Cam's brother's beautiful family!
Monday, November 29, 2010
The United States of Amerijuana
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| Jeff Riedel for TIME |
Here are a few excerpts:
Even activists now concede that marijuana is addictive for 10% of regular users—making it less addictive than alcohol (15%) and much less addictive than cigarettes (32%), which are, they point out, perfectly legal. Marijuana unquestionably causes cognitive impairment; nobody would smoke it for fun otherwise. Loss of memory and a decline in decisionmaking ability are the most pronounced effects, data confirmed anecdotally and by Cheech and Chong movies. How long the impairment lasts—whether a month or a lifetime—and to what degree are open questions. Use of marijuana has been linked clinically to the onset of depression, anxiety and schizophrenia; the link is especially strong in younger users and stronger still in young men with a predisposition to mental illness.
And what, a layperson might impolitely ask, about the buzz? Hearing tales of pot's medicinal powers, you would think it was the last thing on anybody's mind. Budtenders will even use air quotes when they speak the word high to nonpatients, as though the stoner effects were an elaborate urban myth. Yet among patients, it's often hard to disentangle the curative and palliative functions of marijuana from the desire to get, if you'll forgive the expression, high. Typical are these patient testimonials from a website run by Montana Caregivers Network: the RomSpice variety, says one satisfied customer, "is the strongest body high I've ever felt. It literally makes my whole body feel numb and tingly. I give it a 12 out of 10 for pain." About AK-47, another testifies, "A more 'active' high, pretty decent munchie factor after a few minutes and a very pleasant mental haze. Pain relief is definitely also a good plus with this one." Here the recreational and medicinal are so balled up that one begins to look like an excuse for the other. Nobody would dare talk this way about Percocet.
That's what worries Christian Thurstone, a psychiatrist for adolescents who runs a drug-treatment program in Denver. He cites the confluence of two trends among the city's young. "There's an increase in the availability of marijuana," he says, "at the same time that we're seeing a decrease in the perceived harmfulness of marijuana." His program has seen a marked increase in patient referrals for marijuana use at his clinic, where all patients are under 18.
"We've started hearing things we hadn't heard before," he says. "They're telling us that marijuana isn't a drug, that it's a medicine. They even call it medicine."
To register as a medical-marijuana patient, a minor must submit the notarized signatures of both parents to the Colorado board of health. Even so, Thurstone says, when he collected data on 55 juvenile marijuana patients, he found that 60% of them had gotten their pot from a patient with a medical-marijuana card. "This age is a crucial developmental window for these teenagers, particularly young males," he says. He cites studies that suggest marijuana use in adolescence doubles the risk of schizophrenia in later life. "The human costs are potentially huge." Meanwhile, a national survey on drug use and health reports that the percentage of kids under 17 using marijuana has been rising—from 6.7% in 2008 to 7.3% last year.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Between two worlds...
I've been feeling a bit isolated lately, which is strange because I am surrounded by amazing friends and blessings. As I was reading to the kids tonight, a passage from page 51 of the book Flying to the Moon by astronaut Michael Collins seemed to really resonate with me. He was describing how it feels to put on the suit for the space flight. "As soon as this happens (putting on gloves, helmet and suit), you are practically isolated from the rest of the world. You can hear only what is piped in over the radio; you can breathe only 100 percent oxygen, and it is usually odorless; you can't feel much through the gloves. The only sense which is unimpaired is sight. You can see the world fine, even if, locked up inside your pressure suit, you really don't feel you are a part of it."
This reminds me so much of what I refer to as the mission bubble that I live in here in South Africa. We have no tv in the church provided flat, no radio in the mission provided car, no newspaper or news magazines delivered to the house- it's just how it's happened to be. In one way it has been really positive for our family - we talk a lot more, play games instead of watching tv, don't worry incessantly about world news, and don't read about the crime around us. As the world's culture continues to decline and evil continues to rise, we're not involved and many times not aware - my kids and I have no idea who the current media stars are, I haven't heard the latest releases in almost 2 years. I'm definitely not up on the current trends. Save what people post on FB and I see on time.com's newsletter, that's the only way I know what's going on. We don't see commercials, sporting events, reality tv shows. We have no idea what is going on in American politics other than the occasional headlines. Natural disasters have little staying power in our minds because we see them only as a headline - we don't watch the news report and see the drama unfold, so they almost don't seem real. This isolation that we find ourselves in was not chosen specifically - we have no funds to purchase a tv or install a radio. Our internet fees are so exorbitant that we cannot watch you tube videos often or go to websites and browse photos. When we're at other people's houses we all gravitate with an almost uncontrollable pull to the tv, newspaper, media of any sort in a desire to consume again. I spend way too much time on Facebook because it's my one connection to all of my far away friends and this world of media culture.
