It's Christmas time – a time for warm apple cider, mince pie, decorating the tree, hanging lights, planning menus, dressing up for parties...'tis the season. As I was driving home from an afternoon of making homemade caramel sauce with my mom, I saw a simply lit cross on a hillside reminding me of what Christmas is all about. It's so easy to get wrapped up in all the tinsel and shiny presents, humming away Christmas carols but overlooking the underlying lyrics.
Many years ago the most beautiful gift of all arrived- a savior was born bringing hope and the promise of redemption for mankind. The salvation He offers is a timeless present too large to fit under a tree. Jesus is the simplest and best gift available to each of us- we need only to unwrap it.
Happy Christmas to all.
26 December, 2014
01 November, 2012
Lightening the load
I'm the type of girl who likes to stuff my purse or travel bag to the brim planning ahead with my packing hoping that foresight would prepare me for any possibility. This morning, however, I faced an unusual dilemma: I could only pack as much as I could carry and having just had an emergency c-section a few weeks ago, that meant very little.
Our journey to parenthood started with joyful smiles and staring at a pile of seven (yes, seven) positive pregnancy tests with my husband. Being a planner, I had already booked childbirth classes and gathered nursery furniture a few months in, but nothing could have prepared me for being initiated into motherhood by going into pre-term labor at 23.4 weeks.
For months I had begun packing my hopes, dreams and expectations for the pregnancy, the delivery, our child and our family. On October 1, I felt like someone robbed every last one of them.
I was left to start over and reflect on what really mattered. Emergencies have a way of inspiring people to reexamine their priorities and to cut out the trivial. I have spent so much of my life worrying and preparing for worst case scenarios, but no amount of anxiety or foresight prepares you for the real thing.
I'm learning that having an empty "bag"means I can recalibrate my expectations by looking for God's will and seeing how he is moving in a situation. I'm also learning to stop carrying the weight of so many burdens, worries, and expectations I was never meant to carry.
Some would look at my son so tiny and frail right now and pity my situation. Yes, it's not ideal, but God has reminded me it's only temporary and I know we will be bringing him home a healthy, happy boy in a few months. When I see him, I see one of God's great miracles and I'm so very thankful.
02 December, 2011
Acting out for social justice
World Vision ACT:S is a program that is empowering college students to use social media to raise awareness of poverty issues and injustice around the globe.
Using Facebook, Twitter, newsletters by email and blogs, the group equips students to bring awareness to issues like AIDS, malaria, child slavery and hunger. One goal the group is working towards through creative online campaigning is ending malaria deaths by 2015.
Anyone can join their network, follow their Faith and Justice blog or sign up for their bi-weekly newsletter.
Those interested in joining ACT:S can watch this video to find out more about their ministry:
Using Facebook, Twitter, newsletters by email and blogs, the group equips students to bring awareness to issues like AIDS, malaria, child slavery and hunger. One goal the group is working towards through creative online campaigning is ending malaria deaths by 2015.
Anyone can join their network, follow their Faith and Justice blog or sign up for their bi-weekly newsletter.
Those interested in joining ACT:S can watch this video to find out more about their ministry:
Social media: a new kind of revolution
Social media is much more than a trendy way to express opinions or gain a few followers, it's revolutionizing the way companies reach out to their customers, bringing authentic awareness to the public about current events around the world and even providing a tool that has empowered people to topple an oppressive regime and bring change to their country.
Social networking was credited as a strategic tool which enabled Libyan demonstrators to overthrow their government and bring an end to a brutal regime. Like an article in the Sydney Morning Herald noted, the defining image in the revolution could very well be “a young woman or a young man with a smartphone.”
As Peter Beaumont writes, “She's in the Medina in Tunis with a BlackBerry held aloft, taking a picture of a demonstration outside the prime minister's house. He is an angry Egyptian doctor in an aid station stooping to capture the image of a man with a head injury from missiles thrown by Mubarak's supporters.”
Is it possible that photos, videos and words, coupled with the power of social media, are more powerful tools to create change than guns or even diplomacy? Social media provided an outcome different than we would have seen even fifteen years ago. The uprisings gained momentum, undeniable momentum, that arguably could never have been accomplished as quickly without social media.
While social media played an important role in the Libyan uprising and has been dubbed, the ''Twitter Revolutions,” it’s fair to say many other factors were involved. Even still, it begs the question, how will tools like social media shape the future, especially in the hands of newer, more technically savvy generations?
Social networking was credited as a strategic tool which enabled Libyan demonstrators to overthrow their government and bring an end to a brutal regime. Like an article in the Sydney Morning Herald noted, the defining image in the revolution could very well be “a young woman or a young man with a smartphone.”
As Peter Beaumont writes, “She's in the Medina in Tunis with a BlackBerry held aloft, taking a picture of a demonstration outside the prime minister's house. He is an angry Egyptian doctor in an aid station stooping to capture the image of a man with a head injury from missiles thrown by Mubarak's supporters.”
Is it possible that photos, videos and words, coupled with the power of social media, are more powerful tools to create change than guns or even diplomacy? Social media provided an outcome different than we would have seen even fifteen years ago. The uprisings gained momentum, undeniable momentum, that arguably could never have been accomplished as quickly without social media.
While social media played an important role in the Libyan uprising and has been dubbed, the ''Twitter Revolutions,” it’s fair to say many other factors were involved. Even still, it begs the question, how will tools like social media shape the future, especially in the hands of newer, more technically savvy generations?
23 November, 2011
The heritage of Thanksgiving: Building a legacy of faith and hope
Thanksgiving is upon us. People all over the nation will be prepping their annual turkeys, getting excited about watching their favorite NFL teams play and finalizing their game plan for Black Friday. But I propose a new tradition which was first practiced by Joshua in the Bible and is still relevant for today.
Thanksgiving brings together family, friends and food, but more than anything, I think it's a day to reflect on all we've been blessed with, to give thanks for these blessings and then find ways to share with others throughout the year. In this current economic climate of layoffs and financial melt-downs, it's not difficult to feel anxiety, worry and stress, but this holiday is all about focusing on the very opposite, thankfulness for what we have.
Many of us in one way or another have been abundantly blessed and I don't just mean in Ben Franklins or all the branded accessories in our closets. When I think of blessings, I think of family, friends, health, joy, grace and freedom. In this economic climate, especially, it is important to reflect on God's faithfulness in our lives. It's so easy to remember the opportunities which didn't materialize and to focus on loss, but it is in remembering our blessings, that our hope and faith is renewed to carry us through the tougher times.
Joshua 4:1-9 recounts the story of the Israelites at the end of a long journey. God had delivered them out of slavery in Egypt and sustained them through many years in the desert. This was a milestone for a generation, a dream come to fruition, as they crossed over the Jordan river into the promised land.
To mark the memory, God commanded Joshua to set up a memorial of the crossing, but the memorial symbolized much more than parted waters and a river crossing, it represented God's kept promises, His faithfulness, their answered prayers. More than that, it was a sign of hope for future generations to remember.
This past Sunday, my pastor suggested making memorial stones to remember God's goodness and faithfulness. What a beautiful way to see God's fingerprints all over the blessings in our lives. These stones give us faith to face an uncertain future.
As you invite your loved ones over this holiday and pass the pumpkin pie around the table, take a moment to reflect on your blessings and answered prayers. Know that as you share stories of God's faithfulness and bear witness to God's goodness, you are building a legacy of faith and hope for others. Like Dennis Bratcher said in his online sermon, memorial stones are not a "stale tradition of facts and ritual, but the tradition of living encounters with God, a heritage of living stones that speak to us of God, and His work in the lives of His people (from The Voice website)."
So when our children, friends and family ask, "what do these stones mean?" we can say they are places where God met us and they will know He is a living God who still guides His people.
