Truths

So, I've been trying to outline the crazy spiritual journey that's been taking place in my heart, and Eric's heart, for the past few years. (post 1, post 2) Thankfully, we've walked that path together and the Lord has guided us in unison. Opened our eyes together. Grabbed our attention together. Challenged us together. For that I am continually grateful.

I could just race to the point and tell you where this journey is taking us, but if you'll hold with me through this post, you stand a chance at benefitting as I have, and grasping just a bit more of God's goodness, truth, and wisdom along the way. Here are some of the truths I've come to know and believe:

Truth #1: A life lived fully for Christ has no regrets.

As part of our homeschool curriculum last year, we read the incredible story of Gladys Aylward, missionary to China, who did amazing, miraculous things at a young age, but also lost her life at a relatively young age. Finishing the book, though, neither the kids nor myself said, "what a shame she didn't live longer". Instead, we marveled at the way she used every ounce of what she had to give for the Lover of her Soul. If you've never read her story, I suggest this version, as it is perfect for a read-aloud for kids:

Right around the same time, I came across a present-day Believer, Katie, who is giving of herself non-stop for her Heavenly Father as she loves the people of Uganda. Inspiring. Real. Raw. If you've not heard of her before, please start here, and then you just might devour the entire blog like I did. I kid you not. Eric was on a business trip, so I stayed up until the wee hours of the night (morning?) and read every word she'd posted from the beginning. Worth every minute. For me, it was life changing.

Matthew 16:25 "For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it."

Truth #2: God's love and forgiveness comes to us freely, but to truly love Him in return does have a cost.

I will forever be grateful to fellow India adoptive mom, Kristi, for one day posting the links to David Platt's teachings from 2008. The Radical Series is available online for free, but has successfully been released recently as a book:

(obviously a smidge different, but the main idea is just about the same as the original sermons)

And, along a similar vein, I would also recommend Frances Chan's book, Crazy Love:

The overwhelming main point is that you can't just believe in a Christ who takes away the sins of the world, who heals the sick, and helps the blind see. If you call yourself a Christian and you LOVE Him, Jesus spoke directly to you when He said that “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24) But not only that... to do so is pure joy because to die is gain! (Phillipians 1:20-22)

Truth #3: My God expects me to share.

If I do believe that every good and perfect gift is from above (James 1:17), then I must likewise believe that it is not mine to hoard. My talents are His talents. My income is His income. My wisdom is His wisdom. My love is His love ("We love because He first loved us."- 1 John 4:19).

And, knowing what I now know- having been glimpses of God's heart for the oppressed, the widow, the orphan, the hurting, the sick, the lonely...- I must ask myself what resources of mine must I share so that His jaw-dropping, indescribable LOVE may be tangible and understood to those who have felt that His mercy had been out of their reach.

"Deliver those who are drawn away to death, and those who totter to the slaughter, hold them back [from their doom]. If you [profess ignorance and] say, Behold, we did not know this, does not He who weighs and ponders the heart perceive and consider it? And He Who guards your life, does not He know it? And shall not He render to [you and] every man according to his works?"- Proverbs 24:11, 12

There is so much more, but I'm sure I will write that story as the journey continues to unfold.

So, where does that leave us?

Why don't you find out?

Poor

One of my other transformations in thinking came while we were in India. There are so many people there. So much poverty. You hear about it... you know about it... but it's interesting what happens when you actually come face to face with it because the American brain can't really comprehend.

You attempt logic, firstly to explain the poverty. And in the land of the American Dream, where hard work pays off, and everyone has a shot at fame and success, this means you wonder if the poor are to blame.

Typing that seems wrong, but if you've ever hesitated to hand a homeless person a dollar on the side of the road, than you've- consciously or unconsciously- judged whether or not that person had a hand in their circumstances.

"If they only worked harder to get a job"

"If they didn't drink away their money"

"If they weren't so lazy"

Seeing so many lonely roadside stands stocked with coconuts, water bottles, and betel nut packets, it made me wonder why they were attempting to sell the same thing that the guy 20 ft. down the road was selling with no success. There they all sat, in the heat of the day, with no customers. I wondered how they made any money at all!

And aside from the roadside stand owners, there were so many other people simply laying about doing nothing. We wondered if the soaring temperatures made everyone lethargic; I know I didn't feel like being especially industrious in 95 degree weather!

On part of our trip, a smart- yet uneducated- young man (roughly 18?) gave us a tour of a historic site. He was charming, and well-spoken, yet admitted that he couldn't write his own name. He was part of a caste, he said, that didn't allow him to be educated. Jess, who traveled with us, said to him, "You should come to America and go to school!" But how does one tuck away money for a $1500 plane ticket when food is about all your wages will purchase? It's like picking up pennies on the sidewalk, hoping to buy the Empire State Building.

With that, the many layers ... the contributing factors... as to why a person might be poor, come to life.

It's usually more complicated than it first appears.

And, is it our job to judge the poor? To place their reasons for poverty in a hierarchy? Or what about the type of poor that a person is? Poor in spirit? Poor in health? Poor in morals? Poor monetarily? Poor in knowledge? Is one worse than another, or is poor simply poor, no matter the kind?