At first I worried how this would play out long term in our lives. When we were back in the U.S. for our annual trip home, I found myself craving media so much that at times I would rather watch it than be with people. How about my kids? When they get together at someone's house they are far more interested in the electronic toys than in playing with the kids. Yet I'd hate for them to be exposed to this all the time and have to be perpetually connected to an electronic device to function. I am so thankful that our South African school is not consumed with this media culture. You cannot bring your cellphone into school, there is no texting in the classroom, kids wear uniforms, not the latest sexiest trends. My kids don't feel the need to have an ipod permanently implanted in their ear and they don't live to send texts to their friends. I'm sure it's coming, but in a way, I feel like we live in a world of 5-10 years ago by U.S. standards.
This isolation exists with me in relation to South Africa as well in spite of the fact that I live in a very modern city. I don't understand the government or social structures, nor do I want to - there's too much corruption, violence, and stupidity going on to spend my time learning about it. Our interactions are limited to our church activities, mission projects and a small amount of school events and these consume our time. Our days are filled with the wonderful life of being surrounded by a spiritual environment unified in the desire to ignite the love of God and name of Jesus in the earth. This is the beautiful part of the bubble that makes it so desirable to live within. Even with all the poverty, inequity and dirtiness that surround me here, the absolute radiant beauty of Africa and its people, landscape and wildlife continue to gleam around me as the sun reflects off of my bubble. It's such a land of contrasts and extremes, so full of life and loss, overflowing with wealth and scarcity, and yet so fulfilling and exhausting at the same time. As I exist suspended between these two worlds - removed from American society and culture, yet not rooted into South Africa, it leaves me with a feeling of great isolation. Maybe this is what it means in Hebrews 11 to be a sojourner, admitting I am a stranger and foreigner on the earth.
As I accept my funky reality today, I can't help but look to the future to wonder what it holds. I know the media culture blitz will come soon enough. It just leaves me unsettled and uneasy and sometimes worried about the future- especially when we come back into the U.S. culture. But how will we deal with this? Will it come upon us like a tsunami wave where we cannot hold back the damage it leaves behind? Should we find ways to expose them to more of the media culture when we're at other people's houses? It's not like we could buy a tv (triple the price of U.S. costs), Wii, or afford unlimited internet access. God has clearly put us in this situation and I must trust that it's what is right for our family. While it feels safe and seems to afford some protection, at the same time I feel I should be training my children on what's out there and how to deal with it when it comes. For now, they read my Facebook account with me. I share with them what I read on the Plugged In Newsletter from Focus on the Family. We talk about what we see around us. And I pray and pray and pray with all that time that I used to spend watching tv. How are you teaching your children to deal with this media culture that all too readily awaits to consume our children? It's a scary world we live in and when that fear overtakes us we have to remember...
This reminds me so much of what I refer to as the mission bubble that I live in here in South Africa. We have no tv in the church provided flat, no radio in the mission provided car, no newspaper or news magazines delivered to the house- it's just how it's happened to be. In one way it has been really positive for our family - we talk a lot more, play games instead of watching tv, don't worry incessantly about world news, and don't read about the crime around us. As the world's culture continues to decline and evil continues to rise, we're not involved and many times not aware - my kids and I have no idea who the current media stars are, I haven't heard the latest releases in almost 2 years. I'm definitely not up on the current trends. Save what people post on FB and I see on time.com's newsletter, that's the only way I know what's going on. We don't see commercials, sporting events, reality tv shows. We have no idea what is going on in American politics other than the occasional headlines. Natural disasters have little staying power in our minds because we see them only as a headline - we don't watch the news report and see the drama unfold, so they almost don't seem real. This isolation that we find ourselves in was not chosen specifically - we have no funds to purchase a tv or install a radio. Our internet fees are so exorbitant that we cannot watch you tube videos often or go to websites and browse photos. When we're at other people's houses we all gravitate with an almost uncontrollable pull to the tv, newspaper, media of any sort in a desire to consume again. I spend way too much time on Facebook because it's my one connection to all of my far away friends and this world of media culture.
