Summer Memories

As a kid, I didn't go to camp for a week, rather I went to my Grandma's house (she lived an hour away from us and so it was a chance to really get to know one another).  I remember weird details, like how I thought it was so strange that the bath towels were stored in a kitchen drawer (it was a deep drawer and the bathroom had no storage to talk of).  I remember thinking that I didn't think it was possible to live without air-conditioning, but I always survived the week at her place without it.  I remember eating Count Chocula cereal for breakfast (that was never a choice at home) and my Grandmother saying "Good Morning" every morning.  I shared my Grandma's bed with her for the entire week and I don't know quite how we fit on her small bed.  I remember that her alarm clock was really a clock with little bells on the top - not an electronic one that you can read in the dark.  One morning of the week at her house, she took me and my brothers to McDonald's for breakfast - another special treat.  But probably my best memory was the fact that I had the privilege (at least that's how I saw it) of cleaning her collection of salt and pepper shakers (she had a lot, trust me) and then rearranging how things were organized. . .until next summer.

I went to visit my Grandmother a few weeks ago and I called her the night before to make sure that it was ok with her.  When I arrived at the care home, she felt so bad because she had totally forgotten that I was coming.  It's hard to let go of the people you love.  I'd give anything to go back in time and spend a week making more summer memories at her place.  Instead, I hold tight to the memories I have and enjoy the walks down memory lane with her, however brief they may be.

Catherine

InvisiblePeople.tv interviewed Catherine in Ottawa and she has powerful words - listen carefully to what she says:

invisiblepeople.tv/blog/2011/08/catherine-homeless-panhandling-ottawa-canada

The Story Behind the Barcode

The Story Behind the Barcode from Not For Sale Campaign on Vimeo.

Make the World a Better Place

Though my thoughts and prayers have been with Jack Layton's family throughout this past week, they are especially with them today.  His life and death is a stark reminder that one can be on top of the world and yet that doesn't save anyone from an untimely death.  It will be interesting to see what type of legacy he lives on the politics of our country and how he inspires future leaders, not only in government, but in his fight to change the world.

If you've not had the chance to read Jack's letter to Canadians, please read it today:

winnipeg.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110822/wpg_layton_letter_110822/20110822?hub=WinnipegHome

In keeping with is final wishes, those attending his funeral today will write down one way that they plan to make the world a better place. . .I encourage you to do the same.

"My friends, love is better than anger.

Hope is better than fear.

Optimism is better than despair.

So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic.

And we'll change the world."

~Jack Layton

"Enough"

I know that my blog doesn't reach millions of people, but I believe that it reaches the people that are supposed to read it.  Some people have journeyed with me right from the start and others have just started journeying with me lately.  I'm thankful for the traffic my blog gets and comments are just an added bonus.  Head back to yesterday's post and check out Bailey's post.  I emailed her when I got it and asked if I could also share her response.  Words really are my best friend and worst enemy all at the same time.  Even when I can't quite express what's in my heart, I LOVE it when others can. . .it makes my heart smile.  Bailey replied:

"I get compassion fatigue and don't know how to help, and don't know if we will ever be doing 'enough' regardless of how much we do. And I struggle with being the right kind of help. . . It can be so overwhelming."

Standing in the Gap

I've had so many interesting conversations this summer with a variety of people in my life.  We've talked about many issues that affect us in different ways and, for those of you who know me best, you know that I love to take thought-provoking conversation and chew on the ideas for a while and see what comes of it.  I've also read some great books and seen some amazing video footage, all that I've shared right here this summer.

Injustice is a burden I carry in my heart and talk about any chance I get.  So the question always comes up, "Why does God allow suffering?"  My initial response (which hasn't changed, I've just added to it) is that I believe that God uses suffering (or whatever is in our lives) to draw us closer to Himself.  God is a God of compassion and compassion means "to suffer with."  God doesn't just see our suffering from afar - He's suffering right along side us.

So then what is His response to alleviate that suffering and bring healing?  One of the most profound lines that I've been chewing on lately is Mark's line from InvisiblePeople.tv and his conversation with God where God's response was "I made you."  Injustice is a sin and we as God's people are called to do God's work in fighting against it.  We are His hands and feet - to be His physical presence and demonstrate His love to everyone, especially those who encounter injustice.  Let us be people worthy of that calling - ready to stand in the gap.

