Oh the woes of the Swine Flu

Posted April 30, 2009 By Andrea and has 1 comment.

Parents are calling the school.

Freaking out.

Asking “What’s the plan? Tell us our children will be safe. Tell us you have a plan!!! You must.”

I haven’t seen anyone crying for the lost in Mexico. Trying to send supplies or meds. I am sure some medical organization out there is doing its part, but so far America has chosen fear, not empathy, for our Mexican counterparts.

We have the vaccines, we have the “containment procedures,” we have NO deaths yet. So let’s pray not only for our children, but for those lost in Mexico as well. Not only for our families, but the families of all those who are hurting or will be hurt from this pandemic.

And I’m not saying I’m not slightly scared. I am. I hate needles. And supposedly my job goes from being teacher to potential shot giver if this thing swings out of control. So let’s continue our prayers, but not forget anyone in the process.

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The Rescue of Invisible Children

Posted April 27, 2009 By Andrea and has no comments yet.

Saturday was a good time. Granted, the campout did little to evoke what these children actually go through, but walking through Atlanta to a campout location was a lovely symbol. Attending The Rescue event and seeing others who cared, as well as the celebrities who showed up, were nice. But I urge us to remember it’s not over. For those who did or didn’t go, I can promise you there will still be forgotten children, that a handshake or a promise made to solve the issue in Uganda and central/western Africa does not mean it is an inevitability. So keep prayerful, keep telling whoever will listen, keep caring.

Let’s make them more and more visible one day at a time.

For more on our day, and to see a speech given by John Lewis at the Atlanta rally, check out my husband’s blog.

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The path is narrow…

Posted April 22, 2009 By Andrea and has no comments yet.

Clear my heart

Clear my mind

Clear my clutter

Clear my “To-Do”

The path is narrow, but it’s the only one to You.
So keep me clear Jesus. Free to follow you. However you desire.

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When does cynicism cross a line, or is it even cynicicism?

Posted April 17, 2009 By Andrea and has 7 comments.

To my lovely lovely friends who ocassionally peruse this blog, I have a question to pose. And I would like an honest opinion.

I do not like huge organized events where “Christians” help the “less fortunate.” I will even go so far as to think that they are not effective because the people doing the serving leave feeling better than the ones that received the service. I know (I know okay) in the dim corner of my smoky mind that this is not always true, but I still feel a cringe when I hear advertisements that seem very “Look at us- we’re doing something awesome!” I feel really convicted that the life of Jesus was not that, at all. People showed up and received help because he was doing something real that people believed in, I certainly don’t think they stuck a flashy poster on the message board for Galilee and its surrounding areas.

Church marketing these days has taken a decidedly trendy turn. Sure, we want people to come, but WHY do we want them to come? Are we effective or do we truly teach the gospel when we say come because we have XYZ or we do XYZ. It almost seems as disingenuous as the guy who sells holy water on TV. I know people there care about Jesus, understand some of his teachings, so why do we have to sell him? If we were living the way we are supposed to be, showing the kindness we are supposed to show, would we have to? Would we have to have large organized events that are just as much about attracting attention as they are about reaching people. Because as humans, we have to admit, WE HAVE TO, that our deep down intentions are not as good as we make them out to be. And when we examine that, do we then have to examine how we can be different and TRULY the way God intended us. How much does that strip away and how much does that leave of what we have today. Do we need “outreach” or can we just, everyday, reach out, and have a real relationship with groups differing from us that might see a real long term transformation. The church seems to largely view success in the world’s terms: money and numbers. Would we need the bells and whistles if we didn’t do that?

I would really like some differing perspectives here. Part of me feels cynical and judgmental for feeling this way, and part of that just thinks that’s good ol’ guilt and that at some point transformation has to come without feeling bad about it not always being how you thought! Please share! :)

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Practicing the ways of Jesus

Posted April 14, 2009 By Andrea and has 1 comment.

Although I was born in the U.S., many people who know me know that the title of American is not one that sits near and dear to my heart. I am thankful, yes, appreciative of my own fortuity, but never take for granted that my life is to be lead by Jesus, not necessarily by American values. As a child I might have thought they were synonynous, but oh how we learn.

I teach. It has not been who I am but what I do. Because who I am has been a friend, someone who realized her own naiveté, someone who has been taught.