At first I worried how this would play out long term in our lives. When we were back in the U.S. for our annual trip home, I found myself craving media so much that at times I would rather watch it than be with people. How about my kids? When they get together at someone's house they are far more interested in the electronic toys than in playing with the kids. Yet I'd hate for them to be exposed to this all the time and have to be perpetually connected to an electronic device to function. I am so thankful that our South African school is not consumed with this media culture. You cannot bring your cellphone into school, there is no texting in the classroom, kids wear uniforms, not the latest sexiest trends. My kids don't feel the need to have an ipod permanently implanted in their ear and they don't live to send texts to their friends. I'm sure it's coming, but in a way, I feel like we live in a world of 5-10 years ago by U.S. standards.
This isolation exists with me in relation to South Africa as well in spite of the fact that I live in a very modern city. I don't understand the government or social structures, nor do I want to - there's too much corruption, violence, and stupidity going on to spend my time learning about it. Our interactions are limited to our church activities, mission projects and a small amount of school events and these consume our time. Our days are filled with the wonderful life of being surrounded by a spiritual environment unified in the desire to ignite the love of God and name of Jesus in the earth. This is the beautiful part of the bubble that makes it so desirable to live within. Even with all the poverty, inequity and dirtiness that surround me here, the absolute radiant beauty of Africa and its people, landscape and wildlife continue to gleam around me as the sun reflects off of my bubble. It's such a land of contrasts and extremes, so full of life and loss, overflowing with wealth and scarcity, and yet so fulfilling and exhausting at the same time. As I exist suspended between these two worlds - removed from American society and culture, yet not rooted into South Africa, it leaves me with a feeling of great isolation. Maybe this is what it means in Hebrews 11 to be a sojourner, admitting I am a stranger and foreigner on the earth.
As I accept my funky reality today, I can't help but look to the future to wonder what it holds. I know the media culture blitz will come soon enough. It just leaves me unsettled and uneasy and sometimes worried about the future- especially when we come back into the U.S. culture. But how will we deal with this? Will it come upon us like a tsunami wave where we cannot hold back the damage it leaves behind? Should we find ways to expose them to more of the media culture when we're at other people's houses? It's not like we could buy a tv (triple the price of U.S. costs), Wii, or afford unlimited internet access. God has clearly put us in this situation and I must trust that it's what is right for our family. While it feels safe and seems to afford some protection, at the same time I feel I should be training my children on what's out there and how to deal with it when it comes. For now, they read my Facebook account with me. I share with them what I read on the Plugged In Newsletter from Focus on the Family. We talk about what we see around us. And I pray and pray and pray with all that time that I used to spend watching tv. How are you teaching your children to deal with this media culture that all too readily awaits to consume our children? It's a scary world we live in and when that fear overtakes us we have to remember...
Psalm 56:4
In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
Isaiah 12:2
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense ; he has become my salvation.”
Jeremiah 51:46
Do not lose heart or be afraid when rumors are heard in the land; one rumor comes this year, another the next, rumors of violence in the land and of ruler against ruler.
Psalm 91
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation
Like astronaut Michael Collins, I find myself securely fastened in my protective space suit - watching what's going on in the American world below me - suspended in silence as it floats quietly on by. I chose to sign up for this mission. The powerful thrusters of my continental move have propelled me out of this familiar world and I can see it for all its beauties and atrocities more clearly now. I long to go back to it as I look at it from afar - to sit in its majestic mountains and walk in its comfortable forests; to smell of its unique and nostalgic scents, and taste of its satiating delights. My heart pounds as I consider the true risk of the position I occupy now. I am attached by a single umbilical cord connecting me to the spacecraft and all life as I know it. All I know and feel is bound up in the reliability of this suit. Will I trust it? Is it reliable? Will I be able to get back to earth? Will it be the same when I return? When I plant my feet on the firmness of the earth, will I look back into the heavens and feel like I do now - or will I long to live more closely among the stars and yearn for the familiar that is so far away? As I ponder these questions, the dawn approaches and the sun comes up with a fierce burst of piercing white light. As I turn to look at the sun I am reminded that wherever I am, its glorious light shines on my face, warms my soul and sustains my blessed life. And for now I can trust and journey onward to the unknown darkness that lies ahead.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Letting Go....