"The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the foreigner, denying them justice.

'I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.  So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done,' declares the Sovereign LORD.”

~Ezekiel 22:29-31

The Prophet

I've had a number of great books recommended to me as of late - I blogged about Night by Elie Wiesel the other day and today I want to feature The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran.  It was hard for me to find a quote that I wanted to share, not because it was lacking, but rather, the book is so rich and it's hard to stop quoting when you start.  From his poetic essay on Death (p. 81):

"For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?

And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?


Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.

And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.

And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance."

Mark

InvisiblePeople.tv Mark meets Mark in Winnipeg (not from Winnipeg - he's only here because he found a job):

invisiblepeople.tv/blog/2011/08/mark-homeless-panhandling-winnipeg-canada/

Schools as Battlegrounds

I don't know about you, but it feels as though this summer has flown by faster than usual!  Some of you are excited about the prospect of heading back to school; others, not so much!  I'm not heading back to school this fall, but walking down the aisles of pencils and binders at the store just makes me excited.  There's something about the start of a new school year - a clean slate, new beginnings, a chance to try again.

Education is the key to the injustices that plague our world.  That sounds so simple, but yet it's such a challenge in so many countries.  Though this time of year can be equally exciting and stressful, I encourage you to remember what a privilege it is to go to school.  That should say what a 'right' it is, but it's not a right around the world and until it is, we should consider it is a privilege for ourselves and we should work to make it a right for EVERY CHILD on the planet.

www.hrw.org

Courageous

From the people who brought you Fireproof and Facing the Giants, comes Courageous, in theaters September 30.

www.courageousthemovie.com

Ignite the Road to Justice

This sounds like it will be an AMAZING event.  Koodoos for the fact that I discovered the story because they were featured as part of The CNN Freedom Project!  Check out their website for more details:

ignitetheroadtojustice.com

InvisiblePeople.tv Focuses on Winnipeg

Mark hit Winnipeg a while ago, but his Winnipeg posts just started.  Check out his interview with Alma at:

invisiblepeople.tv/blog/2011/08/alma-homeless-grandmother-college-student-winnipeg-canada

The Whistleblower

www.thewhistleblower-movie.com

Never

If you haven't had the chance to read Night by Elie Wiesel, I would recommend it to you.  It's a gripping perspective inside the Holocaust and his honesty makes it an enduring piece of recorded history, especially his faith struggle.

"Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp,

that turned my life into one long night seven times sealed.

Never shall I forget that smoke.

Never shall I forget the small faces of the children whose

bodies I saw transformed into smoke under a silent sky.

Never shall I forget those flames that consumed my faith forever.

Never shall I forget the noctural silence that

deprived me for all eternity of the desire to live.

Never shall I forget those moments that murdered my

God and my soul and turned my dreams to ashes.

Never shall I forget those things, even were

I condemned to live as long as God Himself.

Never."

The Good Guys!

More from The CNN Freedom Project:

cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2011/08/08/cfp.savidge.orange.county.uc1.cnn

cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2011/08/09/cfp.savidge.orange.county.uc2.cnn

cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2011/08/11/cfp.savidge.orange.county.uc4.cnn

cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2011/08/12/cfp.savidge.orange.county.uc5.cnn

Just Courage

My Jolica mentor, Drina, mentioned that International Justice Mission (IJM) spoke at her church a number of months ago and she had picked up some of their books.  She was nice enough to let me read them and I whipped through Just Courage:  God's Great Expedition for the Restless Christian (the title said enough to convince me to read it and I was not disappointed in the least) by Gary Haugen.

Here are some of my favorite quotes:

p. 17:  "In different times and in different ways, our heavenly Father offers us a simple proposition:  Follow me beyond what you can control, beyond where your own strength and competencies can take you, and beyond what is affirmed or risked by the crowd - and you will experience me and my power and my wisdom and my love."

p. 60:  "Few things are harder to do than to confront the violent forces of injustice the way Jesus taught - with love and faith, perseverance and strength, hope and humility."

p. 65:  "Justice is not optional for Christians.  It is central to God's heart and thus critical to our relationship with God."