Joshua 4:1-9 (passage taken from Biblegateway.com)
When all the nation had fully passed over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, take twelve men from among the people, one man out of every tribe, and command them, take twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan from the place where the priests' feet stood firm; carry them over with you and leave them at the place where you lodge tonight.Then Joshua called the twelve men of the Israelites whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. And Joshua said to them, pass over before the ark of the Lord your God in the midst of the Jordan, and take up every man of you a stone on his shoulder, as is the number of the tribes of the Israelites, that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, "what do these stones mean to you?," then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it passed over the Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off.
So these stones shall be to the Israelites a memorial forever. And the Israelites did as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the Lord told Joshua, and carried them over with them to the place where they lodged and laid them down there. And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day.
Thanksgiving brings together family, friends and food, but more than anything, I think it's a day to reflect on all we've been blessed with, to give thanks for these blessings and then find ways to share with others throughout the year. In this current economic climate of layoffs and financial melt-downs, it's not difficult to feel anxiety, worry and stress, but this holiday is all about focusing on the very opposite, thankfulness for what we have.
Many of us in one way or another have been abundantly blessed and I don't just mean in Ben Franklins or all the branded accessories in our closets. When I think of blessings, I think of family, friends, health, joy, grace and freedom. In this economic climate, especially, it is important to reflect on God's faithfulness in our lives. It's so easy to remember the opportunities which didn't materialize and to focus on loss, but it is in remembering our blessings, that our hope and faith is renewed to carry us through the tougher times.
Joshua 4:1-9 recounts the story of the Israelites at the end of a long journey. God had delivered them out of slavery in Egypt and sustained them through many years in the desert. This was a milestone for a generation, a dream come to fruition, as they crossed over the Jordan river into the promised land.
To mark the memory, God commanded Joshua to set up a memorial of the crossing, but the memorial symbolized much more than parted waters and a river crossing, it represented God's kept promises, His faithfulness, their answered prayers. More than that, it was a sign of hope for future generations to remember.
This past Sunday, my pastor suggested making memorial stones to remember God's goodness and faithfulness. What a beautiful way to see God's fingerprints all over the blessings in our lives. These stones give us faith to face an uncertain future.
As you invite your loved ones over this holiday and pass the pumpkin pie around the table, take a moment to reflect on your blessings and answered prayers. Know that as you share stories of God's faithfulness and bear witness to God's goodness, you are building a legacy of faith and hope for others. Like Dennis Bratcher said in his online sermon, memorial stones are not a "stale tradition of facts and ritual, but the tradition of living encounters with God, a heritage of living stones that speak to us of God, and His work in the lives of His people (from The Voice website)."
So when our children, friends and family ask, "what do these stones mean?" we can say they are places where God met us and they will know He is a living God who still guides His people.
Joshua 4:1-9 (passage taken from Biblegateway.com)
When all the nation had fully passed over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, take twelve men from among the people, one man out of every tribe, and command them, take twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan from the place where the priests' feet stood firm; carry them over with you and leave them at the place where you lodge tonight.Then Joshua called the twelve men of the Israelites whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. And Joshua said to them, pass over before the ark of the Lord your God in the midst of the Jordan, and take up every man of you a stone on his shoulder, as is the number of the tribes of the Israelites, that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, "what do these stones mean to you?," then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it passed over the Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off.
So these stones shall be to the Israelites a memorial forever. And the Israelites did as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the Lord told Joshua, and carried them over with them to the place where they lodged and laid them down there. And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day.
13 November, 2011
Blogging for a cause
I know I’m late on the band-wagon, but I am quickly becoming a fan of video blogs (aka vlogs). They are so authentic and engaging. This week I started to watch vlog entries from World Vision social media experts at World Vision Australia. The website covers a group of four twenty-something bloggers who travel the globe visiting World Vision projects and sharing their experiences.
We all know social media is about getting to the heart of issues and giving updates and sharing information in real-time, but in my opinion, vlogs bring a whole new depth of transparency to the non-profit world. Ten years ago, a prospective donor would mail in a check or make an online donation based on information they received in the mail, online or in person. They may even have seen an advertisement appealing for donations or watched a marketing video, but while marketing materials are helpful and necessary, they are polished, edited and rehearsed.
Social media for non-profit benefactors is the equivalent to a behind the scenes tour of a ministry. Vlogging in particular is such a brilliant way to show donors first-hand what their money is going towards and to let them not just hear about it or watch clips of it, but experience the ministry in a raw, unedited way.
Check it out for yourself and see what you think…
30 October, 2011
Harnessing social media for good causes
Social media connects people like never before. With the average person spending 13 hours a week online, it's not hard to imagine why.
Being able to distribute information globally at the click of a mouse empowers advocates to quickly raise awareness and funds on a shoestring budget.
In February 2009, more than 200 cities around the world held Twestivals, which rallied the Twitter community together for an evening to raise money and awareness for charity: water. In total, they raised about US$250,000 and were able to provide clean water for over 17,000 people by using Twitter as their primary tool with additional information on Vimeo and Facebook.
According to a study by NetWitsThinkTank, an online resource for nonprofits, fundraisers who adopted integrated social media tools increased their fundraising by as much as 40 percent compared to their peers who weren’t using the available online tools.
The results are clear, online fundraising is clearly more successful and far-reaching than traditional fundraising techniques – and with more immediate impact.
Being able to distribute information globally at the click of a mouse empowers advocates to quickly raise awareness and funds on a shoestring budget.
In February 2009, more than 200 cities around the world held Twestivals, which rallied the Twitter community together for an evening to raise money and awareness for charity: water. In total, they raised about US$250,000 and were able to provide clean water for over 17,000 people by using Twitter as their primary tool with additional information on Vimeo and Facebook.
According to a study by NetWitsThinkTank, an online resource for nonprofits, fundraisers who adopted integrated social media tools increased their fundraising by as much as 40 percent compared to their peers who weren’t using the available online tools.
The results are clear, online fundraising is clearly more successful and far-reaching than traditional fundraising techniques – and with more immediate impact.
29 October, 2011
How youth are giving back
According to a study by World Vision, an international relief and development group, "eighty percent of teens use social media and 44 percent say they’ve become more aware of the needs of others as a result of their use of social media like Facebook and Twitter. Furthermore, "34 percent “friend”, “like” or “follow” charitable organizations or causes they believe in."
In an age where fundraising income has dramatically decreased, I think it's safe to say public awareness about charitable causes has greatly increased with the advent of the internet and social media tools like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The Internet Generation and Millenials are generations who can spread news like wildfire using a tool even more powerful than their debit card: their social networking account.
Social media has empowered younger generations to have influence and a platform to contribute to good causes, even if they don't make a ton of dough, have a famous name or a prestigious diploma. In the twenty-first century, all it takes to make positive change overnight is a Wi-Fi connection, a Mac and a message.
Disclosure:
In the interest of full disclosure, I must state that I am employed by a company in the humanitarian and relief sector, however, my blog posts are not related in any specific way to my job, nor do they or will they convey proprietary information or necessarily convey the views of my employer. Advocacy and volunteering for non-profit is my passion both professionally and personally, but this blog does not relate to my professional job.
In an age where fundraising income has dramatically decreased, I think it's safe to say public awareness about charitable causes has greatly increased with the advent of the internet and social media tools like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The Internet Generation and Millenials are generations who can spread news like wildfire using a tool even more powerful than their debit card: their social networking account.
Social media has empowered younger generations to have influence and a platform to contribute to good causes, even if they don't make a ton of dough, have a famous name or a prestigious diploma. In the twenty-first century, all it takes to make positive change overnight is a Wi-Fi connection, a Mac and a message.