What does the Bible say?

"Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God." Proverbs 14:31

"Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done." Proverbs 19:17

"Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." Proverbs 31:9

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free..." Luke 4:18

"But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind..." Luke 14:13

My mind spun back around, in the end, to the simple command of Jesus:

"Love one another"

We are commanded to love the poor. That doesn't always look like a dollar in a hat, or handout of a meal. In fact, depending on the type of poverty, and the reason for it, real love demands a more long-term action: walking beside someone through addiction recovery, educating a mother in the care of her child, holding someone accountable to their commitment to work, or enabling a poor person's talents to be used.

But, the point- the whole reason I'm writing this- is that I left all my pondering with the undeniable knowledge that God asks us to act. Judging someone's reasons for poverty, with the purpose of excusing myself from helping them, is not Christ-like.

I'm currently reading a great book that sheds light on how exactly one should help the poor. I highly recommend it:

Full disclosure: buy it through this link and Amazon rewards us with 5-15%. :-)

Once you've moved to the point of *wanting to help*, this is a great way to know *how* to help. If you do happen to read it, let me know. I've recommended it others and some good dialogue is happening!

Up Against the Glass

The past year and a half has been one of the most transformative spiritual journeys the Lord has taken me on. Ever.

I've avoided writing, because I just simply can't fathom doing it justice with my words.

Yet, I've felt lately that I must try. God has far too good a story to tell through my life to keep silent! And, really, there is an ending (a beginning?) that I want to share with everyone. So I'm going to start trying. May His words shine through to those who need it!

When we were waiting to bring Dorothy home, I kept encountering people who were touched by the idea of adoption as we shared of our daughter waiting a world away. Many even told me that they’d felt a tug on their heart to adopt, or help orphans. Often, along with those comments, unprompted by me, would tumble any number of disclaimers.

“We just strive to live a comfortable life”

“I don’t need a lot, but you don’t want to get crazy about it, do you?”

“I’d love to adopt, but it just costs so much, and takes so long”


I listened and didn’t judge, because I had travelled that road, myself. Before fully jumping in, I anguished over all the inconveniences and costs and difficulties of adding another child to our home. I still understand the internal battle; it’s just that with us, Love won out.

But, one comment caused an ache within me. I pondered it for days.

“If someone showed up on my doorstep with a baby, then I would know it was God’s will to adopt”

Apart from wanting desperately to get a baby on that person’s doorstep, I wanted to understand. All the other disclaimers admit a personal decision- a choice. That last one puts the responsibility squarely on God’s shoulders- He didn’t show me that it’s His will to care for orphans.

Or did He?

"Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows."
Isaiah 1:17

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice."
Proverbs 31:8-9

"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you."
James 1:27

It wasn’t long after this, that God gave me a mental picture- an illustration- an insight. As a challenge, I share it with you:

I am sitting, in our living room, with our surround sound, our big screen TV, and our air-conditioned air. Our large-paned windows separate this clean and cozy family home from the outside. Our next-door neighbor’s yard of trees and shrubs is visible. They’re enjoying their air-conditioning, too. So is the rest of the street. With shiny cars parked in the drive, and well-branded clothing hung in closets. No one stands out as being rich; we’re all at the same level of comfort. “Nothing fancy”, just normal, average, suburban America.

A world away, are child soldiers. Millions of orphans. Poverty. Sickness. Disease. Starvation. Maybe in Africa where people live in mud hut villages? Or India where street children care for each other? But, they’re far. Far too very far for you to see. So they remain statistics- nameless. Faceless.

We remain inactive.

But, a shift in the vision, and then these same hurting people are in our own country. Our town, neighborhood, and house remain the same, but we hear of these people only a few hundred miles from us. The hungry, parentless children are on the news and we send some money, and then flip the channel as we shift uncomfortably in our seats feeling thankful it’s not us and that we live where we live. “We are so blessed”.

Then, the vision shifts again, and our house is the only one standing on our once-fine street. We still have everything we did before: air-conditioning, running water, cable, furniture, healthy hot meals, books and soft comfy beds. But, outside, well-worn footpaths trace around our home from the poor who live around us. In fact, as I watch a movie, a few kids peer in through the window to see the finery and lavishness. They look hungry. And all that separates us is a pane of glass.

What I realized in that illustration was this: the distance shouldn’t matter! We should be uncomfortable with the knowledge of their plight, and should be motivated to act! Whether a child is fatherless in a foreign land, or fatherless and abandoned on your very own porch makes no difference. My resources are the same. My ability to impact a life is the same. God’s expectation of me is the same. And, if I truly follow Him, I already know how He feels.

Never take advantage of any widow or orphan. If you do and they cry out to Me, you can be sure that I will hear their cry.
Exodus 22:22-23

Sandy Maego

I've been a terrible blogger. We got a dog in August and this is the first I'm posting of it.

Meet Sandy Maego:

She is an Airdale Terrier.

