There's always some kind of evil being fought in the world, isn't there? There's always an enemy out there somewhere, and we are quick to label them as evil. It's been Hitler, and Germany and the Third Reich. It's been Castro, Cuba and Communism. It's been Russia during the Cold War, Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan, etc., etc., etc.
But evil isn't a country, or a group of people. It's not regional or racial.
The real evil out there is unfortunately present in all of us. It's defining our differences as bad, instead of coming together in love. It's thinking you're better than someone else simply because they're different. It's knowing someone is hurting and not doing something about it. It's selfishness, greed, hate, injustice and pride.
And who isn't at least a little bit guilty of one of those things?
But in the great battle of good vs. evil...guess what?
Good wins.
LOVE wins.
So there.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Lenten Challenge, Day 7: Wonder
Something happened to me when I had children. My eyes were opened to a world I'd forgotten even existed. Dandelions once again became beautiful flowers, and fireflies became magic in a jar. Snow became a wintry playground instead of a nuisance in which to drive. The world I live in became full of wonder again.
Parenthood consistently makes me stop and rediscover every little wonder that my boys see in everyday life. An ant carrying a leaf, a cloud shaped like a dog, a green pumpkin with a twisty stem. Though I've begun to appreciate how wondrous those little things are, I'm even more overwhelmed by the perfectly wondrous little beings my boys are.
I edited a book for Hallmark when I was pregnant with Bennett titled, You Fill the World With Wonder. One line reads, "I dream new dreams when I see things imagined in your eyes." At the time, I'd get choked up every time I had to read it aloud in a meeting, and though I thought it was mostly pregnancy hormones, I realized later it's because that's one of the gifts we receive when we have children. We get to see the world anew. We get to marvel at creation again...through the eyes of a child.
Parenthood consistently makes me stop and rediscover every little wonder that my boys see in everyday life. An ant carrying a leaf, a cloud shaped like a dog, a green pumpkin with a twisty stem. Though I've begun to appreciate how wondrous those little things are, I'm even more overwhelmed by the perfectly wondrous little beings my boys are.
I edited a book for Hallmark when I was pregnant with Bennett titled, You Fill the World With Wonder. One line reads, "I dream new dreams when I see things imagined in your eyes." At the time, I'd get choked up every time I had to read it aloud in a meeting, and though I thought it was mostly pregnancy hormones, I realized later it's because that's one of the gifts we receive when we have children. We get to see the world anew. We get to marvel at creation again...through the eyes of a child.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Lenten Challenge, Day 6: World
Most days I live in a bubble. A safe, suburban, middle-class bubble with a fenced-in yard and two-car garage. I always have enough in my bubble. Enough food, enough clothing, enough love.
Essentially, I've built my own little world, and frankly...I like it there. I wake up in a beautiful home, with my beautiful family. I drive a decent car to my great job every day. I spend evenings in the company of fantastic friends, or snuggled up on the couch with my handsome husband watching some silly reality show or favorite drama. It's pretty cozy in my world.
But on the days I dare to look outside my little bubble, when I pay attention, instead of "turning off the news when I don't like what I see"...those are the days when I also happen to be doing something for someone else, instead of just focusing on me. Those are the days my own little world expands.
My Own Little World
By Matthew West
In my own little world it hardly ever rains
I’ve never gone hungry, always felt safe
I got some money in my pocket, shoes on my feet
In my own little world
population me
I try to stay awake during Sunday morning Church
I throw a twenty in the plate, but I never give ’til it hurts
And I turn off the news when I don’t like what I see
Yeah, it’s easy to do when it’s
population me
What if there’s a bigger picture?
What if I’m missing out?
What if there’s a greater purpose
I could be living right now?
outside my own little world
Stopped at a red light, looked out my window
I saw a cardboard sign, said “Help this homeless widow”
And just above that sign was the face of a human
I thought to myself, “God, what have I been doing?”
So I rolled down the window and I looked her in the eye
Oh how many times have I just passed her by?
I gave her some money then I drove on through
And my own little world reached
Population two
What if there’s a bigger picture?
What if I’m missing out?
What if there’s a greater purpose
That I could be living right now
Outside my own little world
Father break my heart for what breaks Yours
Give me open hands and open doors
Put Your Light in my eyes and let me see
That my own little world is not about me
What if there’s a bigger picture?
