Monday, September 22, 2008

Helps A School



I was trying to think of a savvy Native American name title for this short article, but all I could come up with was "Helps A School". 


Anyway, I helped a school a few months back in South Dakota. It's called St. Joseph's Indian School, www.stjo.org

I was inspired by the watching the movie, 'Dances With Wolves'! Wow, I know it's an older movie by now, but I had never seen it and man is it beautiful or what??? ALL I could think about for MONTHS (and still do), are the Indians and how rude and wrong it was of us to do what we did to them. I know that sounds so simple, but it's the honest heart of it. I am so heart broken for what happened.

Anyway, I started to become obsessed with like the stuff I'd see that the Indians made--like in local shops and stuff. I really wanted to support them and give back. 
We were at the Mall of America, and they have a whole store that is all Indian stuff! I was in heaven! I didn't buy anything but what I really wanted was this thing the Indians make that they call a "Dream Catcher". 

So anyway, I  donated to this school. I think I sent just a small amount of money, but boy, were they appreciative! And let me tell you how I know.

The other day I went to get my mail and there was this package that was addressed to me. I couldn't figure out what it could be because I didn't recognize the sender. But what was inside was the most exciting thing!!!

It was a package from the school I helped out--and inside was the gift of address labels, stickers (like pretty ones), 2 different note pads with leafs on them, a certificate with my name on it in recognition of,  AND best of all-A DREAM CATCHER! I LOVE it. I freaked! 

I was so excited I was running around the house showing my family, "You'll never guess what I got? Look, look--it's one of those dream catchers!"

It now hangs from my mirror in my car--I am so proud of it--

So I thought I was blessing someone by my gift of giving, but as usual, the receiver always ends up blessing me:)

P.S. Another flag discussion: I actually saw an American Flag with an Indians face on it at my daughter's school---how cool is that? I want one of those flags!

Friday, September 19, 2008

The Layers Of The Earth

My daughter is studying Geology in school, which is the study of the Earth. When I asked her what she was specifically learning, she first told me about the 3 different layers the Earth has.

They are the CRUST, the MANTLE, and the CORE.

As a bit of a philosopher and as a writer, right away I thought about how this was similar to the human condition.

The Crust of the earth is the very outer layer, it's the thinnest of all three, and it doesn't take much to break through (which I guess scientists actually have), weird to think that's someone's job.

The Mantle is the second layer in, and that one is deeper and they have not yet gotten to that ( I think Madelynn said they got one tiny corner area of it)--but it's just too difficult, too thick or whatever.

Then the last one is the Core. That is the CENTER of the earth, and they have yet to even TOUCH that.

Are you seeing a resemblance here, or am I the only one?
When I think of the human condition and how we were MADE to be in relationship with God and with one another, I think of this visual of the Earth's layers. 

I think everyone would desire to live from their core, but because our CORE is so broken and hurt, that makes it that much harder to get to our MANTLE.  And because we have so much pain from our past, which turns into fear disguised in various forms: abuse, hidden sin/secrets, shame, greed, pride, abandonment, loneliness, and on and on, most people can only get past the Crust and the Mantle.  The Crust is "self" focused, it's all about "me". 

I look at the Crust as a very basic (not that that is bad or negative), part of our being. It's being able to have conversation with others, it's sharing where we work, and how many children we have or if we are married. It takes place with our Co-workers, in the lobby area of your church, and with strangers.  Those kinds of things,  also known as "surfacie."

It's a pretty easy and safe layer to break through. Although there are some that aren't even comfortable with this layer, whether it's in a social situation with lots of people, or one on one.
In relation to God, this layer is maybe going to church every Sunday or maybe not. And that is it. Nothing more, nothing less. The have an awareness with God, but aren't able to enter into deep relationship with Him, or others.

The Mantle, the second layer, is a little more difficult to get through to, but you may be able to make some progress.  
The Mantle is a both about me, and about others. This is where relationships can start to form and a lot of us have gotten through to our Mantle and others' Mantle. 

What takes place here, is relationship, and often steady relationship. It might not be authentic and real every time, but it's where a lot of people are functioning day to day. It's our sisters, our parents (maybe), husbands and wives,  (let's hope they'd move to core), casual friends etc...There is some "meat" in these relationships, but there is still some fear there. There might be some accountability, but we aren't really putting our all into others or pursuing wholeness for ourselves.

We are opening up in this phase, but back down sometimes, and it might not be continual relationship.  We still seem to have some walls up, but we are still wanting to be real, and wanting authenticity, but we realize there is risk, and pain is risks best friend. Because entering in to a relationship can be painful; we get hurt and we hurt others. It's usually about time too; not making time.
 
In regards to God with this layer, we are pretty close to Him. We go to church, we worship, we "try" to do good, we can sometimes follow through in the week this way, but a lot of times because that Core isn't reached, we can't quite stay in relationship with Him--there are still things in the way--we aren't reading His Word, or passionately pursuing Him because of SOME THING, usually our self, being in the way.

The  last layer is the Core. The core is not self focused, it is others. Which obviously, if you've read this article at all, is the hardest to reach, and very few do. 

This is where Jesus, I believe says the 'Road is Narrow".  Ones who are living at their Core with others, self and God-- are in authentic, time consuming relationships, and living outside of their fears and selfish wants. It's ones who work fervently on themselves and weed out the baggage and get healthy. They aren't perfect, and they aren't always in "mode", but they are living it day in and day out--but they can't do it themselves. They need encouragement from others they are in relationship with and they need to access the Holy Spirit.
 
