Nothing Is Wasted: The Story Of Tsi

What drives you to do what you do? Where do your passions come from? What situations have you endured that have become a part of “your story” and have been redeemed to help others? We all have them. As Richard Rohr has said, “Nothing is wasted.” That is certainly true of Tsi, a fourteen-year-old girl we met on our third day in Ethiopia. World Vision wanted us to meet her because she has an inspirational story of survival and rescue, and also because they wanted us to see, first hand, what World Vision is doing to save lives.

Tsi, a beautiful teenager, (not unlike one of my own five daughters) is being raised by her mother and grandmother. Her father tragically died several years ago. When he died, the little girl begged her grandmother, “Please don’t give me to somebody else. Please don’t arrange a marriage for me.” The grandmother told Tsi, “Please be strong. Attend school. Do your best. Although your father is not alive, I will protect you.” This was her solemn promise.

A year ago, when Tsi was 13, she left home at 7 a.m. to walk to school. She had an hour walk ahead of her. While on the journey, five armed gunmen caught her, pulled her to the ground, beat her terribly, tore her clothes, threw away her shoes and raped her.

To Ethiopia With World Vision, Who Are They?

As you may know, Mike and I just got back from a trip to Ethiopia with World Vision. My brain, and my heart, are still in a bit of shock, but I’m sorting through our experiences so I can share a couple of them with you. But, before that, I thought it’d be helpful to let you into the heart and soul of World Vision.

I’m embarassed to say that Mike and I knew very little about World Vision before we left. We thought we knew who they were—we have seen their ads, heard their appeals and have sponsored children with them—but when we were with them, up close and personal, we realized that we knew virtually nothing about them.

Take A Deep Breath (My thoughts on Andy Andrews’ The Noticer)

Today is the official release of Andy Andrews’ new book, The Noticer. Even though I’m not “officially” reviewing the book on my blog, I could not let this day go by without saying something about it.

I received a review copy of the book back in January and was asked to give some feedback before it went to press. After I read it Mike asked me what I thought. Before I could begin my critique, he said, “Better yet, let me ask you this question: Can you think of five people, right now, that you would want to give this book to?” Without one second of hesitation I said, “Absolutely.” That’s all he needed to hear.

I have indeed given the book to five people. Well, I can actually think of twelve people I’ve already given the book to—before it was even released. (There are some perks to being married to the CEO of the publishing company.) The first person I gave this book to was my friend Phil (not his real name). When Mike and I met Phil we immediately liked him. But we could tell that he had just come through some pretty rough waters. We came to find out that Phil had recently gone through a heartbreaking and painful divorce and to top it off also found himself in the midst of a failed business. We met him as a 52 years old man, lonely, unemployed and totally defeated, someone who had no hope for anything better in his future. He was lost and paralyzed about what to do next.

One morning I emailed him the following excerpt from The Noticer:

Take a deep breath. … People who can breathe … they are alive. 

If you’re breathing, you are still alive. If you are alive, then you are still here, physically on this planet. If you are still here, then you have not completed what you were put on the earth to do. If you have not completed what you were put on earth to do . . . that means your very purpose has not yet been fulfilled. If your purpose has not yet been fulfilled, then the most important part of your life has not yet been lived. And if the most important part of your life has not yet been lived . . . if the most important part of your life is ahead of you, then, even during the worst times, one can be assured that there is more laughter ahead, more success to be look forward to, more children to teach and help, more friends to touch and influence.

There is proof of hope . . . for more. 

~ Andy Andrews (The Noticer pg 83-85)

I followed up by sending him a copy of the book. Several days later I began to get emails from him.

Stepping Onto The Water

My friend, Shelia Mullican, gave me a birthday gift on Sunday. She gave me a copy of Walking On Water: Reflections on Faith and Art, by Madeleine L’Engle. I had never heard of it. Of course I have heard of Madeleine L’Engle. She’s right up there with C.S. Lewis. But, I must confess, I have never read A Wrinkle In Time. I tried, back in the sixth or seventh grade, but could never get into it. Everyone in my family loved it. They will tell you it’s still one of their all-time favorites.

For some reason I have always had a difficult time reading fantasy. Sometimes I wonder if I’m not handicapped when it comes to imagination. I’m more of a concrete person. On the Myers-Briggs profile I’m a strong S—Sensing. Creative and imaginative I’m not so much. I tend to look at life literally. But there is something in me that knows I would love Madelenine L’Engle’s books if I would just let go and let her take me where I could never go by myself. Unlike most of you Walking on Water 

Hope, It’s Next Best To Excitement

I love collecting quotes. Most are from famous people like Abraham Lincoln, Helen Keller or Leo Tolstoy.