This semester two students in different families have been separated from loved ones by deportation. In one case I know that a young man was held at a deportation facility for weeks, barely eating and working full days manual labor being paid $4 a day. He is now an adult but was brought here by a family member several years ago. Several family members, including his baby girl, remain here in Georgia.

I just can’t believe this is the right way to solve the immigration issues. The truth is that in 1996 Georgians wanted the large influx of immigration. It provided cheaper labor before, during, and after the Olympic games and the economy benefitted from the population increase. Several years later and the economy is in a downturn, people begin singing a different tune. So I ask you to consider the humanity. I ask you to consider our (the U.S.’s) part in the situation, and consider what you might do to help.
Click here to read more about the situation from a faith perspective and info on what you can do to help.

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Categories: Personal, Social Justice

Disbelief and Questions

Posted April 13, 2009 By Andrea and has 2 comments.

Lately I have been wondering about a lot.

My own ability for one, what is it that I am supposed to be really focusing on? I felt for so long that it was writing, but then you go through certain periods (early pregnancy, lol) where you feel like dead weight.

Then you start even wondering why it was you felt like you had a calling or a talent, and in this case I am referencing my recent questions about God. I cannot buy that He does not want us to question, nor delve deeper into the world of sometimes fiction that has become “His religion.” When did the intellect get thrown out of Christianity for the pure acceptance of what we are told? When were Bible stories translated to children’s stories with entire chunks left out? Was it intended to be this way?

So, I am giving myself a challenge. Instead of complaining about it, oh so easy isn’t it, I am going to read and study what I don’t know or don’t understand and carry the responsibility of knowing what I believe. What an enlightening concept! I no longer want to be thrown off by accusations against my faith or hear an argument and wonder what if… I know there aren’t always exact answers but it is more about guarding my heart, strengthening my faith and learning more than anything else.

Hopefully I can share some of my journey with you, intermittent with the woes of pregnancy and day to day life I am sure!

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Categories: Personal, Spiritual Reflections
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Have a little compassion….

Posted April 3, 2009 By Andrea and has no comments yet.

In your life. When someone angers you, slow down.

It is so easy to get hyped up on your feelings, your way, your belief.

But listen to what Proverbs 14 says,

He who is slow to anger has great understanding, But he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.

I think that sometimes we don’t think of our quick tongues or attitudes being antithetical to compassion, but they are, because in that moment, you’re first, no one else’s feelings or past or issues matter. And sometimes just taking that step back and giving someone a chance, to be human, or make a mistake, or just disagree with you, is an act of compassion.

Now I need to turn around and take a long glance in the mirror (as always). :)

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Categories: Compassion, Spiritual Reflections
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Emoticons: not for the truly emotional

Posted April 1, 2009 By Andrea and has no comments yet.

There have been so many up and down emotions in my life recently that no online networking site, blog, or emoticon could begin to explain it. You know how sometimes you change your mind in a split second, or when anger instantly rises, or in a true act of God, completely dissipates. This is an everyday occurence in pregnancy. In some cases I believe that I should be left alone in my room with food delivery, other times all I want to do is to be out, not touching, smelling or breathing my own home.

It has occurred to me that my relationship with God is also a lot like this. There are times, maybe even I have been living in a period, where I have shut myself away. Neither wanting nor feeling like I needed to be bothered, there has been a good part of my active life that has been kept alone in a room. Not that I truly believed this was the best for me. But I think that I was not trusting God or people to understand the immense change that has happened in my outlook. Rather than being rejected on my principles I chose to stay at bay, not even asking God or fully seeking why this had happened to me. Many times we would rather just come up with our own conclusions, our own reasons for things. We might even say we’re “giving it to God” or “praying about it” but it’s all empty words.

I am really trying to change this…to allow God to work it our and actually work with him on what I should have been giving to him all along. Because my way has led to emotions that I am ill equipped to deal with- anger, resentment, all this for people not understanding what I wasn’t wiling to share. I know that I have slowly come to realize all of this, and some of it I have already admitted. I don’t think you can really move past something until it is admitted. You can move on, but not past it.

Being so emotional, having nowhere to put it, has helped me realize this. Perhaps pregnancy has more to give than illness with an end promise. Perhaps it is more of a journey to growing up than I thought.

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