I'm always amazed how God works so directly in my life- especially since I can be such a tell-it-like-it-is person. I have many self improvement books that I have started and never finished. I get really motivated on whatever topic is my biggest challenge and read for a while until the next issue comes up, at which point I hop over to that book to try to help me solve my problem. Thus, as you can imagine, I have loads of half read books on my shelf. When I saw these Positive Discipline Parenting Tool Cards from one of my favorite authors http://store.positivediscipline.com/Positive-Discipline-Tool-Cards_p_45.html, I knew I had to get them. Each week you pull a new card at random from the deck and work on implementing that concept.
Here's the one for this week:
At first I had to laugh - Letting go does not mean abandoning your child?? Like who would do that? Well, apparently, me. I was thinking back to last week when it became apparent to me I was clamping down too tight on my soon to be 11 year old son. That's what happens when people like me who want all their ducks in a row see one of their ducks getting out of line- we tend to throw our hands up if it can't work perfectly. Now you would think being in Africa for over a year I would have given up the whole duck thing. I mean let's face it - God brought me here to show me that NOTHING in my life is in my control. As my dear friend who is about to move continents said last week, I've given up wanting my ducks in a row, I'd just like a duck, any duck.
So - this morning I realized that my neurotic need to have order in my life is manifesting itself in my parenting style instead of my sock drawer and it needs to change!! Hmmm..... maybe the problem is that I live in Africa and don't have a sock drawer anymore.....
I love these parenting cards - 4 simple steps to letting go.
Let's see:
1. Take small steps in letting go.
Guess this explains why when I took down all the to do lists in the house and said to the kids - well this isn't working - you go figure out what to do each day - it didn't go over so well! The 6 year old might still need some of this structure. The 9 year old just wants to know how to please mom this week. The 11 year old is happy to come up with his own plan. Note to self: small steps, not jumping over the Grand Canyon
2. Take time for training then step back.
Guess I forgot the step back part. Oops.
3. Have faith in your child to learn from their mistakes.
Haven't mastered this one in myself yet - tough to do with them. "Mistakes are the classroom of life" - saw this Friday on a poster outside S's classroom.
4. Get a life so your identity doesn't depend on managing your child's life.
Wow- this one hit me between the eyes - like a good dose of Erma Bombeck! Well - If the shoe fits, wear it they say - I guess I'll take it and run with it. Any mistakes I make in getting a life - well - refer to #3 above- as of Wednesday I will be officially in my mid life crisis stage of life, so there. I'm off for now: Life here I come!
By the way, did you see the look on the mom's face in the picture? :-)
Here's the one for this week:
At first I had to laugh - Letting go does not mean abandoning your child?? Like who would do that? Well, apparently, me. I was thinking back to last week when it became apparent to me I was clamping down too tight on my soon to be 11 year old son. That's what happens when people like me who want all their ducks in a row see one of their ducks getting out of line- we tend to throw our hands up if it can't work perfectly. Now you would think being in Africa for over a year I would have given up the whole duck thing. I mean let's face it - God brought me here to show me that NOTHING in my life is in my control. As my dear friend who is about to move continents said last week, I've given up wanting my ducks in a row, I'd just like a duck, any duck.
So - this morning I realized that my neurotic need to have order in my life is manifesting itself in my parenting style instead of my sock drawer and it needs to change!! Hmmm..... maybe the problem is that I live in Africa and don't have a sock drawer anymore.....
I love these parenting cards - 4 simple steps to letting go.
Let's see:
1. Take small steps in letting go.
Guess this explains why when I took down all the to do lists in the house and said to the kids - well this isn't working - you go figure out what to do each day - it didn't go over so well! The 6 year old might still need some of this structure. The 9 year old just wants to know how to please mom this week. The 11 year old is happy to come up with his own plan. Note to self: small steps, not jumping over the Grand Canyon
2. Take time for training then step back.
Guess I forgot the step back part. Oops.
3. Have faith in your child to learn from their mistakes.
Haven't mastered this one in myself yet - tough to do with them. "Mistakes are the classroom of life" - saw this Friday on a poster outside S's classroom.
