Monday, November 25, 2013

A Quiet Reminder for Your Monday Morning

I only know as much of their stories as I can piece together from my seat in the corner, but the more I listen and watch this odd group, the more I realize they do have someplace to be. 
It’s here, at this coffee shop. 
This is their place to be. 
- Emily P. Freeman  

I read this and it really could be that revolutionarily simple.

In a million-mile-an-hour world, where we're always thinking of the next kajillion things to do before bed, maybe our place to be is just in the coffee shop.

Maybe "where you need to be right now" is right where you are.

"What you need to be doing right now" is what you're doing right this very second.

"Who you need to be" is exactly who you are - beloved.

Be. loved.

That's all.

Don't think about what you need to be doing next, where you need to be, who you wish you were - be here. Right here. 

Where. you. are.

Because in all this cosmos the Creator of it all loves you deeply. passionately. unconditionally. right where you are.

So really seriously - no matter what - make sure you stop at the coffee shop regularly to tell your stories and listen to others'.

In the end, the only thing you need to be doing right now?

Be loved by the Creator of the universe.

The rest flows out of that.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Haiyan.

She hurls herself towards a country in which I left a good chunk of my heart.

image credit: The Washington Post

Then for a good, long moment, if you tried to look for the Philippines, Haiyan blocked your view.

She engulfed the Philippines, took that beautiful country from the rest of the world for a few long, long hours.

Then she spit all those islands out in all this disarray, gave the country back to the world and said Here - your move.

And I could only think - what did Justin do in all that mess? Not in the hardest hit city, but any level of typhoon swirling around your head when you don't have a place to call home would be devastating.

Justin.

And those nice basket-and-picnic-mat-weaving ladies we met in near Tacloban, the hardest hit city? What did they do? What are they doing now?


These ladies' creations have made many appearances at church picnics.

What are they doing when there's no food, water, medicine, shelter or any form of authority on the island?

What are they doing when there's been so much looting, there's no looting left to do?

My heart is so heavy as I watch that beloved country flash across my TV and computer screens - so much desperation and devastation. So much despair.

A staggering photo comparison by my Mom. It speaks for itself.
Top: My parents in Tacloban, 2011
Bottom: Tacloban, today

Dear friends, the Philippines desperately needs us - the world - to make a good, compassionate, generous, we-are-one move in response to Haiyan.

I saw it on the news today - many, many more people will die in the coming days if we don't do something.

Can I ask you - not just as a social justice advocate, or a Compassion advocate, but as a girl with a piece of her heart on those islands - to give?

Give what you can. Anything. Because the people of the Philippines so. desperately. need. us.

Many great organizations are gathering funds for the people of the Philippines. Two organizations that I so love and strongly recommend are Compassion International and Mennonite Central Committee.

Here are the links to donate to their relief efforts:
Compassion International - Canada / USA
Mennonite Central Committee - Both Canada & USA
[Canada - From now until Dec. 9, the Canadian government will be matching donations, dollar-for-dollar, made to Haiyan relief efforts!]

And lastly - let's pray. Just pray and pray and pray for strength, comfort, courage, hope, peace for all involved.

Dearest Philippines, we stand with you.♥



ps To everyone who asked me about family, friends & sponsored children in the Philippines - thank you. As someone with a connection to the Philippines, it's been so amazing to see people without any connection to the Philippines gather around and show support. Family is all ok, considering. Still waiting to hear about specifics about Compassion girls, Florianlyn & Rechelle, and I know many other sponsors are waiting too. However, as of now Compassion has had no deaths reported among Compassion beneficiaries - Praise God! - and they've promised to pass along updates about affected children & families ASAP. Keep praying.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Blessed Are The Peacemakers

One random phone call one lunch hour, and boom - I'm told I'm the winner of the YMCA Peace Medallion. 

Me? Just a girl messily trying to live out a Jesus-life, and I get an award for it. 

God's funny like that sometimes. 

Today, in the midst of this award and in the week before Remembrance Day, I'm so stoked to be guest blogging over at my church's Transform blog. Hope you'll join me there today. :)

-

Peace isn’t quiet tranquility. Peace isn’t finally nothing to do or curled up on the couch with hot chocolate and a book all weekend. Nor is peace the period between wars.

Those things aren’t bad – I love a good nap and any time when there’s no war in the world it’s definitely good. The thing is, those things could be peace, but they shouldn’t be.

Because we have to stop settling for calling short balms to the chaos of our lives peace.

Because peace is so much more.

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