Occasionally I’m able to capture a priceless quote from someone I know. Such is the case with the following quote by an 8 year old boy, Austin Andrews. Austin is the son of my friends, author and speaker Andy Andrews, and his wife Polly. 

The Andrews live on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Fishing is one of their favorite pastimes. One day, while fishing with his dad, Austin said: 
 

“The reason I like to fish is because when everything is calm and quiet, your whole self is full of hoping. And whether you catch anything or not, you still get to hope. It’s a great feeling isn’t it? Hope, I mean. It’s next best to excitement.”  

Is your “whole self full of hoping?” What would have to happen in order to make this kind of hope possible for you?

Who was Saint Patrick Anyway?

 

A couple of days ago I posted a very famous prayer by Saint Patrick. If you had never read the complete prayer perhaps you recognized a portion of it.

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,

Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise.

This man knew what it was to abide in Christ. Below is a little bit about the life of Saint Patrick. His devotion to the Holy Trinity, his sacrificial love for people, and his battle against the blatant paganism of his day not only changed the British Isles, but changed the world forever. It’s no wonder that 1500 years after his death, his life and his words still resonate in our hearts. May we be forever inspired and changed by his example as well.

The Life of Saint Patrick: The Enlightner of Ireland
Commemorated on March 17

Saint Patrick, the Enlightener of Ireland was born around 385, the son of Calpurnius, a Roman decurion (an official responsible for collecting taxes). He lived in the village of Bannavem Taberniae, which may have been located at the mouth of the Severn River in Wales. The district was raided by pirates when Patrick was sixteen, and he was one of those taken captive. He was brought to Ireland and sold as a slave, and was put to work as a herder of swine on a mountain identified with Slemish in Co. Antrim. During his period of slavery, Patrick acquired a proficiency in the Irish language which was very useful to him in his later mission.

I Arise Today: How Saint Patrick Greeted His Day

I don’t know about you, but the way I greet the morning sets the tone for my entire day. I can either begin the day with a sense of anticipation or with a sense of dread. When I accept this day as a gift from God, never to be experienced again, filled with challenges to be met, possibilites to be explored, lessons to be learned, battles to be fought, treasures to be discovered, and growth to be realized, I want to be all there. I want to be completely tuned in to the One who’s orchestrating it. I don’t want to miss a beat. Much easier said than done.

I need lots of help, so one of the things I do is pray in the morning. I set my focus on the One whose lead I purpose to follow. I love using the prayers of godly men and women, who have crossed the finish line of life, as a springboard for my own prayers. Here is one of my favorites:

 

THE PRAYER OF SAINT PATRICK
(The Breastplate – Lorica – of Saint Patrick, 5th Century)

 

I arise today

Through a mighty strength,
the invocation of the Trinity,

Through the belief in the Threeness,

Through confession of the Oneness

Of the Creator of Creation.

When I’m Really Annoyed

It seems that lately I’ve had several conversations with people who are very upset about something. They feel angry, annoyed, hurt, mistreated, misunderstood, etc.

These people find that something or someone has not been fair. Something happened that wasn’t supposed to happen. Something didn’t go the way it was supposed to, or the way they wanted it. Someone let them down. Someone hurt their feelings. Someone got in their way. Somebody was really annoying them.

So they complain. They play the victim. They fuss. They whine. They blame. I find these kind of people very annoying. (Oops. Did I just say that?)

Before I get too self-righteous pointing “them” out, I have to admit that I’m one of “them.” In fact, just the other night I got really upset because I lost a blog post I was writing. I spent hours writing it. It was like slogging through mud. When I finally finished, and hit the “save draft” button, I lost it all. I forgot that I wasn’t connected to the Internet.

I was furious, at myself, at the computer, at the fact I didn’t have wireless Internet in the cabin, and at the WordPress people for not programming some kind of warning message. I was so frustrated, annoyed and angry.

I was even mad at Mike for trying to console me. “Surely you can find a treasure in all of this,” he said. That did it. Nothing is more annoying that having someone use your own advice on you.

The Importance of Forgiveness

Yesterday was “Forgiveness Sunday” in the Orthodox Church. It’s the final step of preparation before Great Lent officially begins. (Lent officially begins the following Monday—known as “Clean Monday.”)