4. Get a life so your identity doesn't depend on managing your child's life.
Wow- this one hit me between the eyes - like a good dose of Erma Bombeck! Well - If the shoe fits, wear it they say - I guess I'll take it and run with it. Any mistakes I make in getting a life - well - refer to #3 above- as of Wednesday I will be officially in my mid life crisis stage of life, so there. I'm off for now: Life here I come!
By the way, did you see the look on the mom's face in the picture? :-)
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Lamontville Holiday Club July 2010
The kids and I were privileged to spend time during the World Cup school holidays at the Lamontville Good News Centre. Africaid was hosting the local kids to come each day and have a meal, do some activities and play some football (not the American kind!) The team of volunteers put together a great program using soccer as the core guide to teach biblical principles. Concepts like sizing up your opponent (battling sin), relying on your team (fellowship), training (perseverence), having goals (the kingdom!), etc. A sponsor had even provided satellite tv for the community so that they could watch the World Cup games on tv.
Each day the kids would have their face painted and join a team. The team would stay together throughout the day's activities. These kids were great!
We learned many new songs and zulu hymns
and lots of World Cup facts during trivia games..
and some smooth soccer moves...
Each day we would walk down to the fields through the local neighborhood. Even though I had been at the Lamontville Good News Centre many times, I had never been around to the local homes. It was quite an experience. As we walked down the hill we would pass the gogos (grannies) doing the washing. In the photo above on the left is the communal shower behind the white door. The trail past the wood, cardboard and tin roofed homes was littered with an array of food wrappers, bottle caps, plastic bags and the like. Electricity lines were illegally split off and dangerously attached to houses. I almost ran into one with my head. As I curiously peered into the open doorways we passed by, I was amazed at how tidy and spotless the rooms were. I wish I would have asked to take a photo.
These boys had made up their own game with bottle caps.
Here is the view from the bottom of the hill.
At the fields ready to play soccer!
This little one was worn out after the walk!
Spending these days in the township taught me a lot. It taught me that I can't go on Sunday for 2 hours and expect to understand this community. To truly know a people, we must experience their lives, their struggles and their needs. These kids are braver and more knowledgeable about life than I'll ever be! I learned to put aside some of my fears and trust in God's protection as we walked through their neighborhood. Thank you Lord for this experience!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
God moment from Cam
Siphiwe, A new young brother in our Westville meeting, has taken the initiative and started teaching some children from his local neighborhood, in Umlazi. At first, I'm envisioning all sorts of madness, mayhem, lack of structure, wild kids, etc. I mean, Hey, it is South Africa after all...
But the last couple of weeks I have heard rumors of amazing things happening at Siphiwe's youth class. So this week I was able to sneak into a car with Naomi Midgely and found myself at Siphiwe's Bible Class.
First, I must mention that this is the Same "God's Master Plan" correspondence course that we usually use for adults.
When we arrived, there were a few kids coming in. Some as young as eight or nine, but others upwards of sixteen to eighteen years old. Before the trickle ended, however, there was a total of over 30 young people in attendance. While there was a little noise at their excitement at being there, they were respectful, helpful of one another and genuinely interested. I was amazed. With the limit of experience that Siphiwe has, I was truly impressed at him persisting through the class and taking charge of the young folks to keep them on track.
After an initial discussion of the intent of this class (Section #3), we broke up into groups and began working on the questions and answers together.
After the entire class completed it's work, we began going through the answers together. Man, was there some fun to be had here. I was seriously impressed at this time, as most of the youth had properly discovered the accurate answers in the Bible, but equally amazing, is when there was disagreement, there was open discussion and going back to the Bible to prove their points.
I seriously underestimated this effort, and now I can't wait to be a part of the next class(es). This has got to be one of my favorite classes now!
And KUDOS to Siphiwe who has only been baptized for a few months, who is already putting his faith into action.
God will produce a Harvest when we put our hands to the plow!
PRAISE GOD!!
cam
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Stop thief!
I froze, panicked, not sure what to do. "What should we do?" I ask S. Still reading, and without looking up, he says, "mom - don't freak out, just look away and don't smile at him. He'll go away." At this point I realize that the monkey is an arms length away from S and it really freaks me out. "Freeze" I say to the boys, which in retrospect is really funny, because I was the only one contemplating moving. The monkey just sat their eating my red apple as if I were interrupting dinner at HIS house. After about a minute, he tried to leave through the window, but he was so big he got stuck. I moved in closer and then as soon as he was out the window I shut them quickly.