What if I’m missing out?
What if there’s a greater purpose
That I could be living right now
I don't wanna miss what matters
I wanna be reaching out
Show me the greater purpose
So I can start living right now
Outside my own little world
But on the days I dare to look outside my little bubble, when I pay attention, instead of "turning off the news when I don't like what I see"...those are the days when I also happen to be doing something for someone else, instead of just focusing on me. Those are the days my own little world expands.
My Own Little World
By Matthew West
In my own little world it hardly ever rains
I’ve never gone hungry, always felt safe
I got some money in my pocket, shoes on my feet
In my own little world
population me
I try to stay awake during Sunday morning Church
I throw a twenty in the plate, but I never give ’til it hurts
And I turn off the news when I don’t like what I see
Yeah, it’s easy to do when it’s
population me
What if there’s a bigger picture?
What if I’m missing out?
What if there’s a greater purpose
I could be living right now?
outside my own little world
Stopped at a red light, looked out my window
I saw a cardboard sign, said “Help this homeless widow”
And just above that sign was the face of a human
I thought to myself, “God, what have I been doing?”
So I rolled down the window and I looked her in the eye
Oh how many times have I just passed her by?
I gave her some money then I drove on through
And my own little world reached
Population two
What if there’s a bigger picture?
What if I’m missing out?
What if there’s a greater purpose
That I could be living right now
Outside my own little world
Father break my heart for what breaks Yours
Give me open hands and open doors
Put Your Light in my eyes and let me see
That my own little world is not about me
What if there’s a bigger picture?
What if I’m missing out?
What if there’s a greater purpose
That I could be living right now
I don't wanna miss what matters
I wanna be reaching out
Show me the greater purpose
So I can start living right now
Outside my own little world
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Lenten Challenge, Day 5: Settle
Settle.
To get comfortable; to become established and satisfied in some routine.
It's nice in some ways, isn't it? Eating the same thing you always eat at your favorite restaurant, saying "I love you" every night before bed, going to church every Sunday (okay...almost every Sunday).
But the thing that's so nice about the "routine" is also what's so dangerous about settling into one. I don't ever want my "I love yous" or times of worship to become something I do simply for the sake of doing them. I want them to mean something every time.
This morning, Gavin asked me if we could wear our PJs to church. He just recently had a "Jammie Day" at preschool, and thought it was a great idea for our Sunday service as well. I told him that we don't really have jammie days at church, and he insisted we talk to Shawn, our assistant pastor about it when we saw him this morning. Graciously, Shawn indulged his almost-4-year-old curiosity and said he'd check into it.
What I loved most about the exchange was that Gavin's thinking out of the box made me think out of the box. What if we stopped conforming and let ourselves be a little uncomfortable instead? What if we tried that new restaurant we heard was struggling? What if we emptied the dishwasher instead of just saying "I love you"? What if we wore PJs to church?
What if we refused to settle into a safe and comfortable routine, and instead, tried to strive for something extraordinary? That, I'm sure, is where we'd start to change the world.
To get comfortable; to become established and satisfied in some routine.
It's nice in some ways, isn't it? Eating the same thing you always eat at your favorite restaurant, saying "I love you" every night before bed, going to church every Sunday (okay...almost every Sunday).
But the thing that's so nice about the "routine" is also what's so dangerous about settling into one. I don't ever want my "I love yous" or times of worship to become something I do simply for the sake of doing them. I want them to mean something every time.
This morning, Gavin asked me if we could wear our PJs to church. He just recently had a "Jammie Day" at preschool, and thought it was a great idea for our Sunday service as well. I told him that we don't really have jammie days at church, and he insisted we talk to Shawn, our assistant pastor about it when we saw him this morning. Graciously, Shawn indulged his almost-4-year-old curiosity and said he'd check into it.
What if we refused to settle into a safe and comfortable routine, and instead, tried to strive for something extraordinary? That, I'm sure, is where we'd start to change the world.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Lenten Challenge, Day 4: Injustice
Injustice is one of those words that pisses me off as soon as I hear it. It even sounds like its definition: unfair; wrong; a violation of rights. I don't think you can even say it without hissing a little.
But life isn't fair, right?