Disclosure:
In the interest of full disclosure, I must state that I am employed by a company in the humanitarian and relief sector, however, my blog posts are not related in any specific way to my job, nor do they or will they convey proprietary information or necessarily convey the views of my employer. Advocacy and volunteering for non-profit is my passion both professionally and personally, but this blog does not relate to my professional job.
14 August, 2011
Dropping the ball
Our standard schnauzer, Duke, is crazy about tennis balls (especially ones that squeak, but that is beside the point).I had just bought him a new ball to play with but he was adamant about keeping the old filthy one. He ran around desperately trying to keep it, but little did he know I had a newer, even better toy for him. It was as if he didn't believe I could have something he'd love more. I just wanted to swap the dirty, torn ball for something I knew was safer (and squeakier!)
As I finally managed to trade the old ball for the new one, I realized that is a lot how we are with God. We hold onto possessions, bad memories, dreams, hope, even guilt or sin, unwilling to trust that God could have something better in store for us. After all, how could God's plans be better than our own? And even if they were, it's scary letting go!
The truth is that the very one who created each of us knows us well. Holding onto hurt, forgiveness, shame and fear are just as futile as Duke gripping onto the muddy, broken ball. He had no idea that in releasing the old toy, he was about to get something in exchange that he'd enjoy even more.
If we can love our pets or children and take care of them, how much more our father in heaven loves and wants to provide for us! The thing is, we can't receive his blessings with clenched fists and callused hearts. Ironically, it's through letting go of our plans and stepping out in faith that we find a life unleashed in Christ which is more extraordinary that we ever could have imagined for ourselves.
As I finally managed to trade the old ball for the new one, I realized that is a lot how we are with God. We hold onto possessions, bad memories, dreams, hope, even guilt or sin, unwilling to trust that God could have something better in store for us. After all, how could God's plans be better than our own? And even if they were, it's scary letting go!
The truth is that the very one who created each of us knows us well. Holding onto hurt, forgiveness, shame and fear are just as futile as Duke gripping onto the muddy, broken ball. He had no idea that in releasing the old toy, he was about to get something in exchange that he'd enjoy even more.
If we can love our pets or children and take care of them, how much more our father in heaven loves and wants to provide for us! The thing is, we can't receive his blessings with clenched fists and callused hearts. Ironically, it's through letting go of our plans and stepping out in faith that we find a life unleashed in Christ which is more extraordinary that we ever could have imagined for ourselves.
16 February, 2011
Fear or faith
Between the rattlesnake encounter and rock climbing, you could say last Saturday was an interesting day. We went on a guided lesson with The Southern Terrain and let me tell you, seasoned advice from very experienced adventurers will only take you so far and then faith has to take you the rest of the way. Let me explain...
Although the face we were climbing on was considered "beginning," there was nothing simple about it, you still had to haul yourself up there. The good news is that you find a great deal of satisfaction once you've reached the top. The blunt truth is that it looks easier than it is from the ground and it's actually quite intimidating on the way up.
I decided to climb the easier face first, saving the more technical climb for last. First one went okay and I managed to ungracefully scramble my way up and down. But about half way up my ascent on the harder face, I made the mistake of looking down. Instead of thinking of how far I'd come, all I could think of was that it was a long way down and the only thing keeping me from falling was a rope and a guy holding it further down the cliff.
Standing on a tiny ledge, I stretched out my right arm and foot looking for a sturdy crevice as my next move. And then I looked down. Fear overtook me and I'll admit it, I asked to rappel down instead of braving the next step.
You know what I realized from that experience (albeit once I was safe and sound on the ground)? Rock climbing is a lot like having faith in God. As humans, we look up at mountains we face. Sometimes we feel the cliff is just too steep, or we'd rather take a slower, easier, less painful route to get to our destination, but in doing so we don't grow, we don't challenge ourselves to mature, or face our fears to see what we're really made of. Instead of facing an obstacle or hardship with faith that God will guide our steps, we look look up at how far there is to go, or down and realize our position is too vulnerable and we opt out of an opportunity.
Sure, it's safer on the ground, but by staying there we'll never experience the satisfaction of knowing what we can accomplish or grow our faith in God by experiencing His faithfulness in action. And if for no other reason, I've learned that enduring the climb and persevering gives you a humbling perspective you could never have witnessed from the safety of the valley floor.
Although the face we were climbing on was considered "beginning," there was nothing simple about it, you still had to haul yourself up there. The good news is that you find a great deal of satisfaction once you've reached the top. The blunt truth is that it looks easier than it is from the ground and it's actually quite intimidating on the way up.
I decided to climb the easier face first, saving the more technical climb for last. First one went okay and I managed to ungracefully scramble my way up and down. But about half way up my ascent on the harder face, I made the mistake of looking down. Instead of thinking of how far I'd come, all I could think of was that it was a long way down and the only thing keeping me from falling was a rope and a guy holding it further down the cliff.
Standing on a tiny ledge, I stretched out my right arm and foot looking for a sturdy crevice as my next move. And then I looked down. Fear overtook me and I'll admit it, I asked to rappel down instead of braving the next step.
You know what I realized from that experience (albeit once I was safe and sound on the ground)? Rock climbing is a lot like having faith in God. As humans, we look up at mountains we face. Sometimes we feel the cliff is just too steep, or we'd rather take a slower, easier, less painful route to get to our destination, but in doing so we don't grow, we don't challenge ourselves to mature, or face our fears to see what we're really made of. Instead of facing an obstacle or hardship with faith that God will guide our steps, we look look up at how far there is to go, or down and realize our position is too vulnerable and we opt out of an opportunity.
Sure, it's safer on the ground, but by staying there we'll never experience the satisfaction of knowing what we can accomplish or grow our faith in God by experiencing His faithfulness in action. And if for no other reason, I've learned that enduring the climb and persevering gives you a humbling perspective you could never have witnessed from the safety of the valley floor.
22 January, 2011
Pulling up the weeds
For the last few weeks, okay months, I've been pretty lousy at pulling the weeds in my garden. Armed with gardening gloves, a shovel and rake, I began the process of tidying the back yard this afternoon. As I waded through the mud, digging up all the weeds, it reminded me of how sin left unaccountable can grow at a rapid rate, infiltrating everything in its path. There were so many weeds, I could scarcely distinguish between the vegetable plants, shrubbery and weeds. I almost uprooted vegetation I planted with care months previously.
Left unattended, botanical pests such as Morning Glory had grown rampantly in my garden and started to wrap around my vegetable plants, slowly killing them. In the same way, sin, when allowed to grow in the garden of our hearts, takes hold of all of the good, beautiful parts of our lives and takes over. It moves into even the good parts of our lives and before we know it, robs us of our spiritual fruit.
The weeds had gotten so out of control in my yard, that despite some heavy rains and frequent watering, it appeared some of my plants had been choked by the weeds and were dead. To my amazement, several of the plants were alive and had ripe vegetables. Just so, sin covers up the fruit in our lives, hiding our potential and stunting growth in the areas of our lives God wants to grow.
Yet with with regular maintenance (the weeding of sin from our lives), goodness has plenty of room and sunlight. Though it can be strenuous work and not very fun, pulling sin from the roots deprives Satan of having any strongholds in our lives.
Watering plants (going to church), fertilizer (getting spiritual sustenance from reading the Bible) helps plants to grow but when plants don't have adequate sunlight or are overrun by weeds, all the watering or fertilizer in the world won't save them. Simply put, plants won't grow well and you won't grow spiritually without regularly clearing out the "weeds".
As brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge and uproot the weeds in our own back gardens. I promise you, any garden, or person for that matter, will thrive with this kind of regular maintenance.
Left unattended, botanical pests such as Morning Glory had grown rampantly in my garden and started to wrap around my vegetable plants, slowly killing them. In the same way, sin, when allowed to grow in the garden of our hearts, takes hold of all of the good, beautiful parts of our lives and takes over. It moves into even the good parts of our lives and before we know it, robs us of our spiritual fruit.