I hope that has stirred your interest enough to find a copy of the book and enjoy an AMAZING read!

I Made You

I can't get InvisiblePeople.tv out of my mind. . .Mark is such a driven person.  It's not about doing the right thing, or adding something to his resume - it's his passion.

I LOVE this quote from his "About" page on the blog:

"On the street I saw a small girl cold and shivering in a thin dress, with little hope of a decent meal.  I became angry and said to God:  'Why did you permit this?  Why don’t you do something about it?'  For a while God said nothing.  That night he replied, quite suddenly:

'I certainly did something about it.  I made you.'"

Invisible People

If you had 3 wishes, what would they be?

Really - I want you to think about your answer before reading on. . .



Ok?  Got them?  If you had 3 wishes and you were homeless, what would they be?

Did your wishes change?

Mark Horvath, who was at one time homeless himself, interviews homeless people to give them a face.  He ends his interviews with the question:  If you had 3 wishes, what would they be?  The answers are interesting, but I won't spoil it for you - check out the interviews for yourself at invisiblepeople.tv.

This summer Mark is travelling to various Canadian cities to hear about homelessness in our country.  He was in Winnipeg earlier this week:

www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/making-sure-the-homeless-arent-invisible-127059333.html

Continue to Journey with Me

I've been blogging for about 2.5 years now (unbelievably!), so I figured it would be as good a time as any to take a bit of a step back (especially since the address of the blog is 'my step by step journey').  The purpose and function of my blog has evolved and morphed since the spring of 2009.  It started out as a way to let everyone back home know what I was experiencing as I travelled with YWAM.  When I got back home at the end of 2009, it became a way to connect with all the people I had met throughout my 9-month journey.  Now it's more about getting out information about injustice.

First off, I do not consider myself a blogger (but that may have more to do with the fact that I don't like labels, especially on myself).  Secondly, I am learning to appreciate the fact that my blog is a work in progress and that's a big deal for a person who likes to start a job and finish a job, usually as quickly as possible.  I have no idea what the next step is and I don't know how long I'll blog, but I am right now.  I'm thankful for those of you who continue to journey with me - on my blog and in my life.  My blog would not be what it is without you!  Here's to the next step. . .

Reporter

I blogged about Nicholas Kristof (Half the Sky) a number of days ago and here's just more reason to admire him all the more - looking forward to checking out the film.

www.reporterfilm.com

Hagar's Aftercare Program for Trafficked Girls

www.hagarinternational.org

Hagar International

Hagar's Mission:

"Whatever it takes for as long as it takes,

to restore a broken life."

www.hagarinternational.org

Counting on Each Other

July 11 was World Population Day (www.unfpa.org/public/world-population-day) which is something to note because by the end of 2011, the world's population is expected to reach 7 billion people.

That's 7, followed by 9 zeroes:  7,000,000,000!

And you are 1 of them!

Imagine that if all us - all 7 billion - took just 1 action to improve another person's life.  That would be 7 billion actions and I can't even begin to fathom what our world would look like if we decided to act for each other's benefit, whether it's the neighbour down the street or the stranger across the globe.

7 Billion Actions - A Global Movement for All Humanity

www.7billionactions.org

Big Banana

Big Banana Trailer from Franck on Vimeo.

thebigbananamovie.com

Trade As One & Churches

tradeasone.com

Take Action

tradeasone.com

Trade As One

tradeasone.com

"God Gulf"

Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn is one of my FAVORITE books - I don't know that I have a more dog-eared, highlighted, written-in book in my collection.  I describe it as the Bible on women's issues and I don't say that lightly.  I respect both of them in their journalistic endeavors and am thankful for the light they are shedding on issues of utter importance for our world today.

With that in mind, I want to point you to Nicholas' Sunday column in The New York Times, entitled "Evangelicals Without Blowhards":

www.nytimes.com/2011/07/31/opinion/sunday/kristof-evangelicals-without-blowhards.html?_r=1

Human Trafficking Canada

www.evangelicalfellowship.ca/humantrafficking