We must never forget, no matter how modern we feel in Africa, that we live in a country with wild animals. This guy had apparently been kicked out of his troop as he was a loner. I've been told that they can see as far as 1 km away. These vervet monkeys are not to be messed with and can attack you. I will definitely be keeping my windows closed from now on!
A small loss that brought a huge gain
Today on Facebook, I happened to see a picture of a girl I had not seen since 5th grade. I first saw her name - and immediately remembered who she was. In the pit of my stomach I felt that same feeling I did the first time I learned her name. When I pulled up her photo on Facebook, she looked the same as she did 30 years ago - small and thin, dark short hair and blue eyes much older than 10. She still had the small space between her front teeth. Her name was Christy and I had not seen her for more than 30 years.
Back then, I was a typical 10 year old school girl, beebopping along in my middle class, happy world. I had everything I could ever want for - great parents, cool clothes, fun friends, good grades, lots of opportunity and confidence. I had made a notebook to hold all of my school subjects - one of those with the clear outside see through pockets where you can store photos. I had put photos of my best friend and me on the front of the notebook, and on the back of the notebook was a big sticker with my name on it. It was kelly green - the color of our school mascot. I had left this notebook somewhere and couldn't find it. It had all of my homework assignments, notes from my friends and special photos in it and I was heartbroken. One day I was walking down the hall, running late for class and I passed this girl and saw my photos on the notebook in her arms. I didn't know who she was, but I stopped her and said, "What are you doing with that? It's mine!" I jerked it out of her hands and she ran off down the hall. Immediately I wanted to report the "crime" to the principal. I went straight to his office and talked to the secretary. I was asked to look through the photos of the students to point out who she was. I remember when I saw her name for the first time. It seemed so sinister. I had utter contempt for this girl who would dare to take something from me that was so precious.
The principal's office said they would look into it. By then, class had let out and I quickly looked for my best friend to tell her about the discovery. She was shocked and we proceeded to share the news with all of our friends. I had overlooked the detail of realizing how blessed I was to have back my valued property unharmed. I was too focused on publicizing the news. That night when I told my mom, she had a strange reaction. She didn't share my vehement feelings of injustice and desires of prosecution. She listened to me and then wondered aloud. It went something like this.... "Do you know this girl? No, I replied. I wonder if she has anything nice like you do? I don't know - she wasn't dressed very nice. I wonder why she would take your notebook and then keep it with the photos of you and your friend in it? I don't know mom - she's weird." Unfortunately, that was about as far as my thought process went with her comments.
Later on that next week I ran into Christy again. She looked away as we met in the hall and I gave her a good staring down. I was still deeply offended that she had wronged me. The year went on and if I had any other interactions with her, I don't remember now. I find it odd that after 30 years, her face would pop up in front of me again. As I sit here remembering the details of the situation, I can't help but feel so sad for the way I handled it all. I was clueless to what it must feel like to be in need. My reality was so focused on me at the center of the universe, that I never even stopped to notice what was going on with her. Funny, the loss that seemed so great at the time was actually a lesson that God was teaching me - and it took 30 years and moving to the other side of the world to learn it.
Now that I am surrounded by poverty, I am keenly aware of the challenges that come with it.... loss of dignity when unable to provide for your family, a strong desire to have the things that are needed, but the ability to save face when receiving them. It makes me think of the verse in the Bible in regards to the poor in the time of the nation of Israel of the Old Testament.
Leviticus 23: 22 “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the LORD your God.’”
How do we do this in our everyday lives? It's been pointed out to me that allowing the poor to come through and work for their harvest was essential - the work allowed them to experience the value of laboring for your earnings, yet at the same time acknowledging that all of it comes from God. It was not until we moved to South Africa and no longer had income from our own work that I began to understand this better. When you live on the grace of so many others you realize how you truly indebted you are to all those that care for you. Our lives are bought with a price by Jesus and we are not our own. Nor is our money our own. When you begin to view it this way, you realize the attitude that you should have toward it and how everything should be shaped by your service to God.
