The Women

As I have read through the gospel accounts of the crucifixion and resurrection this week, I have taken special notice of one thing.


All four accounts are different, touching on different details of this story of ultimate sacrifice, and emphasizing different things in the story. But there is one thing that has stood out to me that all four gospels have in common….one detail that they are all sure to mention:

The women.

If you read through all four gospels, you will see that there was a large crowd of women with Jesus on the day he suffered for our sins.

They were with Jesus as he, beaten and bloodied, carried his heavy cross up the Via Dolorosa. They watched as his physical body gave way and could no longer carry the weight. (Luke 26-27)

The women were there as the guards tore off his clothing and cast lots for his undergarment. They were there as the nails pounded through his hands and feet, as his body cramped from dehydration and pain. (John 19:25, Mark 15:40, Matthew 27:55-56)

The women witnessed Jesus, as he hung dying on the cross, reach out to the criminal next to him. As people spat on him and mocked him, he loved. As a mother watched her son die, as these women watched their Savior suffer, they also watched him tenderly save a lost sheep. (Luke 23:42-43)

As Jesus experienced the ultimate form of humiliation, he showed ultimate humility.

The women were there as, with all his strength, Jesus cried out to his Father God. And the women were there in the moment he breathed his last breath.

In every step of Christ’s suffering, many women walked beside him. They did not have to. Their salvation was surely not at stake. In fact, most of the men who are present throughout the gospels are absent in these few chapters.

It was not an easy thing to do, to walk beside Jesus. But when women have passion, it is fierce, and as we see here, it is unstoppable. It can withstand the mocking and humiliation, intimidation and fear, and likely the hardest of all, the passion of a woman can withstand the sorrow.

Their mission was not to stop the crucifixion, because this was the most crucial event in history. Their mission was to be there: to be with Jesus, to not leave his side.

As Jesus suffered, he looked out into the crowd, and amongst the jeers and the hatred, his eyes met the gazes of those who loved him, those who reminded him of the beauty of salvation amidst all the ugliness of sin.

These women spent much time with Jesus during his life, and they were with him in those sacred moments leading up to his death. In these moments they learned.

They learned love, humility, and strength. These seeds that were already planted in them from creation were grown, and they were in full bloom on this day.

As we know, on the third day Christ rose. As we celebrate this day, the most important day in history, and as we sing praises to our God who sacrificed all, I ask that we, as women, would spend time here.

Here: in the pages of history, on the Via Dolorosa, in the crowd at Golgotha, at the foot of the cross, and at the empty tomb.

Spend time with your savior, gaze into his eyes, and allow him to grow the seeds of your heart. He has given you the mission to walk with the weak, to stand in the midst of fear, to look into the eyes of the suffering, to show humility in the face of humiliation, and to be beauty in a world of ugly.

As you spend more time with him, pray that the passion he has placed in you will become fierce and unstoppable.

Spend time here, and see what blooms.

Beauty Waiting

See this beautiful girl here?

Her name is Elange.

She dreams of being a doctor.

She is fifteen.

She lives in Haiti where she is currently waiting for a family.

And she needs our help.

According to the Haitian government, she only has a matter of weeks to find a loving family to adopt her.

After that she will be forced to leave her orphanage, and take her chances alone.

Please, visit Somewhere Between Who I Was and Who You're Making Me to read more of Elange's story.

And, please, pass this on. Someone I know surely knows someone who knows someone who is waiting for this very girl to fill an irreplaceable role in their home and heart.  

Hummus, Movies, and Mindlessness

So, after last week's most depressing post ever, I thought I had better check in and let you all know I'm doing better. For the last week I have had an undeniable peace wash over me, and I have no doubt that your prayers, encouragement, and willingness to listen have been a huge part of this.

Thank you.

I have been busy getting back to life as normal, which has included a bit of madness.

Among the highlights, I have spent 3 afternoons with one of the girls I mentor and her boyfriend shopping for prom (we"ll just leave it at that for now :), I bottle fed two baby bobcats (I have friends who volunteer for a wildlife rehab program, and they bring home lots of cool things),  I have flown kites with many children, but most of all I have been adjusting to my new diet (this is the madness part). 

This diet is specifically designed for women with endometriosis, and from talking to other women who have gone through the stage 4 endo battle that I am now facing, many say this diet has dramatically helped pain levels and the overall advancement of the disease. Its a pretty rough diet, but compared to the harsh and unatural options I have been given, I definitely think it is worth a try.

In this diet there are a lot of nos. No wheat, no soy (which, incase you were wondering, is in everything), no dairy, no refined sugars, no additives or preservatives, no chocolate, no caffeine, no canned or frozen packaged foods, no fried or fatty foods, no red meat...do you want me to keep going?

