So I've been doing a really bad job of keeping up with the blogging portion of my Lenten practice. Luckily, I've been doing a much better job of keeping up with the actual practice. Part of why I didn't blog last week was because I was working on finishing a project I started on Monday. But I think there is a deeper reason why I keep forgetting the blog. When I first started this practice, each day's "giving" was a very specifically planned event. It was kind of a big deal. But as the days have gone on, it feels like the practice is becoming habit. Instead of focusing specifically each day on what I am going to do, I have a list in my head of things I can do and easily make time for one each day. I'm also finding some opportunities that organically come up as I go through my day.
So here's a quick summary of what I did last week:
Mar 1
Eco-crafting (sweater bags) - While I am focusing primarily on connecting with people, I do think it's important to look for ways to help the environment as well. So today I started working on turning an old sweater into a purse.
Mar 2
I sent flowers to my Grandma H, who is in rehab right now recovering from breaking her leg. She has been there for about 5 weeks now. I know she received a lot of cards and flowers. But after being there for a while and since she is making such amazing progress, I wanted to send her a little bundle of sunshine. She should receive them next Monday.
Mar 3
Today I finally packed up the clothes, shoes, etc. I have been collecting to give away and dropped them off for Goodwill.
Mar 4
Tonight I helped teach a child development class for clients at Bethany House. I got to hang out with some of the kids and then worked with their mothers. I really enjoyed being able to share my knowledge about child development and ways to support and encourage growth. And best of all, they really enjoyed the class!
Mar 5
Today I filled out the agreement information for the Barnabas Pen Pal program and agreed to take two pen pals. I am really excited to actually get started on this!
Mar 6
Today I was out shopping with a friend and stumbled upon a silly little trinket that made me think of a really good friend I don't see or talk to enough. So I picked it up and will send it to her with a little note. :)
So we'll see if next week I can try to get back to daily blogging. :)
Monday, March 8, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Feb 27, 2010
I seem to be slowing down a bit. I'm not sure if that's because my time is filling up with more events, because I'm focusing more energy on finding a job, or some other reason. However, I am following through on my promise to find a way each day to connect with those in need.
Today I donated to my friend Allie's effort to raise money for the Central Ohio Diabetes Association through their annual Swim/Walk for Diabetes. Her father has had very serious struggles with diabetes over the past several years, and this has been one way that she is supporting him. I have tried to support her efforts each year. Allie has been one of my dearest friends since high school, and her father has also been an important person in my life. In fact, he was one of the first people to see my first tattoo!
Donating money is a way of reaching those in need that often seems as detrimental as it does helpful, at least to me. Obviously, money is needed to fund research, purchase needed goods, etc. Many nonprofit organizations can get a lot more with an amount of money that I could get in goods for the same amount because they can buy in bulk or they have agreements with certain vendors. So yes, donating money is a good way to help people in need.
But, I think it is important that writing a check or hitting "submit" on a webpage can't be the only way we connect with God's children in need. I think the personal, relational aspect of service is just as important as funding. Especially as affluent Americans, I think we need to be reminded of the great need so many are experiencing. True, the news stations demonstrate this with the sorrow of situations like the recent earthquakes in Haiti, Japan, and now Chile. But there are adults and children and families who are also in need right outside our doors. Fairfax County VA may be super-rich area, but there are homeless here too. So yeah, giving money is great and useful, but I really feel that we need to personally connect with "the least of these" as well.
Today I donated to my friend Allie's effort to raise money for the Central Ohio Diabetes Association through their annual Swim/Walk for Diabetes. Her father has had very serious struggles with diabetes over the past several years, and this has been one way that she is supporting him. I have tried to support her efforts each year. Allie has been one of my dearest friends since high school, and her father has also been an important person in my life. In fact, he was one of the first people to see my first tattoo!
Donating money is a way of reaching those in need that often seems as detrimental as it does helpful, at least to me. Obviously, money is needed to fund research, purchase needed goods, etc. Many nonprofit organizations can get a lot more with an amount of money that I could get in goods for the same amount because they can buy in bulk or they have agreements with certain vendors. So yes, donating money is a good way to help people in need.
