This post is part of my weekly Time for Honesty. I do my best to share something that's on my heart that is honest,
sincere, and transparent - something that will get you thinking and get you to be honest with yourself.
I love being introspective and taking a look at what's going on inside my heart. Heck, I even enjoy bearing those things to the world for all to see on days like this, when I'm trying to be a little more honest with myself and others.
I think I definitely did that yesterday, though.
So instead of being introspective, I want to be... Well, some other word ending in "spective" that probably doesn't exist.
In order to be a little more honest with you and with myself, I don't want to bear my heart. I want to bear a few quirky pieces of who I am. As in, if you were my wife, these are the things you'd probably make fun of me for.
9.14.2011
9.13.2011
A Longing for Fatherhood
Keurig status update: currently in Topeka, 45 minutes away. Wish they would just let me pick it up!
A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of spending time with someone I care about very deeply.
I can't tell you her name, because it's complicated, but I can tell you about her (and I've been dying to do that).
This girl, she's about 5 years old. She's beautiful. She is usually high on energy and loves to talk. She loves playing, climbing trees, and putting together puzzles. In fact, she might even end up being smarter than me.
This girl isn't able to receive love from her parents on a regular basis. They don't have that right anymore. But she has her grandparents, and they love her well enough. They just weren't expecting to go through the parenting motions at this point in their lives.
Last time we visited this girl, we wanted to take her home with us. To let her know that she's loved. To prove to her that she has a home.
Instead (because kidnapping is frowned upon around here), we settled for having lunch with her, playing games, putting together a puzzle, and climbing trees.
A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of spending time with someone I care about very deeply.
I can't tell you her name, because it's complicated, but I can tell you about her (and I've been dying to do that).
This girl, she's about 5 years old. She's beautiful. She is usually high on energy and loves to talk. She loves playing, climbing trees, and putting together puzzles. In fact, she might even end up being smarter than me.
This girl isn't able to receive love from her parents on a regular basis. They don't have that right anymore. But she has her grandparents, and they love her well enough. They just weren't expecting to go through the parenting motions at this point in their lives.
Last time we visited this girl, we wanted to take her home with us. To let her know that she's loved. To prove to her that she has a home.
Instead (because kidnapping is frowned upon around here), we settled for having lunch with her, playing games, putting together a puzzle, and climbing trees.
9.12.2011
A (Not So) Random Act of Kindness
We threw away my Keurig yesterday. I've been in mourning ever since. And praying for this FedEx guy to teleport here with my new one...
Yesterday was 9/11, which was a pretty big deal.
We all have a story. We all hurt that day. And yesterday, we remembered.
Today, though, is September 12th. Do you remember that feeling? When the world wouldn't stop turning because so many people were hurting? When the world was suddenly flipped upside down?
Today's that day.
Many people prayed on this day 10 years ago. Many people donated funds. Others traveled to New York City to help with disaster relief. On September 12th, people began to climb out of their holes and come together - to help one another. Their acts of kindness really weren't so random.
Today, ten years later, remembering the difference that such acts made, I have a challenge for you. You can make a difference today. A real, tangible difference.
There is a family I've heard about who needs your help. They're the Martins, and they live in Pennsylvania. They recently lost just about everything they own in a flood. And they didn't have flood insurance on their home, because nothing like this has ever happened before.
It's time to perform a not-so-random act of kindness.
Hop on over to this blog created to help the Martins. Pray for them. Leave some encouraging comments. And if you want to get crazy, actually donate something their way - they need our help.
I don't care what guise you use for helping. You could do it for God, for the Martins, for yourself. I simply don't care. What matters here is making a difference in the lives of these people. And though most of you are many states away, you can help.
So, one more time. You. Me. Helping the Martins.
Now.
Yesterday was 9/11, which was a pretty big deal.
We all have a story. We all hurt that day. And yesterday, we remembered.
Today, though, is September 12th. Do you remember that feeling? When the world wouldn't stop turning because so many people were hurting? When the world was suddenly flipped upside down?
Today's that day.
