Rescued

Stories speak to us.  Music and art speak to us.  They connect to something deep within us that we can relate to.  When trying to recall something later - it's these things we remember.  Someone can say something incredibly insightful and life changing, but our human capacity to remember... can forget.

Donald Miller retells a beautiful story in chapter 3.  There is a group of hostages who have been held captive for several months in "some dark corner of the world."  A group of Navy SEALS came in with helicopters and stormed the compound.  Finding the hostages they announced "We came to rescue you - we are Americans"  but none of the hostages would move.  The SEALS knew they couldn't carry them all out... but what to do to help them understand and trust?  One of the the SEALS put down his weapon, took off his helmet, and sat down so near them he was touching several hostages.  He soften his face and put his arms around them.  He loved them to show them he was one of them.  That was something their captors never would have done.  And soon, all the hostages were safely aboard helicopters and heading home.

Warm and fuzzy.  Easy to draw a "christian" comparison.  Jesus comes to us, especially in our dark places and loves us.  He comes wanting to rescue us and will stay and hold us until we are ready to follow him.  I believe we are all children of God - every last one of us.  We can all identify our dark places, and we don't want to be judged on ours so we must not judge others.  God comes to us all to love us, and we too should come to each other to love.

Sometimes it takes more time for us to move from curled up in our corner to standing ready to walk out with our savior.  But I believe God will NEVER give up on any of us.  Ever.

I can relate to the feeling of being rescued - as well as the hostages disbelief.  A few years ago I was very depressed.  So depressed I was just waiting for the right time to take a large bottle of pills I had been saving.  Then came a few days where I was going to be alone and I said goodbye to those I loved.  But God had other plans.  A friend showed up and insisted I come hang out.  Eventually I went.  That night was a battle field inside of me.  I felt God trying to love me, felt his arms around me trying to comfort me but thought I was crazy.  As I felt his touch I wielded around trying to see who was near me - no one.  In my corner I was convinced that I was alone.  No one else really saw me.  No one really loved me.  Any anyone who tried I pushed out.  But that night God wouldn't leave.

After hours of crying, I stood up and walked out of my dark corner and back into the light of the world hand in hand with my savior.  My life has never been the same.

I have gone back to my corner - tried to take control of my life and fight off anything that didn't fit the way I wanted.  Over and over again, God has come to sit with me in my corner until I am ready to leave with him.  I know he will be with you in your corner as well - trust him completely, I know you are scared, but you aren't alone.

In peace with love,
your sister in Christ~Erin

Books

I am thankful for language and the ability to share my thoughts as well as hear and read the thoughts of others.  Lately I have been consumed by reading.  I just finished "Saints and Villains"  a historical fiction book about the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and I have just started "Stones into Schools" the sequel to "Three Cups of Tea" - the story of Greg Morteson building schools for girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan.  I am beginning "Blue like Jazz" with a friend tomorrow (as soon as I pick it up from the book store!) and after that we are reading "Unchristian".  Our book club just read "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" and the county is soon reading "The Kindness of Strangers".

Waiting in a pile to be read soon is:
"All rivers run to the sea" - Elie Wiesel
"Walk to Freedom" - Nelson Mandela
"Lessons of love and secrets of sanctity" about Mother Teresa
"There Eyes Were Watching God"  - Zora Neale Hurston
"Say you're one of them"  - short stories about children in africa

What have you been reading?

ABC's

A facilitator told me lately that you can only control your ABC's - and I automatically thought... airway, breathing, circulation?  (too much Red Cross)  You can only control your Attitude, Behavior, and Choices.  It reminded me of another alphabet as well...
Thankful ABC's
I am thankful for
Afghans
Breakfast
Chocolate
Desire to learn
Environment
Family and Friends
Great Grandmothers
Holidays
Ice pops (freezies!)
Jenna Lynn (my sister)
Kids
Lemon juice
Music
Nitting (okay knitting)
Oreos
Paper
Quilting
Rights - human rights
Sewing and snow angels
Teaching
Unicorns and other creative things
Violets
Water
Xylophones
Yellow
Zen gardens

and much much more.