But, I think it is important that writing a check or hitting "submit" on a webpage can't be the only way we connect with God's children in need. I think the personal, relational aspect of service is just as important as funding. Especially as affluent Americans, I think we need to be reminded of the great need so many are experiencing. True, the news stations demonstrate this with the sorrow of situations like the recent earthquakes in Haiti, Japan, and now Chile. But there are adults and children and families who are also in need right outside our doors. Fairfax County VA may be super-rich area, but there are homeless here too. So yeah, giving money is great and useful, but I really feel that we need to personally connect with "the least of these" as well.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Catch Up: Feb 24-26, 2010
Luckily I have done a better job of keeping up with my Lenten practice than I have with blogging about it. So, in an attempt to catch up I am going to go through the days have missed in this one post.
Feb 24, 2010
Today I wrote a letter/card to Ben's Grandma Buss. Ben's grandfather has been going through a very rough time health-wise since Christmas. He has been in and out of the hospital and nursing homes, in intense pain, and he has recently had a heart attack. So obviously, he needs our support and help. But as the wife of someone who has had rough health times and hospitalizations, I know that she needs love and support too. So I bought a "thinking of you" card and wrote her a long note inside.
I really enjoyed taking the time to thoughtfully write a note, to think about her and pray for her as I was working on it. It also reminded me that while there are so many in need that are far away from me, in other countries, other places, there are also people in need in my own family, even those I see everyday. I am going to try to remember this throughout Lent and continue to take a day here and there to reach out those close to me who are in need.
Feb 25, 2010
So today my plan was to buy a few burgers and take them to the homeless men selling "Street Sense" at the Vienna metro on my way to the Common Table midweek gathering. I have done this before, in Columbus - I would occasionally buy a burger or a sub for the homeless men on High Street. So I really didn't understand why all day I was feeling anxious anytime I thought about doing this. I've tried to break down this anxiety, but it remains somewhat ambiguous. There were little things - what if they aren't there? What if there are more people there than I brought food for? But there was also something else, down deeper, that remains a mystery; maybe something related to unearthed prejudices about the homeless, or maybe something related to silly nerves about how I'd be perceived. Who knows. Silly, crazy, unknown anxiety.
But, I pushed on. I bought 4 burgers at Wendy's. I walked around the Metro looking for them where I had seen them with the paper the week before. No luck. So, I walked over to one of the Metro employees, explained what I was trying to do, and offered the burgers to him. He said that they usually come through about an hour later, and that he would pass them along.
So it all worked out. But I still wonder if I had actually met the men myself if I would have gotten more clarity on my anxiety. So maybe I'll try that one again.
Feb 26, 2010
Today I met with the helpline coordinator for Bethany House to see if I would be a good fit. We talked for a long time about the helpline and other things. It was a great conversation, and I would be excited to work with her and the other volunteer I met. Not much more to say. I really hope I'm able to start working there soon.
Feb 24, 2010
Today I wrote a letter/card to Ben's Grandma Buss. Ben's grandfather has been going through a very rough time health-wise since Christmas. He has been in and out of the hospital and nursing homes, in intense pain, and he has recently had a heart attack. So obviously, he needs our support and help. But as the wife of someone who has had rough health times and hospitalizations, I know that she needs love and support too. So I bought a "thinking of you" card and wrote her a long note inside.
I really enjoyed taking the time to thoughtfully write a note, to think about her and pray for her as I was working on it. It also reminded me that while there are so many in need that are far away from me, in other countries, other places, there are also people in need in my own family, even those I see everyday. I am going to try to remember this throughout Lent and continue to take a day here and there to reach out those close to me who are in need.
Feb 25, 2010
So today my plan was to buy a few burgers and take them to the homeless men selling "Street Sense" at the Vienna metro on my way to the Common Table midweek gathering. I have done this before, in Columbus - I would occasionally buy a burger or a sub for the homeless men on High Street. So I really didn't understand why all day I was feeling anxious anytime I thought about doing this. I've tried to break down this anxiety, but it remains somewhat ambiguous. There were little things - what if they aren't there? What if there are more people there than I brought food for? But there was also something else, down deeper, that remains a mystery; maybe something related to unearthed prejudices about the homeless, or maybe something related to silly nerves about how I'd be perceived. Who knows. Silly, crazy, unknown anxiety.
But, I pushed on. I bought 4 burgers at Wendy's. I walked around the Metro looking for them where I had seen them with the paper the week before. No luck. So, I walked over to one of the Metro employees, explained what I was trying to do, and offered the burgers to him. He said that they usually come through about an hour later, and that he would pass them along.
So it all worked out. But I still wonder if I had actually met the men myself if I would have gotten more clarity on my anxiety. So maybe I'll try that one again.