I mentioned on Twitter that our Forgiveness Vespers last evening was a beautiful and moving service. Some then asked what is Forgiveness Vespers? As I considered what to say, I came across a short explanation by the late Fr. Alexander Schmemann, a popular Orthodox theologian. Rather than to explain it in my own words, I’m going to share his thoughts with you with some of my own notes added:

Forgiveness Sunday
Thoughts by Alexander Schmemann

In the Orthodox Church, the last Sunday before Great Lent—the day on which, at Vespers [Evening prayer service], Lent is liturgically announced and inaugurated— is called Forgiveness Sunday. On the morning of that Sunday, at the Divine Liturgy [the Eucharistic liturgy], we hear the words of Christ:

“If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses…” (Mark 6:14–15)

A Reading Retreat

This week Mike and I are in the Colorado Rockies getting a little R&R. We purposely set aside some time for a personal retreat where the focus would be solely on resting, reading, and writing.

Last summer we went to the beach for a week with no agenda in mind and by default it ended up being a week spent reading, writing and resting. We benefited from it so much that we planned another vacation for the winter specifically dubbing it our “Reading Retreat.”

I’m convinced that everyone can benefit from such a retreat. It doesn’t have to be expensive and it doesn’t have to be for a week in the mountains. Whether it is a week long, or just a day long, each of us needs time to recharge, refuel, and ruminate. We need restoration.

We need to get off the endless treadmill of life once in a while to catch our breath. This is where the resting comes in. We need to feed our minds as well as our souls. This is where the reading comes in. We need to process what we’re experiencing in life and ground ourselves. This is where the writing comes in.

How does one do this? Here are a few steps that I’ve found helpful:

1. Determine how long you can be gone.
2. Determine where you will go.
3. Determine what needs to be done to make it a reality.
   

A Super-Human Husband?

It started about 3:00pm yesterday with the ring of the doorbell. Peering through the glass front door, stood a man holding a glass container, protecting a stunning, twelve-blossomed, golden orchid; the base of which relaxed among a nest of submerged river rock. The card simply said, “Will you be my Valentine? Mike.”

After 30 years of marriage we’ve come a long way from the box of chocolate covered cherries, purchased at the eleventh hour from the Walgreens down the street.

The second installment of my Valentine’s Day gift surprised me this morning right before Mike and I left to meet up with our running group. I knew Mike was getting ready to post a blog. I just didn’t know that it would be about me. A blog post? About me? Wow! For all the world to see. I know I’m blessed. It’s very humbling.

Thumbnail Photos For Your Posts

I am a Kindergartner when it comes to computer technology. Over the last few days I have learned a lot and may even be ready for the First Grade. Yipee! One of the areas I have learned about—which for you Second Graders is SO last year—is how to get a thumbnail photo to appear when you leave a comment on someone’s blog post.

I love to see who is leaving the comments after other people’s posts. Now that I have a blog of my own, I especially want to see who is talking to me. And I love when there is a face to go with the name. Sadly, many of the comments that have been left on my site have no face. (When someone doesn’t have a customized photo, or “avatar,” WordPress calls them Mystery Men.) So, for all you “Mystery Men” out there I’m going to show you how I got my avatar two days ago so you can get one, too.

By the way, you will need two thing before you begin. You will need an email address and a photo. So go to your photos and pick out one you’d like to use and remember where it is. You will need to “choose” it during the process.

Here is what I have learned from Gravatar, the company who makes them:

Thank You

Thank you all for your kind words and encouragement. It’s very exciting and very humbling at the same time. I’m very grateful.

Most of you I’ve met on Twitter. Never in a million years would I have believed that my life could be so tremendously enriched by people who talk to each other in spurts of 140 characters or less—via the internet, no less. What a gift it’s been.

2009 promises to be a very challenging year full of possibilites. I can’t wait to experience it with you.

Consistency: My Greatest Personal Strength

After reading the title for this post, I know your jealous. Everyone knows that consistency is the key to everything. Well, I’ve got this one nailed. Consistency is my greatest personal strength. I am consistently starting over.

So here I am again—same show, different location. Starting over. This is my second attempt at keeping a blog. The last one I began in July of 2007. I had one post that year. Yep, one post. My second post showed up in May of 2008. There were a total of five posts that year, the last of which was in July of 2008. One solid year with six posts. 

I’m not sure why I have such a hard time being consistent with new projects, but it’s been the story of my life. If I had been born within the last 20 or 30 years I’m sure I would have been diagnosed with ADD. I have such a hard time staying focused. But I’m not satisfied with staying that way. I’m starting over. Today. Fresh. Sort of like a person who really wants to quit smoking, I’m not giving up. I believe in the old adage: “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”