I had a friend do this with me one day during our lunch as I was having a particularly frustrating week.  Next time you find yourself struggling, take a moment to write down your abc's.

In peace with love,
Your sister in Christ~Erin

Chocolate

Lord, I am thankful for chocolate.

It's the little pleasures in life that make it extra sweet and wonderful.  Like chocolate, or a warm cookie.  Perhaps a cozy hug, or a sincere compliment.  The things that just make your day that much better.

Tonight at church we started a women's bible study focusing on God's grace, yet another theme for it is chocolate.  :)  It was the best part of my day to sit with 9 or 10 other women in our church parlor (just redone and very cozy and relaxing) talking about life and faith.  It is such a fabulous group too.  I am the youngest at 23 and the oldest is a great grandmother of 16!  Many in the middle with young children or older children... we range the board with ages and personalities!  It was just such a blessing.

Sometimes I forget how important the support of friends and family is in life.  I think I'm fine on my own - but I'm not.  The loved ones in my life are another source of chocolate.  From a catch up phone call or an email or an evening of hanging out - those relationships are crucial to our lives.  I'm so thankful for my wonderful friends and family!  (especially when I'm living states away!)

Surprise a friend or family member this week to show them how thankful you are for their love.

Dear Lord,
I am so grateful tonight for the wonderful people whom you have put in my life.  I thank you for their uplifting words and thoughts.  Without those relationships I struggle.  Open my eyes to help me see when they are in need as well as when their are new friends on the horizon to be made.  Amen.

God Bless,
your sister in Christ~Erin

Our Father's Kitchen

I live near a town called Wilmington, Ohio where there has been tremendous job losses in the past year.  I don't know much about this as I just get here a few months back, however I can see that it has been extremely hard on the community.  Yet - spirits are up.  Those who have a little give a lot and those who have little, are thankful.

Tonight I went with a friend to help serve at the local kitchen... it's not a homeless shelter, and no one is asked how they are in need, it's simply a place with a free meal and a band playing during dinner.  It wasn't always as nice as it is now though.  Extreme home makeover and Rachael Ray teamed up (TEAMED UP) to rise to the challenge and build Sugartree ministries a new kitchen.  It's beautiful and tonight we feed over 100 people.  It's almost a resturant type feeling in the dining room.  The lights are down lower, a live band is on stage, and servers come to you, tell you the menu and ask what you want.  Your food and drinks are then delivered right to you.

It was a blessing to me to experience the faith and love of the leadership of this ministry as well as to serve a community that has opened it's arms to me.  I look forward to being their again soon and give thanks for the people God puts in my life to say hello for him.

God Bless,
your sister in Christ~Erin

Issues I don't have!

Thursdays I am devoting to being particularly thankful.  Today as I read Matthew 19-21 I am very thankful that I am not dealing with many of the issues the people of Matthew were dealing with.

Thank you Lord I am not trying to get a divorce - (Divorce, Matt. 19.4)
Thank you Lord I am not rich - (On being perfect, Matt 19.21)
Thank you Lord I am content - (Parable of the Laborers, Matt. 20.1-16)
Thank you Lord I have my sight!  - (Blind man, Matt. 20.34)
Thank you Lord I am not a slave - (Parable of the Vineyard, Matt. 21.33-41)
Thank you Lord I am not a hypocritical scribe, priest, or pharisee - (Plot against Jesus, Matt. 21.23)

There are many cute sayings, songs, poems etc. to help us remember to count our blessings - one of my favorite songs "Count your Blessings" from White Christmas.  "When I'm worried and can not sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep"

A more modern and comical song with the same idea is found in a song from Avenue Q called "Schadenfreude"

Right now you are down and out and feeling really crappy
I'll say.
And when I see how sad you are
It sort of makes me...
Happy!
Happy?!
Sorry, Nicky, human nature-
Nothing I can do!
It's...
Schadenfreude!
Making me feel glad that I'm not you

Thank you Lord for the blessings I take for granted.

your sister in Christ~ Erin