Basically I think this diet is close to how God intended for us to eat, and I am sure will benefit my overall health even if  it is not successful with the pain.

But it's not easy.

This was my lunch today:

Brown rice and lentils topped with spinach and hummus, all organic.

Thankfully I can eat hummus, because hummus makes everything taste better.

I have been experimenting and taste testing, and I gotta say, even though it doesn't look too appealing, this is one of the better things I have eaten this last week.

And, although I love veggies, rice, hummus, fruit, and the handful of other things I am allowed to eat, well, black beans and salsa with rice don't taste quite as good while you are in a room full of people eating pizza and chocolate cake.

So far, I have not noticed much difference with pain levels, but I am only going on day six.

I can tell you that this diet has yet to help with my hormonal mindlessness.

As I left the house this evening to take home a girl I mentor, I told her to remind me to drop off the rental movie on the way. Sure enough, two miles down the road, after she shouted "Movie!" at me about 14 times, I asked her why the heck she was shouting at me (I admit I was looking around thinking someone in a car next to us was watching a movie on one of those seat t.v. things and she was really excited about it). Finally she composed herself and told me in a complete sentence that I passed the movie rental place.

Oh. yeah. Movie. I knew that.

I've noticed things like this have been happening a lot lately, and I am wondering, am I the only one?

Do you guys have any moments of mindlessness you would like to share? Am I the only person who leaves notes to remind myself to put a shirt on before leaving the house? (Not that I would leave the house topless...but in my pajamas or an undershirt...possible).

Please, tell me I'm not crazy!

Also, if any of you are health foodies or secret chefs, I would love help in the diet food recipe department.

(And for those of you with endo, have you tried this diet? Has it worked for you?)

On Days Like Today

Two years ago when I discovered that the severe pain I was having was an issue involving my ovaries, I had hope. Hope that this issue would go away on its own and leave me healthy and feeling good, and able to have children.

Since then I have had test after test, doctor's appointment after doctor's appointment, and after each one I find my hope has dwindled just a little.

Then two weeks ago I had surgery. Going into surgery I had hope that after all the bad stuff was removed, I would recover and be healthy and feeling good, and be able to have children.

After the surgery I learned that although I kept the good stuff that I need, the bad stuff was everywhere, and that the cause of it is something that comes back. Still, I had hope that after surgery I would recover and be healthy and feeling good for a long time, maybe even years, before it comes back, and that during this time I would be able to have children.

Then today I had my post-op appointment, and lets just say that I came home with what's left of my hope. If I am able to have children, it will be by the grace of God. And either way, with or without being able to carry a child of my own, it's going to be a long and painful road, just living with my diagnosis.

In the beginning of this journey, I found this verse, and since have carried it with me, close to my heart.

"Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child;
burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband," says the Lord. Isaiah 54:1

I know that God has given me a Mother's Heart, and he has blessed me with many children to love. But to be honest, it is still hard.

I try to 'Sing and shout for joy', and most days I do. But somedays, like today, all I can do is cling to the hope that I have, and cry.

Community at the Water Pump

Dikupita Madzi Ku Mpope....

These are words I will always remember from my time in Malawi. They mean "I am getting water from the water pump"...and in order to run a feeding center for 150 children, you must do this several times a day. In order to help me learn the language of Chichewa (Chiwe), the women at the feeding center in Mponela would constantly ask me what I was doing, and very often, this was the answer.

Getting water from the water pump was a very physical task, but somehow it was an enjoyable task.

The water pump is a source of life for the village. It is where water, an essential for living is found. It is where, at anytime of day, you can go to get water, and meet a friend. It is a place for sharing stories and laughter, but more than that, the water pump is a place to experience community. 

After you walk to the water pump and pump the water into your bucket (and if you are an azungu like me are probably already exhausted at this point), you must then get the incredibly heavy bucket of water on your head.

Women carry heavy items on their heads for good reason...once you get it up there, it is much easier to carry, and if it is something like water, it is much easier to carry without spilling.

But first, there is the task of getting it up there.

Although I don't doubt that there are some African super women who are capable of getting the bucket on their head without help, it is a two person job.

As soon as your bucket is full, someone jumps in to help. There is no wait to watch you struggle. There is no wait to see if someone else will step up to help you. There is someone there, helping you lift it and place it centered on your head, with no questions, just a smile.

And although it may be someone you have never met, they are a friend.

The water pump is the center of life for a community, in more ways than one.

Miss Independent

Usually, I pride myself in being independent.