The weeds had gotten so out of control in my yard, that despite some heavy rains and frequent watering, it appeared some of my plants had been choked by the weeds and were dead. To my amazement, several of the plants were alive and had ripe vegetables. Just so, sin covers up the fruit in our lives, hiding our potential and stunting growth in the areas of our lives God wants to grow.
Yet with with regular maintenance (the weeding of sin from our lives), goodness has plenty of room and sunlight. Though it can be strenuous work and not very fun, pulling sin from the roots deprives Satan of having any strongholds in our lives.
Watering plants (going to church), fertilizer (getting spiritual sustenance from reading the Bible) helps plants to grow but when plants don't have adequate sunlight or are overrun by weeds, all the watering or fertilizer in the world won't save them. Simply put, plants won't grow well and you won't grow spiritually without regularly clearing out the "weeds".
As brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge and uproot the weeds in our own back gardens. I promise you, any garden, or person for that matter, will thrive with this kind of regular maintenance.
12 September, 2010
Adandoning Ourselves to God
Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest said, “To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all of our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring.” As humans, it is our natural proclivity to cling onto what we can plan and control, but in doing so we miss out on growing in faith and encountering God’s best for our lives. God calls us to seek Him as little children and to trust Him. When we build this sort of relationship with God, life can be full of what Chambers calls "spontaneous, joyful certainty and expectancy."
In whatever role we have in our lives as Christians, parents, or spouses, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has called us to step out in faith, believing in His goodness as we serve His will and follow His leading in our lives. As Chambers explains, “We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God.” Indeed, we are guaranteed surprises in abandoning ourselves to the Lord, but in it we so often find His plans are much greater than we ever could have planned for ourselves. We can only fully experience the glory of God and the richness of His plans when we relinquish our hopes and our plans to Him whether that be about a project at work, a prayer for a family member, or a future endeavor. There are many uncertainties in life, but of one thing we can be certain: God is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23:
"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful."
Reflection:
In whatever role we have in our lives as Christians, parents, or spouses, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has called us to step out in faith, believing in His goodness as we serve His will and follow His leading in our lives. As Chambers explains, “We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God.” Indeed, we are guaranteed surprises in abandoning ourselves to the Lord, but in it we so often find His plans are much greater than we ever could have planned for ourselves. We can only fully experience the glory of God and the richness of His plans when we relinquish our hopes and our plans to Him whether that be about a project at work, a prayer for a family member, or a future endeavor. There are many uncertainties in life, but of one thing we can be certain: God is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23:
"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful."
Reflection:
- Is there anything in your life you have not entrusted to God?
- What does it mean to fully cast your cares, burdens, hopes, and dreams on the Lord?
- What is the difference between trusting in your beliefs and trusting in Jesus?
28 June, 2010
Borrowing God's sunglasses
I was at a zoomba Latin dance class tonight and it was an interesting experience to say the least. At one point we were all gyrating in a circular conga line and the instructor was in the middle flipping her hair about and dancing like she was on fire.
For half the class I was frustrated that the instructor wasn't keeping with the beat and was so hard to follow. And as I copied her half-belly dance, half-step aerobic moves, I felt God ask me to take another look at her through His eyes. Then I noticed her smile, saw her sincerely jovial nature, how much fun she was having, and that she was comfortable in her own skin. I could learn a thing or two from this woman. Dare I say, I started to have a good time hopping around like a fool, laughing at myself and looking at these women the way God saw them.
It made me think- how often am I in a hurry, preoccupied or just plain so self-conscious that I miss out on who people really are and how God sees them? It's so much easier to love others or grant them grace or compassion when you look at them through God's eyes. You put yourself in their shoes, you see their struggles, their hopes, their faults and the bits about them which are intrinsically unique. It grows tolerance and appreciation for others. It brings friendship, love and joy to the most unexpected places.
My prayer is that God grants me the patience and wisdom to see His people as He does, and the heart to love them as Jesus did. I sure would want others to extend me that kind of grace, wouldn't you?
"When you judge someone, you have no time to love them." -Mother Teresa
For half the class I was frustrated that the instructor wasn't keeping with the beat and was so hard to follow. And as I copied her half-belly dance, half-step aerobic moves, I felt God ask me to take another look at her through His eyes. Then I noticed her smile, saw her sincerely jovial nature, how much fun she was having, and that she was comfortable in her own skin. I could learn a thing or two from this woman. Dare I say, I started to have a good time hopping around like a fool, laughing at myself and looking at these women the way God saw them.
It made me think- how often am I in a hurry, preoccupied or just plain so self-conscious that I miss out on who people really are and how God sees them? It's so much easier to love others or grant them grace or compassion when you look at them through God's eyes. You put yourself in their shoes, you see their struggles, their hopes, their faults and the bits about them which are intrinsically unique. It grows tolerance and appreciation for others. It brings friendship, love and joy to the most unexpected places.
My prayer is that God grants me the patience and wisdom to see His people as He does, and the heart to love them as Jesus did. I sure would want others to extend me that kind of grace, wouldn't you?
"When you judge someone, you have no time to love them." -Mother Teresa
14 September, 2009
Thank you, God, for motorcycles
When I was a little kid sitting around the dinner table, my parents used to make my brothers and I take turns blessing the meal.My younger brothers used to thank God for the smallest, seemingly insignificant things.I remember thinking how silly it was, but it was what mattered in their little boy worlds at the time and so they thanked God for what brought them joy.
Now looking back as an adult, I see the irony of the situation. Nothing that matters to us is insignificant to God and as much as some children expect to "grow up" and figure it all out, there are some parts of faith children understand better than grown-ups. Perhaps that's why Jesus loved little children so much; they weren't too busy to love him. They didn't complicate religion, they just loved Him and believed without any conditions. How is it that children can find so much joy and love without caveats?
It reminds me to sit at the feet of God and share all the tiny details of my life, which matter to the creator of the universe.
Luke 12:6
"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God."
Now looking back as an adult, I see the irony of the situation. Nothing that matters to us is insignificant to God and as much as some children expect to "grow up" and figure it all out, there are some parts of faith children understand better than grown-ups. Perhaps that's why Jesus loved little children so much; they weren't too busy to love him. They didn't complicate religion, they just loved Him and believed without any conditions. How is it that children can find so much joy and love without caveats?
It reminds me to sit at the feet of God and share all the tiny details of my life, which matter to the creator of the universe.
Luke 12:6
"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God."
10 June, 2009
Experiencing Joy
I found the joy of the Lord in the strangest of places. I have seen God all over the world, but the place I felt Him moving the most in my heart was on a series of car journeys commuting to and from a lackluster job. Why is it when you don't have many of your wants, when you're uncomfortable, that God emerges in a way you've never seen Him before?
We argue that God is harder to find these days, and we're less joyful, but after visiting places like Africa, I'm convinced that perhaps we're looking in the wrong places.
While I suppose I always knew God was with me wherever I went, God needed to take the distractions away one by one to show me what robbed me of His joy and the power I had in Christ to change the only certainty I could control- my attitude. Once I finally chose to release control out of my clenched fists and handed it to God, most of my unhappy circumstances didn't change, but my heart did.
In the simplest of ways, just as humbly as He appeared at birth, He invites His spirit to wash over us, to remind us what joy really is...and it's not in our stuff, or our jobs, or our homes or even in the church, it's solely in Him.
We look for Him in these places, but we're knocking on the wrong doors. Sometimes we look for happiness or fulfillment or even purpose everywhere but where God should be- in us, His children. The irony is, I literally looked all over the world for Him and it took God taking away the home, the diamond ring, the car, the clothes, the make-up, the stuff, the comfort levels... setting aside all the distractions, for me to realize that He was with me all along.