Feb 26, 2010
Today I met with the helpline coordinator for Bethany House to see if I would be a good fit. We talked for a long time about the helpline and other things. It was a great conversation, and I would be excited to work with her and the other volunteer I met. Not much more to say. I really hope I'm able to start working there soon.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Feb 23, 2010
Today I met with the volunteer coordinator at Bethany House to talk specifically about what volunteering opportunities I might participate in. It was a fairly quick meeting and we came to a consensus on supporting the helpline and possibly assisting with teaching child development for the life skills program.
Though brief, it was an interesting conversation. Going in, I certainly had my own thoughts about what I wanted to do, but I also felt that it wasn't as much for me to decide as it was for the agency to fill their need. It sparked some interesting thoughts for me, both as we were talking and after I left. My goal in volunteering is to serve a need for a particular agency or group of people in need. However, there is also the reality that if volunteers are not invested in and engaged by the jobs they are doing, they will not stay for long. Luckily for me and the volunteer coordinator, I want to work on the helpline and they need someone to work on the helpline.
The coordinator told me that for the helpline they ask for a long term commitment, because of the extra training required. And the length of the commitment - 6 months. I was a little taken aback by the shortness of the "long term" commitment. It is sad to think that they can't expect most of their volunteers to stick around that long, so much so that they need ask for a "special" commitment.
I wonder why when we volunteer for something it is difficult to stick with for the long haul. I know that in the past I have struggled with this, and back to point one I think it was because I was not completely invested in what I was doing. Anyway, it is sad that volunteerism can lack staying power.
I wonder why this happens. Thoughts? Experiences?
Though brief, it was an interesting conversation. Going in, I certainly had my own thoughts about what I wanted to do, but I also felt that it wasn't as much for me to decide as it was for the agency to fill their need. It sparked some interesting thoughts for me, both as we were talking and after I left. My goal in volunteering is to serve a need for a particular agency or group of people in need. However, there is also the reality that if volunteers are not invested in and engaged by the jobs they are doing, they will not stay for long. Luckily for me and the volunteer coordinator, I want to work on the helpline and they need someone to work on the helpline.
The coordinator told me that for the helpline they ask for a long term commitment, because of the extra training required. And the length of the commitment - 6 months. I was a little taken aback by the shortness of the "long term" commitment. It is sad to think that they can't expect most of their volunteers to stick around that long, so much so that they need ask for a "special" commitment.
I wonder why when we volunteer for something it is difficult to stick with for the long haul. I know that in the past I have struggled with this, and back to point one I think it was because I was not completely invested in what I was doing. Anyway, it is sad that volunteerism can lack staying power.
I wonder why this happens. Thoughts? Experiences?
Monday, February 22, 2010
Feb 22, 2010
So my plan for today was to find a prisoner penpal program to join. Prison outreach and reform of the criminal justice system are very important to me. Since I acknowledge that I cannot necessarily fill up every moment of my day with physical volunteering, I thought that this would be a good way to connect with an prisoner in need and provide at least a little support.
There are literally thousands of prison ministries online. If you search "prisoner penpal", you end up with a lot of hits about something other than letter writing for moral support. Searching through the lists and websites, I found myself feeling hesitant about not knowing anything about them, and quite honestly not being sure if I could trust them. How horrible is that? Looking for ministries of faith and not having the faith to trust that they are actually doing what they say they are. It's a weird world (or maybe just my weird mind).
But I did find two options that look viable: Good News Jail & Prison Ministry and a Salvation Army Ministry. I've sent out emails and we'll see what comes back.
Tonight, I'm praying for all those in jails and prisons and detention centers around the world.
There are literally thousands of prison ministries online. If you search "prisoner penpal", you end up with a lot of hits about something other than letter writing for moral support. Searching through the lists and websites, I found myself feeling hesitant about not knowing anything about them, and quite honestly not being sure if I could trust them. How horrible is that? Looking for ministries of faith and not having the faith to trust that they are actually doing what they say they are. It's a weird world (or maybe just my weird mind).
But I did find two options that look viable: Good News Jail & Prison Ministry and a Salvation Army Ministry. I've sent out emails and we'll see what comes back.
Tonight, I'm praying for all those in jails and prisons and detention centers around the world.
Who cares for the suffering ones?
So I've decided that I am going to take Sunday's "off" so to speak. Technically they are not part of Lent. I've decided that it is good to take a Sabbath and spend some time focusing on my relationship with God. So that's the plan. I may or may not blog on Sundays, depending on where the Spirit leads me.