If there is something I have my heart set on doing, I do it, even if I can't find anyone to join me. If there is something that needs to be done, I do it, even if I have to do it alone. Even if it sucks.

I'd like to say it builds character.

I travel alone, I have gone to concerts alone, I volunteer alone, and being single have learned to do many things on my own that I probably wouldn't have otherwise. Shoot, I even moved to a foreign country alone. 

And, I buy dog food alone.

I know, I know, it doesn't sound like a big deal. But believe me, it kind of is.

I am 5'2", and the bag of dog food I buy stands at about 4'...and weighs 44 pounds. Over the years I have learned to maneuver the huge bag of dog food from the floor of the store up and over the side of my shopping cart, up and out of the cart into my trunk, and up and out of my trunk, through my front door, out my back door, and up and into my dog food bin. In all my stuggles, I have only ripped open the bag on the corner of the cart and spilled 44 pounds of dog food all over the store floor one time.

Yeah, that was a good day. 

Anyways, through my dog food struggles over the years, I have noticed many people watch me in sympathy, some of them maybe even tempted to help me, but none ever have. Not one person has ever asked if they could help me lift the bag that is half my size.

That is why yesterday, when I went to the store to get dog food, I knew I was in trouble. Having had surgery 2 weeks ago, 44 pounds is way beyond my weight limit. But thinking of those dozens of times over the years that no one has offered to help, I was hesitant to ask. I didn't want to be a nuisance. So, Miss Independent came out, and I didn't ask for help.

Don't worry, I didn't break doctor's orders. Instead I bought two 8 pound bags of fancy dog food (which together cost the same amount as the 44 pound bag) that I figure will last atleast a few weeks, when maybe I will be able to lift the monster sized bag again. My dog may be happy about me spending a lot more money for the good stuff, but me, not so much.

It makes me wonder, if we lived in a "community" based society, the kind that is a common theme in so much Christian literature nowadays, how things would be different.

Would I be scared to ask a stranger for a little help? Would I even need to ask? Would they even be called strangers?

And maybe, just maybe, if I didn't need to be so independent, I wouldn't be, and that would be okay.

It leaves me thinking...

Maybe rather than building character, independence builds walls.

One Day Without Shoes

Tomorrow is one of my favorite days...

Last year's One Day Without Shoes...with my fellow Youth for Christers.

Okay, so maybe it is a little bit due to the fact that I am somewhat of a hippie at heart, but mostly I love it because it is a day to raise awareness about the 300 million children around the world who do not own a single pair of shoes, and the health hazards that accompany that.

Tomorrow (Tuesday, April 5, 2011) is One Day Without Shoes. A day that you get to walk around barefoot as much as possible, get tons of crazy looks from people, and share with them about the children who go without everyday, and how they can help.

One Day Without Shoes is hosted by Tom's Shoes, a for profit company who gives away a pair of shoes to a child in need for every single pair that is purchased. Tom's Shoes also partners with Compassion International, which, if you've been around here very long, you know it is one of my favorite and most respected organizations on planet earth.

If you would like to join us tomorrow, below are some of the facts you will need to know, as well as ways to help.

The Facts (why shoes are a big deal):

*A leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted diseases, which can penetrate the skin through bare feet. Wearing shoes can help prevent these diseases and the long-term physical and cognitive harm they cause.

*Wearing shoes also prevents feet from getting cuts and sores. Not only are these injuries painful, they also are dangerous when wounds become infected.


*Many times children can’t attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don’t have shoes, they don’t go to school. If they don’t receive an education, they don’t have the opportunity to realize their potential. (taken from http://blog.compassion.com/join-us-for-one-day-without-shoes/)

* According to Samaritan's Feet, approximately one million people die each year due to diseases, parasites, and infections caused by lack of shoes.

Ways to help (awesome organizations who help provide shoes for children in need):

Tom's Shoes- matches pair for pair- one pair of shoes is given away for each pair purchased.

Samaritan's' Feet- blesses people around the world through washing their feet and then providing them with a new pair of shoes.

Shoes for Kids- started by a kid for kids...providing shoes with the love of Christ to children around the world.

The feetsies of some of my Zim kids (they all have shoes now, incase you were wondering :)

I feel privileged to be a voice for kids around the world, and I hope that you will take this opportunity to speak up as well!

Have you ever gone One Day Without? Do you plan on going One Day Without tomorrow? Any great, funny, or just plain embarrassing One Day Without stories to share? Here is my experience from last year's One Day Without Shoes.

Dangerous

Worship: (as defined by Mark Labberton in his book The Dangerous Act of Worship)

"The dangerous act of waking up to God and to the purposes of God in the world, and then living lives that actually show it."

How do you worship?