real or imagined?

I have been really thinking a lot lately about how I respond to situations in life. Am I a reactionary person or a woman of peace and trust? Do I live in “hypotheticals” or in reality? What am I really responding to anyway?

Being a visionary and a thinker I find it extremely difficult to stay out of the world of hypotheticals. When I am not in check, this can become the disease of introspection.

Thinking and envisioning are not bad as long as each line of thought is based on what is actually true. So how does one marry past experience, discernment, wisdom and reality with an honest response to the situation at hand? The only thing I can think of, right now, is to see how you feel about it. If there is anxiousness, unrest or a lack of peace it’s probably rooted in fear because of a hypothetical scenario you’ve created in your mind. In times like this, I have to stop and ask myself what the real story is, what the real facts are and then start all over in my thinking.

So many Christians over spiritualize the scenario at this point. In this juncture of my life and spiritual journey I have found MOST of the time I have lack of peace it wasn’t from God at all it was my own fear controlling the situation. Ultimately, my hypothetical scenario won again.

So the challenge- live in reality. Become aware of the deeper things going on in your heart and mind. Take risks. Hypothetically speaking, stretch your comfort zone and go to the places you’ve never gone before. Don’t live in fear, but move forward with courage. It’s attractive.

how he loves

speechless. i sit in awe of what God is doing in our nation. the time is now. may his kingdom come in power and without excuse.

catastrophic daze

I close my laptop
swallow the last splurge of cold coffee
and head out into the warm rain
each drop of originality
finding it’s home
on my velvety blue zippy
as I saunter toward the car
in a catastrophic daze

I fumble for my keys
wet wheels rolling by
and by
and by
hand digging
one hand
two
disappearing deep into an endless bag
searching
searching for a desperate jingle
a tightly clenched silver cluster
liberated by night air
I find her at last
‘thee’ key to my shelter
my freedom
now in hand
with much anticipation
I thrust into the car
closing out the storm.
a gentle tap, tap, tapping on the window
lazy droplets
begging for attention
nothing takes my mind away from
those stories
those pictures
tears thirsty to protect
one
two
three
synchronizing with the rain


A few months ago in my American history class a list was given out for our presentation topics. As I glanced through the list of over 25 people, movements and events nothing captured my attention. Suddenly, I had the gumption to ask the professor what he thought about me getting a group together and doing a presentation on modern day slavery. Heck, we just got done talking about the 13th amendment and how could I sit there in silence when I have proof slavery never ended. The instructor mumbled and grumbled and gave a hesitant “okay” with a sheepish laugh. It was obvious to me that he was disinterested in the topic or thought it wasn’t of value for the two hundred students in my class. I didn’t budge and quickly said, “Thank you”.

Honestly, I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into. I figured this would be an easy presentation because of my involvement with IJM and the Not For Sale Campaign. Getting access to good information would be a breeze and whipping up some cool power point presentation would be the icing on the cake. What I didn’t realize was the gravity of the issue. I spent hours and hours reading stories of people being oppressed and it was absolutely overwhelming. I looked at every site you can imagine and I read some of the most graphic and horrific stories of slavery in San Jose, San Francisco, LA, New York, Texas and Florida. Right here in our own back yard is literally a playground for the “big business” of sex trafficking and forced labor.

I gathered my information and now I have two weeks to create a presentation that will move people to make history instead of just learn about it. Daunting task.

I am angry inside toward people who think humans are disposable. This curdles my blood. I am so mad about this and I hope this presentation will activate some of these young people to do something about it. I can’t eradicate forced labor by myself, but I can be a voice for the voiceless. I can talk. I can write. I can motivate others. I can give.

Every day I learn about someone in history who made a difference. The key is not to become paralyzed by the “what can I do about it, I’m just one person on the planet” mentality that erodes the soul and emasculates history. If a whole lot of people would do a whole lot of something, we would begin to hear more faint voices saying, “I am Free”!