That idea is freeing and empowering because it's more than a mere passing thought in my head. I now know in my heart that my sincerest joy is not in a career, or a home or in activities or possessions, it's in God who is my everything: my rock, my joy, my comfort, my friend, my savior. The most beautiful part of all is that His promises and love are unconditional and unchanging, no matter the season of my life or where in the world I go.
We argue that God is harder to find these days, and we're less joyful, but after visiting places like Africa, I'm convinced that perhaps we're looking in the wrong places.
While I suppose I always knew God was with me wherever I went, God needed to take the distractions away one by one to show me what robbed me of His joy and the power I had in Christ to change the only certainty I could control- my attitude. Once I finally chose to release control out of my clenched fists and handed it to God, most of my unhappy circumstances didn't change, but my heart did.
In the simplest of ways, just as humbly as He appeared at birth, He invites His spirit to wash over us, to remind us what joy really is...and it's not in our stuff, or our jobs, or our homes or even in the church, it's solely in Him.
We look for Him in these places, but we're knocking on the wrong doors. Sometimes we look for happiness or fulfillment or even purpose everywhere but where God should be- in us, His children. The irony is, I literally looked all over the world for Him and it took God taking away the home, the diamond ring, the car, the clothes, the make-up, the stuff, the comfort levels... setting aside all the distractions, for me to realize that He was with me all along.
That idea is freeing and empowering because it's more than a mere passing thought in my head. I now know in my heart that my sincerest joy is not in a career, or a home or in activities or possessions, it's in God who is my everything: my rock, my joy, my comfort, my friend, my savior. The most beautiful part of all is that His promises and love are unconditional and unchanging, no matter the season of my life or where in the world I go.
18 January, 2009
Lessons Learned:
I have learned a great many lessons on this trip. I have been humbled, moved to tears, laughed and smiled more than I thought possible and had the chance to really look at my life, our home in California and the world around me with an incredibly different perspective. Here are a few thoughts I wanted to share with you...
- Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. Furthermore, every single person on this planet has something attractive, lovable and special about them. There are no exceptions and God loves every single one of His beloved creations.
- God is one clever guy. He made no mistakes in His unspeakably magnificent creations- I speak of the majestic oceans, lakes, rivers, hills and vast wildlife in particular. The diversity and beauty of nature all over the world is awe-inspiring.
- Try new things, even something, dare I say, you're awful at! And no excuses, you're not too old and it's never too late! Right before the trip I finally learned how to drive a manual. Yes, it's ridiculous I waited so long- but I got past the frustration and learned- it was so liberating and satisfying. We shouldn't lose our sense of adventure with age, if nothing else, we have more maturity, appreciation and insight when we're older to find new things we might enjoy. Furthermore, get involved in things you're passionate about- it's the icing on the cake- especially after finishing the mundane, but necessary chores of adulthood.
-Be open to opinions and perspective different from your own. You might learn something! Listening to other people's opinions has often not changed my own, but instead validated that I still agree with my original thought. The difference is that being open-minded enables me to better understand where other people come from and allows me to respect their opinions, even if I don't agree with them.
-Learn other languages! How helpful and less embarrassing it would have been to be multi-lingual on this trip. I speak Spanglish and I've finally run out of excuses- if anyone wants to practice Spanish with me- I'd be grateful! Our European neighbors put us to shame in that category. Even new-generation immigrants in America seem to be losing that cultural tradition of being bilingual and it really is a pity.
-Experience other cultures. You'll be horrified, offended, humbled and/or enlightened. This is vital to understanding the world around us instead of being culturally isolated or ignorant. Taking that idea a step further, I have come to realize that manners, beauty, expectations, etc. are all in the eye of the beholder and no two people think alike because we are shaped by culture, our upbringing and experience. Your way is not always the only or right way, at least not in other people's opinion. That has been a rude awakening for me on this trip, but it has allowed me to put myself in other people's shoes and to consider perspectives different from my own. You can find a lot more sympathy, empathy and general compassion for others that way and you can better understand their motives, what makes them tick and where they're coming from too.
- Respect nature. My stomach churns thinking of all the beautiful places I've been to where I've seen reefs dying, endured the searing heat under the hole in the ozone layer above Australasia or heard about animals going on the endangered species list due to global warming and human carelessness.
- Give back! Find a cause you believe in (or a few) and use your God-given talents or resources to contribute to something greater than yourself.
- Invest in quality people. Surround yourself with people who really care about what's best for you, are positive and will make an effort to be in your life for the right reasons. Time in life is precious and limited, so spend it wisely. Then really go the extra mile for those in your inner circle- root for them, find joy in their triumphs and offer a listening ear. I think happiness is doubled when you have someone to share it with.
-Do your best and then let go of things beyond your control. Stress is counter-productive, a waste of time and pointless.
- Look for the best in people and in life. Count your blessings- life is so much more pleasant this way. I always liked the saying, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." A dose of sugar really goes a long way, especially when it's sincere.
- Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. Furthermore, every single person on this planet has something attractive, lovable and special about them. There are no exceptions and God loves every single one of His beloved creations.
- God is one clever guy. He made no mistakes in His unspeakably magnificent creations- I speak of the majestic oceans, lakes, rivers, hills and vast wildlife in particular. The diversity and beauty of nature all over the world is awe-inspiring.
- Try new things, even something, dare I say, you're awful at! And no excuses, you're not too old and it's never too late! Right before the trip I finally learned how to drive a manual. Yes, it's ridiculous I waited so long- but I got past the frustration and learned- it was so liberating and satisfying. We shouldn't lose our sense of adventure with age, if nothing else, we have more maturity, appreciation and insight when we're older to find new things we might enjoy. Furthermore, get involved in things you're passionate about- it's the icing on the cake- especially after finishing the mundane, but necessary chores of adulthood.
-Be open to opinions and perspective different from your own. You might learn something! Listening to other people's opinions has often not changed my own, but instead validated that I still agree with my original thought. The difference is that being open-minded enables me to better understand where other people come from and allows me to respect their opinions, even if I don't agree with them.
-Learn other languages! How helpful and less embarrassing it would have been to be multi-lingual on this trip. I speak Spanglish and I've finally run out of excuses- if anyone wants to practice Spanish with me- I'd be grateful! Our European neighbors put us to shame in that category. Even new-generation immigrants in America seem to be losing that cultural tradition of being bilingual and it really is a pity.
-Experience other cultures. You'll be horrified, offended, humbled and/or enlightened. This is vital to understanding the world around us instead of being culturally isolated or ignorant. Taking that idea a step further, I have come to realize that manners, beauty, expectations, etc. are all in the eye of the beholder and no two people think alike because we are shaped by culture, our upbringing and experience. Your way is not always the only or right way, at least not in other people's opinion. That has been a rude awakening for me on this trip, but it has allowed me to put myself in other people's shoes and to consider perspectives different from my own. You can find a lot more sympathy, empathy and general compassion for others that way and you can better understand their motives, what makes them tick and where they're coming from too.
- Respect nature. My stomach churns thinking of all the beautiful places I've been to where I've seen reefs dying, endured the searing heat under the hole in the ozone layer above Australasia or heard about animals going on the endangered species list due to global warming and human carelessness.
- Give back! Find a cause you believe in (or a few) and use your God-given talents or resources to contribute to something greater than yourself.
- Invest in quality people. Surround yourself with people who really care about what's best for you, are positive and will make an effort to be in your life for the right reasons. Time in life is precious and limited, so spend it wisely. Then really go the extra mile for those in your inner circle- root for them, find joy in their triumphs and offer a listening ear. I think happiness is doubled when you have someone to share it with.