How many times have we all heard that turn of phrase? The fact that it's become so cliche speaks to what a ridiculous cop-out that response is when faced with unfairness. So what if life's not fair. Does that mean we sit back and do nothing about it?
It's not fair that there is a group of orphans in Velikoretskoye, Russia who will spend their childhood in an orphanage.
It's not fair that in Russia, the word "orphan" is synonymous with the word "worthless."
It's not fair that I can't ensure these kids I love won't fall into a life of drugs, or alcohol or prostitution.
It's Just. Not. Fair.
But when life isn't fair, I can still "be the change I wish to see in the world." I can still seek justice for the oppressed. I can still love.
And love kick's injustice's ass.
But life isn't fair, right?
How many times have we all heard that turn of phrase? The fact that it's become so cliche speaks to what a ridiculous cop-out that response is when faced with unfairness. So what if life's not fair. Does that mean we sit back and do nothing about it?
It's not fair that there is a group of orphans in Velikoretskoye, Russia who will spend their childhood in an orphanage.
It's not fair that in Russia, the word "orphan" is synonymous with the word "worthless."
It's not fair that I can't ensure these kids I love won't fall into a life of drugs, or alcohol or prostitution.
It's Just. Not. Fair.
But when life isn't fair, I can still "be the change I wish to see in the world." I can still seek justice for the oppressed. I can still love.
And love kick's injustice's ass.
Friday, February 15, 2013
Lenten Challenge, Day 3: See
Today's word has me wondering if I really see the people I see every day. I live with them, I work with them, I share meals and jokes and time with them, but do I really see them?
Who they are.
What they struggle with.
What they love.
What's hurting them.
Some days, with some people, the answer is, "Well, yes. Of course, YES." But most days, with a lot of people, the answer is a ridiculously pathetic, "No."
"No," because I'm wrapped up in my own stuff. The being a mom to two little people, full-time job, dinner on the table kind of excuses that are easy to conjure up when faced with the question.
But what about the blogging, twittering, facebooking, TV-watching, pinterest-ing time that's eating into my margin for important stuff? Important stuff like making sure the people I love most know it. Important stuff like giving a little grace to the people I don't love the most.
What if I start trying to see people the way God sees them instead of just the shadow of the person I see now? It's hard...but certainly a good place to start.
Who they are.
What they struggle with.
What they love.
What's hurting them.
Some days, with some people, the answer is, "Well, yes. Of course, YES." But most days, with a lot of people, the answer is a ridiculously pathetic, "No."
"No," because I'm wrapped up in my own stuff. The being a mom to two little people, full-time job, dinner on the table kind of excuses that are easy to conjure up when faced with the question.
But what about the blogging, twittering, facebooking, TV-watching, pinterest-ing time that's eating into my margin for important stuff? Important stuff like making sure the people I love most know it. Important stuff like giving a little grace to the people I don't love the most.
What if I start trying to see people the way God sees them instead of just the shadow of the person I see now? It's hard...but certainly a good place to start.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Lenten Challenge, Day 2: Return
This whole last year has been one of return.
A return to new-parent status and nights in a rocking chair. To chubby thighs and belly giggles. A return to nursing and pumping and bottle-washing. To two-toothed grins and squishy snuggles and open-mouthed kisses. A return to some of my favorite things, like a "Love Monkey" shirt for a First Valentine's Day.
It's been a return to something I knew, and missed, but didn't know how much until I was smack dab in the middle of it again. And in that return, I'm wiser, more confident, more comfortable.
But that's what returning is about, right? The very nature of coming back to something makes it familiar and known. Only in the return, you stretch and grow, and get to know yourself a little better. And that's what I'm hoping for this Lenten season.
A return to new-parent status and nights in a rocking chair. To chubby thighs and belly giggles. A return to nursing and pumping and bottle-washing. To two-toothed grins and squishy snuggles and open-mouthed kisses. A return to some of my favorite things, like a "Love Monkey" shirt for a First Valentine's Day.
It's been a return to something I knew, and missed, but didn't know how much until I was smack dab in the middle of it again. And in that return, I'm wiser, more confident, more comfortable.
But that's what returning is about, right? The very nature of coming back to something makes it familiar and known. Only in the return, you stretch and grow, and get to know yourself a little better. And that's what I'm hoping for this Lenten season.
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