Dorothy started out bigger than her, but not any longer. Sandy is about 50 pounds now, and might have some growing left in her. But, Dorothy's attitude is still one of dominance. She bosses Sandy around All. Day. Long. Sometimes Sandy listens. Sometimes she doesn't. Sometimes their interactions are super cute. (Like when Sandy obdiently sits for Dorothy when she requests it in her tiny squeaky 3 year old voice) Sometimes they're super annoying. (Like when Sandy trys to con Dorothy out of her breakfast and Dorothy is squawking "No! Sandy! No!") They are a hilarious duo!

In the early days, we put Sandy in the bike carrier, and took her with us around town. Now she's far too big for that, but it was cute while it lasted. I'd love to go for a bike ride right now. So. Cold. In fact, as I type this, it's snowing. Again. It has been a cold winter.

Here is Sandy with her sister, Penny Lane. Friends of ours adopted one of the other dogs from the same litter and we get see them romp and play together when we get together. Super fun. A bit crazy for inside play, and not the best idea on a wet muddy day, but still a lot of fun.

Too cute not to post. But obviously with the disclaimer that I. Did. Not. Put. Dorothy. In. There. :-)

And here is a just-about-present-day photo of our doggie now. I love that her Airdale beard is growing in, and her long legs are even lankier. They are really pretty dogs.

Now, I will also say that the Puppy Phase is hard. I ended up deciding that if we were already going to be cleaning up puppy accidents, that I might as well do Dorothy accidents at the same time (I mean, if you've already got the cleaner out... why not?) Sooo... that was an intense month! But, I can tell you they are both successfully trained at this point. Hooray!

Our present challenges are:

-walking without pulling

-jumping on anyone who enters the door

-wanting to "mouth" your hands/ feet/ whatever. She doesn't chew hard, but its still not right. And, I did discover that her saliva makes me itchy. :-(

Overall, though, our doggy addition is a good one. We love our Sandy Maego.

Ten years from now, I might forget the day-to-day Crazy involved in raising 4 kids and keeping house. So little of it is tangible: You fold laundry, and one day later it is dirty again ("where is the evidence of my work???"). You make meals, and nourish your family, but growing bodies- as gorgeous as they are- don't provide obvious evidence of that French Onion soup you spent all day making. So much of it is good, good, rewarding work. Other tasks aren't, yet they need doing anyway.

Today, I just feel like writing it down so I can remind myself of why this season of life passed quickly. It'll likely be a boring post for the rest of you, but I have a feeling I'll enjoy looking back on the snapshot of an average day.

We always talk about birthdays, vacations, promotions, pregnancies, and church productions.

We snap pictures of anniversary dates, opening Christmas presents, and the day our child rides a bike for the first time without training wheels.

But, the average day- with its average qualities- may be the most missed of all with the passage of time.

My friend Jess, who is also a photographer, said that some of her photography friends take on a challenge one time per year to keep the camera out and photograph an average week: eating breakfast, tying shoes, grocery shopping, doing homework, going to church, having family dinner etc. I thought this was a brilliant idea! I still haven't done it; average life seems to have gotten in the way... but it's on my to-do list.

Without further ado, My Day So Far:
- alarm at 5:45am
-wake Grant at 6, and then again at 6:10 :-)
-make school lunches (sandwiches, popcorn, cut carrots, hard boiled egg)
- make coffee for my sweetie and me
- quiz Grant in preparation for a History test on Constitution, Bill of Rights and Amendments
- 7am: kiss Grant and Eric and send them off to school/work
-7am: wake Lael, Dean, and Dorothy
- spend some time nagging so Lael and Dean complete their morning routines
-dress Dorothy
-change out of robe and into workout clothes
-run elementary kids to the bus via van due to frigid snowy morning
- turn on 30 Day Shred video, excercise, and think about how annoying Jillian is, but how this whole thing works so I'll just keep plugging along
-congratulate myself on losing 5 pounds since Christmas
-9am: hop in shower
-throw on clothes
-run Dorothy to pre-school (late! started at 9, we made it at 9:20!)
-Errand time!:
-Insurance office regarding possible new policy
-Hobby Lobby for craft supplies for kids gifts, and a few proactive purchases (craft kits for my kids for the next snow day!)
-Bank for cash, and money orders for Dorothy's OCI card application
-Costco for groceries (Q: where else does a family of 6 shop for cereal?!)(A: no where, silly! Even the huge Costco boxes are gone in the blink of an eye!)
-Whole Foods for things we don't need in insane quantities
-Home to unload groceries (12:15pm)
- play with Sandy (I think I forgot to post that we got a dog...ooops!)
-eat lunch slowly at home in solitude over a good book
-hop in the car to pick up Dorothy (2pm)
- greet Grant (home off the bus) (2:40)
-greet Dean and Lael (3:30)
- survey the damage of them unloading backpacks
-ignore the mess to write this blog post (4:15pm)

To come:
-pick up
-cook dinner items for church small group
- open the door at 6:30pm and enjoy laughter, prayers, and fellowship with dear friends
-whatever else the day holds

What does your average day look like? And, are you cherishing even the mundane moments?

I want to.