-Do your best and then let go of things beyond your control. Stress is counter-productive, a waste of time and pointless.
- Look for the best in people and in life. Count your blessings- life is so much more pleasant this way. I always liked the saying, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." A dose of sugar really goes a long way, especially when it's sincere.
06 January, 2009
India
Our time in India was sadly cut short by the Bangkok riots, but on the bright side, we got to see Malaysia and Singapore. In India, we did a tour of Delhi, the Red Fort and, of course, the Taj Mahal. The thing that struck me about India was that it is a country of contrasts: rich and poor, old and new, high and low class, progress and tradition. On the same street you could see a super-luxury hotel running about $800 a night and also see starving street children begging for money on the roadside. Without a doubt, I was captivated and heartbroken by my brief encounter with this unusual country.
So many countless women, handicapped males and children tapped on our car window to get money. Some of which had no legs or legs which were so deformed, they couldn't walk upright, so they couldn't so much as peer into the window. Instead they scratch at the door and windows with their fingertips. It was just not possible to help everyone who asked and when you did give something, swarms of people would approach the car, trying to reach their hands into the windows or open the car doors. If we gave food, they wanted money, if you gave money, they wanted more. It felt like we couldn't do anything to make a dent in the poverty and hopelessness we experienced firsthand.
Those who didn't beg found other ways to earn money such as charging for toilet paper in the bathrooms or to use the restroom in the first place, to take a photo or carry your luggage. While we understand why they did these things, the frustrating part for us as tourists was that we would be handed items for sale or would have services provided for us which we did not consent to or even ask for, and we were still charged for them. For example, luggage would automatically be grabbed from our hands once we got out of a car, it would be moved literally two steps and money would be demanded. It become quite tedious to carry small change to give out and sometimes we'd be charged obscene amounts for assistance we didn't even want in the first place. We had to learn to be firm, if not forceful, to hold onto our own items if for no other reason, to avoid the risk of having our luggage stolen.
Most upsetting, however, was the stares we got, particularly in my direction as a western female. India was the worst country in terms of the stares we received, however, I must add that they looked generally innocent and curious even if accompanied by pointed fingers and whispers. I had about 5 people I came in contact with who once they figured out I was American, shared the kindest words of gratefulness and admiration about our country. Nick and I learned to greet the stares and glances with a genuine smile and wave which more often than not, particularly with children, was met with a giant grin and enthusiastic waves in return. One child even followed our car, waving and blowing kisses.
On the other hand, the architecture, food, handicrafts and history we witnessed was abundant. One could easily spend months there and not soak up half the culture. I really wish I had the opportunity to visit and blend in as a local, to be charged fair prices for their beautiful goods (to get an idea- one marble table cost $20,000 US and a cashmere scarf cost $1,000- this was the lowest prices I got while bargaining. Guides obviously take you to places where they charge more and receive kickbacks), to not be stared at or pointed out or bombarded as a so-called "rich westerner. "
I found the culture so fascinating! We had the good fortune of having a young, local college student for a guide in Delhi. He was very forward thinking and open-minded which allowed us to discuss with him the realities of the current political and social climate in India. He openly talked about the restrictions he felt by his family as a member of the upper-class and part of the Hindu religion. While this allowed him certain opportunities, it also dictated who he married, what he studied, where he lived and what career he had to pursue. Cultural and religious expectations restricted him to marry someone of his own caste and religion and firmly dictated that he could not intermingle with anyone of a lower class, even to help them.
These ideas are so ingrained in India society, yet I saw a glimpse of hope in speaking with this young man, only a few years my junior. I saw hope and promise for the future of India in this student as he expressed his love for democracy, education, equality, progress and freedom. Truly, this was further confirmation of my opinion that education in third world countries is one of the greatest solutions if they are to achieve progress, equality and freedom in all forms.
And finally, I must discuss the magnificent, marble-chiseled Taj Mahal. Hands-down, it was the best part of our stay in India. It was a wonder of 17th century architecture, the details were superb! No wonder it took 22 years to complete! We discovered the king who commissioned it (in honor of his late wife who died in childbirth), had a vision to create an identical one in black onyx on the opposite side of the river. His son was convinced his father had lost his mind and would spend the entire royal fortune, so he arrested and jailed his father, keeping him imprisoned for the rest of his life in the Red Fort, with only a view of the Taj Mahal and visits from his daughter to console him. Nice guy!
We would love to go back to India one day to see Shimla and the sacred Ganges River in Varanasi. Seeing Everest and Kathmandu in Nepal is also on our list- what an extraordinarily unique part of the world they are in!
So many countless women, handicapped males and children tapped on our car window to get money. Some of which had no legs or legs which were so deformed, they couldn't walk upright, so they couldn't so much as peer into the window. Instead they scratch at the door and windows with their fingertips. It was just not possible to help everyone who asked and when you did give something, swarms of people would approach the car, trying to reach their hands into the windows or open the car doors. If we gave food, they wanted money, if you gave money, they wanted more. It felt like we couldn't do anything to make a dent in the poverty and hopelessness we experienced firsthand.
Those who didn't beg found other ways to earn money such as charging for toilet paper in the bathrooms or to use the restroom in the first place, to take a photo or carry your luggage. While we understand why they did these things, the frustrating part for us as tourists was that we would be handed items for sale or would have services provided for us which we did not consent to or even ask for, and we were still charged for them. For example, luggage would automatically be grabbed from our hands once we got out of a car, it would be moved literally two steps and money would be demanded. It become quite tedious to carry small change to give out and sometimes we'd be charged obscene amounts for assistance we didn't even want in the first place. We had to learn to be firm, if not forceful, to hold onto our own items if for no other reason, to avoid the risk of having our luggage stolen.
Most upsetting, however, was the stares we got, particularly in my direction as a western female. India was the worst country in terms of the stares we received, however, I must add that they looked generally innocent and curious even if accompanied by pointed fingers and whispers. I had about 5 people I came in contact with who once they figured out I was American, shared the kindest words of gratefulness and admiration about our country. Nick and I learned to greet the stares and glances with a genuine smile and wave which more often than not, particularly with children, was met with a giant grin and enthusiastic waves in return. One child even followed our car, waving and blowing kisses.
On the other hand, the architecture, food, handicrafts and history we witnessed was abundant. One could easily spend months there and not soak up half the culture. I really wish I had the opportunity to visit and blend in as a local, to be charged fair prices for their beautiful goods (to get an idea- one marble table cost $20,000 US and a cashmere scarf cost $1,000- this was the lowest prices I got while bargaining. Guides obviously take you to places where they charge more and receive kickbacks), to not be stared at or pointed out or bombarded as a so-called "rich westerner. "
I found the culture so fascinating! We had the good fortune of having a young, local college student for a guide in Delhi. He was very forward thinking and open-minded which allowed us to discuss with him the realities of the current political and social climate in India. He openly talked about the restrictions he felt by his family as a member of the upper-class and part of the Hindu religion. While this allowed him certain opportunities, it also dictated who he married, what he studied, where he lived and what career he had to pursue. Cultural and religious expectations restricted him to marry someone of his own caste and religion and firmly dictated that he could not intermingle with anyone of a lower class, even to help them.
These ideas are so ingrained in India society, yet I saw a glimpse of hope in speaking with this young man, only a few years my junior. I saw hope and promise for the future of India in this student as he expressed his love for democracy, education, equality, progress and freedom. Truly, this was further confirmation of my opinion that education in third world countries is one of the greatest solutions if they are to achieve progress, equality and freedom in all forms.