They look for growth everywhere they can, and they take suffering and turn it into a lesson. They are honest with themselves and others and there is really nothing to hide and are hiding from nothing. They are still working through fears and all the things that come along with the CRUST of their soul, but they are seeking and working, and moving in relationships. 

They put their heart, soul and mind into it and actually feel the exhaustion from it.  This is GOOD, but very hard work. But in it and through it you are working on yourself and helping others. 
At the Core, it's not just YOU, but the other layers it is still about you. The Core is others. It might sound confusing because you are working on yourself, but the reason you are in the Core, is because you want to be like Christ, and live whole and healed, and realize life is found in being like your Maker, and serving others.

Oswald Chambers said it this way: "Exhaustion means that our vital energies are completely worn out and spent. Spiritual exhaustion is never the result of sin, but of service. Whether or not you experience spiritual exhaustion will depend on where you get your supplies from. Jesus said to Peter, "Feed my sheep". The process of being made broken bread and poured out wine means that you have to be the nourishment for other people's souls until they learn to feed on God. They must drain you completely, to the very last drop. But be careful to replenish your supply, or you will quickly be utterly exhausted. Until others learn to draw on the life of the Lord Jesus directly, they will have to draw on His life through you. We owe it to God to be our best for His lambs and sheep. Have you delivered yourself over to exhaustion because of the way you have been serving God?"

 And I also think he hits the nail on the head when he says this: "What hinders me from hearing is my attention to other things. It is not that I don't want to hear God, but I am not devoted in the right areas of my life. I am devoted to things and even to service and my own convictions, if you are not developed and nurtured in this devotion, you will only hear God certain times. At other times I become deaf to Him because my attention is to other things-- things which I think I must do. This is not living the life of a child of God. Have you heard God's voice today, do you make and take the time?"

I pray that myself and everyone reading this, will continue to strive to live in their core-that is where real life is found-we are all in different places in our lives for different reasons. But we can be used for so much more, if we are living out of our Core. We become mature, and we are able to find joy in our suffering and realize as we attempt to get to our Core, that we find who we really are, and become healthy. We grow and become strong--able to share our life with others for a greater good.  So live, live from your Core, no matter the risk, no matter the work, no matter the pain. You will become not just sort of free, but abundantly free. Not being tied down to old hurts and fear. You will be functioning outside of that surfacie way of doing things. 
Live how you were originally created to be. God created us to live from our Core, but the world keeps us in our Crust.

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

World Flag

I wonder if one exists? I need to google it or something to find out. I mean, I know (we), I live in America, and I am very privileged that God placed me where He did, I have SO much! I get the whole America thing and our freedoms here, and I understand that Soldiers give their lives for our Country (I probably don't appreciate that enough, because I can not comprehend it), but we live in the World, not just America. 


I say this with risk--the term 'God bless America' bothers me. What about 'God bless the World?'
I mean 'God Bless America' too, but also all the nations-the whole world! Why do we have to exclude ourselves in songs and anthems? I don't understand it. I personally don't feel "American", I don't feel separate from other countries. I feel like I don't want to even be labeled that I'm American, even though I know I am. But I would not say, " I am proud to be an American;" I would say, "I am proud to be loved and lavished on by the Almighty." " I am proud to be a disciple." 

I am not being Anti American--I just feel like because God created everyone--all ethnicities- the whole earth, that there should be more of an emphasis, or acknowledgement on that, not just America.
I don't even like when people say, "What race are you?" To me, there is only one race, "The Human Race."

I would like to think of myself as connected to ALL, because God created us all! I don't want to be labeled, I just want to be His daughter--His child---His beloved.  That's it.

OK-I need to go google "World Flag now", and you can bet if there is one, I'm getting one; and if there's not, I'm gonna figure out a way to make one and market it!

GOD BLESS THE WORLD


Miss Madelynn Violet

                                                                 What happened to my little girl?




Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Unique Shopping

www.shopplasticland.com


A neat site for shopping for yourself, or if  you are looking for a cool, unique gift idea. The variety is awesome, and the prices vary too. There is jewelry, home decor, clothing, handbags and much more---I even saw a vintage serving platter!

have fun

Cucumbers

I ate a lot of cucumbers this summer. One of my friends gave me a ton of them from her garden. I figured the bloating was worth it all, because they must be packed with something! 

I couldn't remember, so I got my handy dandy book and found out:

Vitamin A-4%
Vitamin C-6%
Calcium and Iron-2%

So not much, but still something. Rated highest for Vitamin A-Sweet Potato!
                                                             Rated highest for Vitamin C-Broccoli!
                                                             Rated highest for Calcium-Broccoli again!
                                                             And for Iron- the Potato
This is just vegetables, not fruit.

Here's how I ate my cucumbers. I peeled the skin, and cut the slices into halves. I mixed them with:
1 T of Olive Oil
1-2 T of Ranch Dressing (I used Annie's Brand, buttermilk)
and quite a few shakes of 'Red Wine Vinegar'
and Salt and Pepper to taste

YUM

Friends are good

Me and my girlfriend Ann

Me and my girlfriend Amy

Monday, September 01, 2008

Peace Breeds Peace

Are the very people protesting and rioting right now in my city over the Republican National Convention also waging Peace?



just wondering; more later