Many people prayed on this day 10 years ago. Many people donated funds. Others traveled to New York City to help with disaster relief. On September 12th, people began to climb out of their holes and come together - to help one another. Their acts of kindness really weren't so random.
 | ||
| This is their van, floating away. |
There is a family I've heard about who needs your help. They're the Martins, and they live in Pennsylvania. They recently lost just about everything they own in a flood. And they didn't have flood insurance on their home, because nothing like this has ever happened before.
It's time to perform a not-so-random act of kindness.
Hop on over to this blog created to help the Martins. Pray for them. Leave some encouraging comments. And if you want to get crazy, actually donate something their way - they need our help.
I don't care what guise you use for helping. You could do it for God, for the Martins, for yourself. I simply don't care. What matters here is making a difference in the lives of these people. And though most of you are many states away, you can help.
So, one more time. You. Me. Helping the Martins.
Now.
9.09.2011
In Real Life
I'm finally laying my Keurig to rest... and they're sending me a new one for free!
Today, I'm going to be a little more narrowly focused. Because some stuff is riding on my heart, and I want to let it loose in these five minutes. Because I hope that at least someone will read these words and let them ride on their own heart.
In real life, people are hurting. We lose jobs, face death, have bad days, and get bad grades. We hurt.
In real life, those who are hurting simply long for someone to care. Someone to listen as we ramble on about how lame our boss is, how illogical our school is, or how we're having a bad hair day.
In real life, people don't just want you to build relationships with them so that anything. I'm learning right now to build relationships so that I can evangelize. Except I'm not sure about that premise.
Because in real life, people want relationships simply because of the fact that they care about someone. Not because the relationship is the means to an end. Even if it is an end as glorious as knowing and loving God.
I want to love people and build relationships with them because I care about them and do genuinely love them. Because that's how real life works. Not because the newest evangelistic "strategy" tells me that the only "effective" way to reach people is to love them (and if by "reach," you mean bring them to church to increase attendance numbers).
In real life, it just doesn't work that way.
--- --- ---
Today's post was a part of The Gypsy Mama's Five Minute Friday.
Today, I'm going to be a little more narrowly focused. Because some stuff is riding on my heart, and I want to let it loose in these five minutes. Because I hope that at least someone will read these words and let them ride on their own heart.
In real life, people are hurting. We lose jobs, face death, have bad days, and get bad grades. We hurt.
In real life, those who are hurting simply long for someone to care. Someone to listen as we ramble on about how lame our boss is, how illogical our school is, or how we're having a bad hair day.
In real life, people don't just want you to build relationships with them so that anything. I'm learning right now to build relationships so that I can evangelize. Except I'm not sure about that premise.
Because in real life, people want relationships simply because of the fact that they care about someone. Not because the relationship is the means to an end. Even if it is an end as glorious as knowing and loving God.
I want to love people and build relationships with them because I care about them and do genuinely love them. Because that's how real life works. Not because the newest evangelistic "strategy" tells me that the only "effective" way to reach people is to love them (and if by "reach," you mean bring them to church to increase attendance numbers).
In real life, it just doesn't work that way.
--- --- ---
Today's post was a part of The Gypsy Mama's Five Minute Friday.
9.08.2011
Story Time!
Blogging instead of doing homework... Uh oh. I might have a problem here...
I have a pretty sweet story I want to tell you guys.
It happened just last week, actually.
Except it was in the middle of the night. Sort of. Like, halfway.
The first part of the story did happen at night. 12:30 AM, to be exact. And though my wife definitely has a different perspective on what happened that night, I couldn't pay her to post on here, so you're stuck with me.
About a week ago, I woke up randomly in the middle of the night. For starters, I wasn't sleeping well that night (which happens sometimes, especially when I get frustrated with my oxygen tubes). As I woke up, I heard something, like a hammer. I figured it was some construction down the street, so I ignored it and tried my best to fall asleep.
And then, all of a sudden, out of nowhere, the hammer landed. On our bedroom window.
Okay, okay. So this is this story could go two ways at this point:
A: The hammer landed, our window shattered, and I had to take down some stupid burglars who actually thought we had something worth stealing.
or
B: It was our neighbor, knocking profusely on our window. Nothing broke, and I still didn't move.