And finally, I must discuss the magnificent, marble-chiseled Taj Mahal. Hands-down, it was the best part of our stay in India. It was a wonder of 17th century architecture, the details were superb! No wonder it took 22 years to complete! We discovered the king who commissioned it (in honor of his late wife who died in childbirth), had a vision to create an identical one in black onyx on the opposite side of the river. His son was convinced his father had lost his mind and would spend the entire royal fortune, so he arrested and jailed his father, keeping him imprisoned for the rest of his life in the Red Fort, with only a view of the Taj Mahal and visits from his daughter to console him. Nice guy!
We would love to go back to India one day to see Shimla and the sacred Ganges River in Varanasi. Seeing Everest and Kathmandu in Nepal is also on our list- what an extraordinarily unique part of the world they are in!
04 January, 2009
Ethiopia
One fact which left an undeniable impression on me on this trip was that Africa is a place riddled by corruption and the struggle for power. As a result, there is a very clear division between rich and poor and a dismal lack of efficient, adequate government facilities such as schools, hospitals, roads and general government-run services due to government corruption. Ethiopia is certainly no exception and even in my brief visit, it became increasingly apparent that most assistance for citizens and residents comes from western tourists and aid organizations. The combination of corrupt government and charitable handouts from westerners and non-profits has resulted in a society of beggars and the perpetually unemployed. Some who are employed, are underpaid, and resort to siphoning money from their organizations , demanding large tips or ripping off tourists to supplement income.
Another surprise for me was the non-stop attention and stares we received as "firanges" (white people). There wasn't one street we walked or drove down where we weren't stared at like aliens, asked for money or were shouted at: "firange, hey you!" It was exhausting, a little disturbing and surprising because we are used to living in culturally, multi-ethnic areas where no one particular race is singled out.
On a positive note, Ethiopia is incredibly rich in terms of natural resources, ancient history and archaeological finds. Nick and I had the opportunity to see the Lucy skeleton, archaeological remains of the oldest an most complete human fossil ever found to date. We also saw the oldest carbon dated child's skull ever discovered. Fascinating!
The best part of our time in Addis Ababa was spent visiting schoolchildren and an orphanage. We had a chance to visit a branch of the late Mother Theresa's global charity in Addis called Missionaries of Charity. Despite the fact that the nuns there (who in my opinion are saints) have given their hearts and lives for these children, there simply isn't enough resources to sufficiently nurture the overwhelming amount of kids who need a home. One of our kind friends and his lovely girlfriend, who volunteer there each Saturday, introduced us to the center.
Children aged 3-11 gathered from all four corners of the asphalted quadrangle courtyard to meet the curious white strangers. Handicapped kids with deformities walked to us, some with eczema, polio, TB, hepatitis possibly, burned faces, gaping sores, hunchbacks, crusty lips, noses and eyes, lice...and yet they smiled up at us, held our hands, stroked our arms and kissed our cheeks. All children, from all over the world, crave the same thing above anything...to be loved. And so we loved them. It was easy to do when they showed so much curiosity and affection toward us. We did this only a few short days and yet the nuns we met were severely underpaid and overworked but served these children daily. I have a profound admiration and respect for them.
We fed the severely mentally and physically handicapped children, some of which suffered from Parkinson's disease, autism, blindness, and various impairments derived primarily from physical abuse and malnourishment. Although the staff truly did the best they could, they were too shorthanded to give each child individual affection in addition to bathing, feeding, diaper-changing and putting them to sleep. I held the hand of a blind child who cradled his knees into his chest, rocking himself in the corner. He squeezed my fingers every so often and would touch my arm to make sure I was still there.
Many of the children cried because they wore plastic bags fashioned into diapers that leaked and left their beds and clothes soiled. We discovered many generous companies and individuals have donated practical items such as diapers, but the import tax imposed by customs is so ridiculously high, despite already being paid for, that non-profits cannot afford to pay it. As a result, the government keeps the items, auctions them off and keeps the profits. Such was the case when a Spanish company donated a gigantic crate of diapers to Mother Theresa's, but the government demanded an unrealistic 60,000 Birr or about 6,000 USD for it in taxes. The tax was worth more than the diapers! The same charges go for any items shipped or brought into the country that are considered "excess." And buying imported goods within Ethiopia costs nearly three times as much as it would cost abroad, so only local goods are affordable.
One moment I will forever cherish was seeing the nursery. About 20 of the most gorgeous, innocent eyes peeked up at me and I got to hold their tiny, precious little fingers. One little girl in particular (her name was Theresa) smiled up at me in such a way that I had to hold her. She had a smile that could melt an iceberg. I almost cried thinking of how we could've given her a home in America, a life with opportunity, education, access to health care... The words, "no family," will remain emblazoned in my mind. The only hope I felt was knowing orphanages like Missionaries of Charity are making a difference and also seeing many wealthy westerners with their newly adopted children.
I wish from the deepest depths of my heart that all these wonderful children, gifts from God, are adopted into homes where they are cared for and loved as they inherently deserve. I pray God blesses organizations such as this one and the people who run them. May they always have pure motives and honest reward in their hard work.
Another surprise for me was the non-stop attention and stares we received as "firanges" (white people). There wasn't one street we walked or drove down where we weren't stared at like aliens, asked for money or were shouted at: "firange, hey you!" It was exhausting, a little disturbing and surprising because we are used to living in culturally, multi-ethnic areas where no one particular race is singled out.
On a positive note, Ethiopia is incredibly rich in terms of natural resources, ancient history and archaeological finds. Nick and I had the opportunity to see the Lucy skeleton, archaeological remains of the oldest an most complete human fossil ever found to date. We also saw the oldest carbon dated child's skull ever discovered. Fascinating!
The best part of our time in Addis Ababa was spent visiting schoolchildren and an orphanage. We had a chance to visit a branch of the late Mother Theresa's global charity in Addis called Missionaries of Charity. Despite the fact that the nuns there (who in my opinion are saints) have given their hearts and lives for these children, there simply isn't enough resources to sufficiently nurture the overwhelming amount of kids who need a home. One of our kind friends and his lovely girlfriend, who volunteer there each Saturday, introduced us to the center.
Children aged 3-11 gathered from all four corners of the asphalted quadrangle courtyard to meet the curious white strangers. Handicapped kids with deformities walked to us, some with eczema, polio, TB, hepatitis possibly, burned faces, gaping sores, hunchbacks, crusty lips, noses and eyes, lice...and yet they smiled up at us, held our hands, stroked our arms and kissed our cheeks. All children, from all over the world, crave the same thing above anything...to be loved. And so we loved them. It was easy to do when they showed so much curiosity and affection toward us. We did this only a few short days and yet the nuns we met were severely underpaid and overworked but served these children daily. I have a profound admiration and respect for them.
We fed the severely mentally and physically handicapped children, some of which suffered from Parkinson's disease, autism, blindness, and various impairments derived primarily from physical abuse and malnourishment. Although the staff truly did the best they could, they were too shorthanded to give each child individual affection in addition to bathing, feeding, diaper-changing and putting them to sleep. I held the hand of a blind child who cradled his knees into his chest, rocking himself in the corner. He squeezed my fingers every so often and would touch my arm to make sure I was still there.
Many of the children cried because they wore plastic bags fashioned into diapers that leaked and left their beds and clothes soiled. We discovered many generous companies and individuals have donated practical items such as diapers, but the import tax imposed by customs is so ridiculously high, despite already being paid for, that non-profits cannot afford to pay it. As a result, the government keeps the items, auctions them off and keeps the profits. Such was the case when a Spanish company donated a gigantic crate of diapers to Mother Theresa's, but the government demanded an unrealistic 60,000 Birr or about 6,000 USD for it in taxes. The tax was worth more than the diapers! The same charges go for any items shipped or brought into the country that are considered "excess." And buying imported goods within Ethiopia costs nearly three times as much as it would cost abroad, so only local goods are affordable.