Church yesterday really built upon what I was thinking about the Haiti kits. The youth at our church had spent the weekend doing a 30-hour famine to learn more about hunger around the world. This morning, they led a beautiful worship service. I was impressed that 39 youth spent their weekend doing this.
During the sermon portion, they shared stories of a few children being served by World Vision. They also shared that every 3 seconds a child dies of hunger related causes (illness, etc.) and every 7 seconds a child dies from hunger. Then they sang a song and put up a mosaic of pictures of children and every 3 seconds a picture disappeared from the mosaic until the screen was black. I was completely overwhelmed and started sobbing.
There's this reality outside of my "safe borders" in which people are suffering and dieing, constantly. Staring at that truth makes me feel so helpless; it's paralyzing. I've hit this wall before: overwhelmed by the injustice in the world and no clear way fix it.
But as I was falling asleep last night, quiet, depressed and distant, I was thinking over Psalm 91.
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Through this prayer, the Spirit also calmed my paralyzing depression at our world's, our humanity's state of affairs. I am not God. I cannot save everyone, everywhere. Honestly, I can't *save* anyone. All I can do try and give the love and grace that God has given me to those I meet. I can provide service, support where God calls me to. I can share the Gospel and invite others to provide service as well. And, I can keep praying Psalm 91 for all those suffering around the world.
Church yesterday really built upon what I was thinking about the Haiti kits. The youth at our church had spent the weekend doing a 30-hour famine to learn more about hunger around the world. This morning, they led a beautiful worship service. I was impressed that 39 youth spent their weekend doing this.
During the sermon portion, they shared stories of a few children being served by World Vision. They also shared that every 3 seconds a child dies of hunger related causes (illness, etc.) and every 7 seconds a child dies from hunger. Then they sang a song and put up a mosaic of pictures of children and every 3 seconds a picture disappeared from the mosaic until the screen was black. I was completely overwhelmed and started sobbing.
There's this reality outside of my "safe borders" in which people are suffering and dieing, constantly. Staring at that truth makes me feel so helpless; it's paralyzing. I've hit this wall before: overwhelmed by the injustice in the world and no clear way fix it.
But as I was falling asleep last night, quiet, depressed and distant, I was thinking over Psalm 91.
1 He who 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 make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-
10 then no harm will befall 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 upon 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 upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."
Through this prayer, the Spirit also calmed my paralyzing depression at our world's, our humanity's state of affairs. I am not God. I cannot save everyone, everywhere. Honestly, I can't *save* anyone. All I can do try and give the love and grace that God has given me to those I meet. I can provide service, support where God calls me to. I can share the Gospel and invite others to provide service as well. And, I can keep praying Psalm 91 for all those suffering around the world.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Feb 20, 2010
...writing a day late...
So yesterday I shopped for materials to put together kits Lutheran World Relief is collecting for Haiti:
So yesterday I shopped for materials to put together kits Lutheran World Relief is collecting for Haiti:
Include the following items in each Health Kit (in a large zip-lock bag):
- One hand towel, dark color recommended
- One washcloth, dark color recommended
- One bath-size bar (4 to 5 oz.) of soap, any brand, in its original wrapping
- One adult-size toothbrush in its original packaging
- One sturdy comb, remove packaging
- One metal nail file or nail clippers with file attached, remove packaging (do not substitute cardboard emery boards for the file)
- Six Band-Aids® (or similar brand), preferably 1/2" to 3/4"; secure together with a rubber band
As I was shopping for these items, I was really overwhelmed by the simplicity of these items, and our over-abundance of them. How many of us have agonized over the right color and feel of hand towels? I couldn't even find bars of soap sold individually, with the exception of super-expensive, specialized brands. There seem to be 700 different kinds of toothbrushes - not including the electric ones. And six band aids? Six? They come in boxes of 20, 40, etc...It seems ridiculous to me to say "Oh, I'm so sorry you had this horrible, devastating earthquake. Here's six band aids to make it all better."
But then I read a little more about the kits on LWR's website:
People who must flee their homes quickly often do not have time to pack essential items. Health kits can help refugees maintain personal hygiene while living in exile. Items may also contribute to a new start for those who can return home.
After thinking this over, I realized that perhaps my concern over how little these kits provide is reflection of my inflated sense of need. Why do I need to have a spare toothbrush (or two) sitting in my drawer? Why do I need to have both an electric toothbrush and a "regular" toothbrush as well?
The greater question for me now is, how can I, am middle class American ever understand the kind of need the Haitian's are experiencing right now? Am I committing injustice by sitting on my couch under a blanket snacking on cookies while watching TV?
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