I'd like to think that the truth lies somewhere in between, but we both know that isn't true.
So, eventually, because I was lifeless, my wonderful wife got up and answered our door for whoever was knocking (the "hammer" I heard "down the street"). Meanwhile, I'm still lying motionless in our bed, because that's what I do when I'm tired, ya know? (I know - "Lamest Husband Ever" award right here).
Turns out that maintenance thinks our bathroom is flooded because there is a leak downstairs in our neighbor's apartment. They intrude and investigate, making all kinds of noise and turning on all kinds of light, just to leave without telling us anything (or shutting off any lights). Turns out our bathroom was as dry as the Sahara, which apparently was disappointing to them.
What I didn't know was that this was a sign of things to come...
The next day, we both woke up a little irritated that we had lost sleep, but we managed. My wife went to wash her hands (or something like that), and all of a sudden, I hear some yelling that I figure is directed toward me...
We had no water.
Well, poop. I mean, well... let's not even go there.
So, to make a long story short, we went without running water for the day. It reminded me faintly of Sierra Leone, except for the part where I could walk down the street and take a shower in the dorms if I wanted to.
Mostly, though, it reminded me of how a lot of people have to live. Many, many people in the world don't even have access to clean water, let alone clean water that runs. 884 million people, to be exact.
So, because I spent a day without water, I want to plug one of my favorite charities (I know, it's so logical, right?): Active Water.
I won't drone on about the awesome work that they do, because I want you to check it out for yourself. But I am writing this so that you'll remember them next time you're looking for a way to make a difference in this world.
Question: Your turn! What's an organization you're aware of that does work worth investing in?
I have a pretty sweet story I want to tell you guys.
It happened just last week, actually.
Except it was in the middle of the night. Sort of. Like, halfway.
The first part of the story did happen at night. 12:30 AM, to be exact. And though my wife definitely has a different perspective on what happened that night, I couldn't pay her to post on here, so you're stuck with me.
About a week ago, I woke up randomly in the middle of the night. For starters, I wasn't sleeping well that night (which happens sometimes, especially when I get frustrated with my oxygen tubes). As I woke up, I heard something, like a hammer. I figured it was some construction down the street, so I ignored it and tried my best to fall asleep.
And then, all of a sudden, out of nowhere, the hammer landed. On our bedroom window.
Okay, okay. So this is this story could go two ways at this point:
A: The hammer landed, our window shattered, and I had to take down some stupid burglars who actually thought we had something worth stealing.
or
B: It was our neighbor, knocking profusely on our window. Nothing broke, and I still didn't move.
I'd like to think that the truth lies somewhere in between, but we both know that isn't true.
So, eventually, because I was lifeless, my wonderful wife got up and answered our door for whoever was knocking (the "hammer" I heard "down the street"). Meanwhile, I'm still lying motionless in our bed, because that's what I do when I'm tired, ya know? (I know - "Lamest Husband Ever" award right here).
Turns out that maintenance thinks our bathroom is flooded because there is a leak downstairs in our neighbor's apartment. They intrude and investigate, making all kinds of noise and turning on all kinds of light, just to leave without telling us anything (or shutting off any lights). Turns out our bathroom was as dry as the Sahara, which apparently was disappointing to them.
What I didn't know was that this was a sign of things to come...
The next day, we both woke up a little irritated that we had lost sleep, but we managed. My wife went to wash her hands (or something like that), and all of a sudden, I hear some yelling that I figure is directed toward me...
We had no water.
Well, poop. I mean, well... let's not even go there.
So, to make a long story short, we went without running water for the day. It reminded me faintly of Sierra Leone, except for the part where I could walk down the street and take a shower in the dorms if I wanted to.Mostly, though, it reminded me of how a lot of people have to live. Many, many people in the world don't even have access to clean water, let alone clean water that runs. 884 million people, to be exact.
So, because I spent a day without water, I want to plug one of my favorite charities (I know, it's so logical, right?): Active Water.
I won't drone on about the awesome work that they do, because I want you to check it out for yourself. But I am writing this so that you'll remember them next time you're looking for a way to make a difference in this world.
Question: Your turn! What's an organization you're aware of that does work worth investing in?
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