One moment I will forever cherish was seeing the nursery. About 20 of the most gorgeous, innocent eyes peeked up at me and I got to hold their tiny, precious little fingers. One little girl in particular (her name was Theresa) smiled up at me in such a way that I had to hold her. She had a smile that could melt an iceberg. I almost cried thinking of how we could've given her a home in America, a life with opportunity, education, access to health care... The words, "no family," will remain emblazoned in my mind. The only hope I felt was knowing orphanages like Missionaries of Charity are making a difference and also seeing many wealthy westerners with their newly adopted children.
I wish from the deepest depths of my heart that all these wonderful children, gifts from God, are adopted into homes where they are cared for and loved as they inherently deserve. I pray God blesses organizations such as this one and the people who run them. May they always have pure motives and honest reward in their hard work.
Thoughts on America
In speaking with Sister Freda in Kenya (I will discuss our poignant visit with her in a following blog) and observing the local businesses such as US Aid, I was blown away by the services America provides to Kenya in both the non-profit and government health care sectors. I even discovered the US provides (and fully funds) free, yes, free doses of the aids retrovirus medicine in Kenya. In addition, I lost count of non-profits which contribute in terms of volunteer manpower and monetarily to better this country. While I think this is important and genuinely needed, I can't help but feel that on a global scale America is stretching itself too thin.
As a result, the US has a deteriorating economy, weakened infrastructure, suffering education system and a government which has lost the faith of the American people and favor in international politics. President-elect Obama, of Kenyan descent, came two years ago as a state senator to Kenya and boldly called out the Kenyan government's agenda and challenged the country's leadership to make certain changes for the benefit of the nation. This is a man hell-bent on change. As the future President of the United States, I sincerely hope he can deliver his promises for the good of America and the nations affected by the choices made by the US as a superpower. I also hope that as the government prepares to switch posts, America will take a good, hard look at itself and make positive, constructive change in the states before reaching outwards. How can we properly provide accountability and aid to other countries when we are in major debt and in desperate need of repairs ourself?
I say this partially because we need to realize limited funds and resources only stretch so far before we bleed dry, partly because we look like hypocrites trying to fix others when we have so many issues of our own, partly because we have started to care more in ways for the needy abroad than internally (perhaps because its trendy and sometimes easier to help strangers than our own neighbors) but mostly because we have a responsibility to use government funds to serve and assist the American people as a first priority. As a Christian, I absolutely support and insist on helping the less fortunate, but charity begins in the home and America is our home.
We tax, take, gather and give out to various causes and countries around the world without inwardly reflecting on our own issues and shortcomings, often meeting immediate needs, instead of developing strategies for long-lasting change which will promote self-sufficiency. Perhaps its generosity, perhaps we see ourselves as a sort of caretaker, watchdog or savior or the world, but we never stopped to consider that America may be in need of saving too. It's time for our government to reassess what's working and not working, then seek out realistic solutions. No other country is interested in helping America with its own problems, so if our own government won't make improvements, who will? I am in no way urging people to stop giving abroad (in fact, I éspecially encourage giving time or food, adopting, educating, etc.), I am just asking for us to rexamine the best way to create a long-term, positive impact abroad while also trying to meet the needs of our less-fortunate neighbors here in the states we have an obligation to help get back on their feet.
If we don't stop and pay attention to our wounds or stop the bleeding, our problems will only become exacerbated and we will be in danger of bleeding dry, robbing ourselves and future generations. Let us work on our debts ad find proper solutions to our own wounds before attempting to heal the afflictions of others. How did we end of spending so many billions of US dollars to save a country that didn't even ask to be saved and now wants us out, meanwhile we have ignored the needs of our own people? This has ultimately resulted in a myriad of current national dilemmas and a catastrophic debt which the next generation will be paying off for years to come. The younger generation of Americans are left to wonder where the money will come from to support our social security and other government funded services down the road.
Government expenditures must be taken with careful consideration and sober caution if we want to improve our currently dire fiscal situation and preserve the future for upcoming generations. And when we extend assistance to other nations militarily, financially and in practical ways, I pray we invest wisely and in some cases with specific thoughtfulness for the good of both the US and beneficiary nations. I share this observation with sadness but also with an intention of creating truly lasting solutions to world problems instead of throwing money at them: many countries America aids either don't want our help, want our money but don't desire change or want change but can't attain it without significant external intervention due to a poorly organized, corrupt or inefficient government. All this must be crucially addressed and taken into account in order for our help to develop any lasting, positive solutions globally.
As a result, the US has a deteriorating economy, weakened infrastructure, suffering education system and a government which has lost the faith of the American people and favor in international politics. President-elect Obama, of Kenyan descent, came two years ago as a state senator to Kenya and boldly called out the Kenyan government's agenda and challenged the country's leadership to make certain changes for the benefit of the nation. This is a man hell-bent on change. As the future President of the United States, I sincerely hope he can deliver his promises for the good of America and the nations affected by the choices made by the US as a superpower. I also hope that as the government prepares to switch posts, America will take a good, hard look at itself and make positive, constructive change in the states before reaching outwards. How can we properly provide accountability and aid to other countries when we are in major debt and in desperate need of repairs ourself?
I say this partially because we need to realize limited funds and resources only stretch so far before we bleed dry, partly because we look like hypocrites trying to fix others when we have so many issues of our own, partly because we have started to care more in ways for the needy abroad than internally (perhaps because its trendy and sometimes easier to help strangers than our own neighbors) but mostly because we have a responsibility to use government funds to serve and assist the American people as a first priority. As a Christian, I absolutely support and insist on helping the less fortunate, but charity begins in the home and America is our home.
We tax, take, gather and give out to various causes and countries around the world without inwardly reflecting on our own issues and shortcomings, often meeting immediate needs, instead of developing strategies for long-lasting change which will promote self-sufficiency. Perhaps its generosity, perhaps we see ourselves as a sort of caretaker, watchdog or savior or the world, but we never stopped to consider that America may be in need of saving too. It's time for our government to reassess what's working and not working, then seek out realistic solutions. No other country is interested in helping America with its own problems, so if our own government won't make improvements, who will? I am in no way urging people to stop giving abroad (in fact, I éspecially encourage giving time or food, adopting, educating, etc.), I am just asking for us to rexamine the best way to create a long-term, positive impact abroad while also trying to meet the needs of our less-fortunate neighbors here in the states we have an obligation to help get back on their feet.
If we don't stop and pay attention to our wounds or stop the bleeding, our problems will only become exacerbated and we will be in danger of bleeding dry, robbing ourselves and future generations. Let us work on our debts ad find proper solutions to our own wounds before attempting to heal the afflictions of others. How did we end of spending so many billions of US dollars to save a country that didn't even ask to be saved and now wants us out, meanwhile we have ignored the needs of our own people? This has ultimately resulted in a myriad of current national dilemmas and a catastrophic debt which the next generation will be paying off for years to come. The younger generation of Americans are left to wonder where the money will come from to support our social security and other government funded services down the road.
Government expenditures must be taken with careful consideration and sober caution if we want to improve our currently dire fiscal situation and preserve the future for upcoming generations. And when we extend assistance to other nations militarily, financially and in practical ways, I pray we invest wisely and in some cases with specific thoughtfulness for the good of both the US and beneficiary nations. I share this observation with sadness but also with an intention of creating truly lasting solutions to world problems instead of throwing money at them: many countries America aids either don't want our help, want our money but don't desire change or want change but can't attain it without significant external intervention due to a poorly organized, corrupt or inefficient government. All this must be crucially addressed and taken into account in order for our help to develop any lasting, positive solutions globally.
01 January, 2009
Photo slideshow is up!
Please scroll further down to view a slideshow of our trip (it is located below the blog posts). Pardon the delay in typing up my journal entries. I will have them posted very soon. Until then, hope you enjoy the photos!
Nick and I in Brugge, Belgium
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