It also shows me the attitude God had to the foreigner. Now this could obviously mean those who were not under the law, but if we apply it to our lives today - who is the foreigner? It's that person or activity that is uncomfortable to us, the unfamiliar, those experiences that get us out of our comfort zone, those people that really stretch us. Look into your life and see what that may be for you. If we see the abundance of our blessings in the harvest of life that God gives us, we can let God's love and blessings overflow to the poor and foreigners around us.
I thank God that he used Christy all those years ago to begin to teach me this lesson. And I praise God that his mercy has endured while He waited for me to apply it. Who knew such a small loss could bring such a huge gain.
Back then, I was a typical 10 year old school girl, beebopping along in my middle class, happy world. I had everything I could ever want for - great parents, cool clothes, fun friends, good grades, lots of opportunity and confidence. I had made a notebook to hold all of my school subjects - one of those with the clear outside see through pockets where you can store photos. I had put photos of my best friend and me on the front of the notebook, and on the back of the notebook was a big sticker with my name on it. It was kelly green - the color of our school mascot. I had left this notebook somewhere and couldn't find it. It had all of my homework assignments, notes from my friends and special photos in it and I was heartbroken. One day I was walking down the hall, running late for class and I passed this girl and saw my photos on the notebook in her arms. I didn't know who she was, but I stopped her and said, "What are you doing with that? It's mine!" I jerked it out of her hands and she ran off down the hall. Immediately I wanted to report the "crime" to the principal. I went straight to his office and talked to the secretary. I was asked to look through the photos of the students to point out who she was. I remember when I saw her name for the first time. It seemed so sinister. I had utter contempt for this girl who would dare to take something from me that was so precious.
The principal's office said they would look into it. By then, class had let out and I quickly looked for my best friend to tell her about the discovery. She was shocked and we proceeded to share the news with all of our friends. I had overlooked the detail of realizing how blessed I was to have back my valued property unharmed. I was too focused on publicizing the news. That night when I told my mom, she had a strange reaction. She didn't share my vehement feelings of injustice and desires of prosecution. She listened to me and then wondered aloud. It went something like this.... "Do you know this girl? No, I replied. I wonder if she has anything nice like you do? I don't know - she wasn't dressed very nice. I wonder why she would take your notebook and then keep it with the photos of you and your friend in it? I don't know mom - she's weird." Unfortunately, that was about as far as my thought process went with her comments.
Later on that next week I ran into Christy again. She looked away as we met in the hall and I gave her a good staring down. I was still deeply offended that she had wronged me. The year went on and if I had any other interactions with her, I don't remember now. I find it odd that after 30 years, her face would pop up in front of me again. As I sit here remembering the details of the situation, I can't help but feel so sad for the way I handled it all. I was clueless to what it must feel like to be in need. My reality was so focused on me at the center of the universe, that I never even stopped to notice what was going on with her. Funny, the loss that seemed so great at the time was actually a lesson that God was teaching me - and it took 30 years and moving to the other side of the world to learn it.
Now that I am surrounded by poverty, I am keenly aware of the challenges that come with it.... loss of dignity when unable to provide for your family, a strong desire to have the things that are needed, but the ability to save face when receiving them. It makes me think of the verse in the Bible in regards to the poor in the time of the nation of Israel of the Old Testament.
Leviticus 23: 22 “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the LORD your God.’”
How do we do this in our everyday lives? It's been pointed out to me that allowing the poor to come through and work for their harvest was essential - the work allowed them to experience the value of laboring for your earnings, yet at the same time acknowledging that all of it comes from God. It was not until we moved to South Africa and no longer had income from our own work that I began to understand this better. When you live on the grace of so many others you realize how you truly indebted you are to all those that care for you. Our lives are bought with a price by Jesus and we are not our own. Nor is our money our own. When you begin to view it this way, you realize the attitude that you should have toward it and how everything should be shaped by your service to God.
It also shows me the attitude God had to the foreigner. Now this could obviously mean those who were not under the law, but if we apply it to our lives today - who is the foreigner? It's that person or activity that is uncomfortable to us, the unfamiliar, those experiences that get us out of our comfort zone, those people that really stretch us. Look into your life and see what that may be for you. If we see the abundance of our blessings in the harvest of life that God gives us, we can let God's love and blessings overflow to the poor and foreigners around us.
I thank God that he used Christy all those years ago to begin to teach me this lesson. And I praise God that his mercy has endured while He waited for me to apply it. Who knew such a small loss could bring such a huge gain.
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