Be a Voice

How far would you go to stand up for a cause or for your values? In today’s society, we are sometimes fearful of standing up for what we believe in or what is important to us. Authority voices tell us to hush up, don’t stir up controversy or push anyone’s “buttons”. We are being shoved to just go along with what society “tells” us to do like mindless robots. Can you imagine what our world would be like if our history had just “went” along and not pushed buttons?

The United States was founded on causing a stir. This is how America came to be. Our ancestors came afar looking for a new beginning. They fought to establish a new land where they could entrust their values and beliefs. Imagine if our ancestors never took the initiative to fight. What would our world look like?

Can you imagine if no Civil Rights Movement ever happened? We would still be living in a nation where African Americans are unequal, can’t vote, or have much choice at improving their lives. How different our leadership and society would be.

Can you imagine if the women’s rights movement never happened and women never had a voice? In many countries today woman still don’t have a voice. A recent article described a young teen who committed suicide because she was forced to marry her rapist. (http://news.yahoo.com/outrage-over-suicide-moroccan-teen-forced-marry-rapist-171033094.html) We can look at this and other stories and feel outraged. However, for other countries, this may be the norm. Their culture represents an outlook and attitude entirely different from our world.

So what does it take to fuel the fire and be a voice for our beliefs? Perhaps a little courage, faith, and taking the initiative is all we need to start a movement. We can sit and plan for things for years yet nothing will get done. We can plan for the storms and joys of life but nothing will impact or move our hearts until the storm hits or the joy arrives. Standing up, taking the initiative, and moving is the key.

I recently heard about the Back to Life organization, founded by Laura Zavala Alfred. Back to Life is a young women’s movement “fashioned to awaken America’s conscience to the injustices of abortion”.

On March 17th, 2012, 39 young women will embark on a walk, please read carefully, WALK, from Houston to Dallas (300 miles) to support Pro-Life! Why this long journey you may ask? In 1972, the Dallas Courthouse was the birthplace of Roe vs. Wade case which legalized abortion.  Houston has the nation’s largest Planned Parenthood Center. These young women all have stories of how abortion has affected their lives. Some are survivors who were supposed to be aborted; others have committed abortion while there are others who just want to take stand. Regardless of their story, they all represent different cultures and different religions, but all believe in the Power of Life.  These women want to represent the Voices for the unborn. 

We all have different viewpoints and opinions, that’s the wonderful thing about America. We currently have the freedom to stand up for our beliefs and be a voice for future generations.

Don’t let your voice be robbed. Have the Courage to Speak Up!

A Haven of Hope

Helpless and shocked. Those were the only words to describe what I felt when seeing the devastation in West Liberty, KY.  While I was relieved that my family, friends, and my hometown were sparred from the tornado's raging path, the sorrow and powerlessness is still there.  

So many times we hear of towns and families being ripped apart by the violent tornadoes.  Yet our hearts aren't as touched until devastation really hits close to home.  Until we have experienced similar losses, it can be hard to connect to someone going through a tragedy. There are no magic words to say to someone who's lost a child, a home, or who's been given a death sentence. It's in those moments where saying "Sorry" seems so shallow.  Words just don't seem to be enough. 

 

The night the tornadoes hit KY, I was visiting a friend who's been fighting throat cancer for past few years. He's now at home in hospice care.  He was having a good day, alert and in good spirits with his daughters nearby.  We joked around, pretending that things were normal, but there's a sting in our hearts knowing his days are now numbered.  The visit reminded me so much of the last days I spent with my dad.  I had a tinge of hope back then that my dad would walk out of the hospice care with a miracle from God.  Like being in the middle of a tornado, we are surviving each passing moment, holding on to what's dear to us.  I clung on and cherished every second with my dad just as my friend's daughter is now doing.  She questioned my experience with my dad's last days, as the heartbreaking memories flooded my mind.  What comfort could I bring her when the pain still lingers there?

Getting on with life after my dad's passing has been the hardest part.  Feeling the emptiness from what once was or imagining what could have been only prolongs the pain.  Yet somehow we struggle through to where we accept the loss and take a step forward.

As I sifted through those pictures of the ruins of West Liberty on the East KY Media site, one stood out the most, a sign that read "A Haven of Hope".  After all the destruction, where the monster storm threw around trucks like matchboxes, crushed brick buildings, and wrapped metal around trees like ribbons, a symbol of God's mercy remained.  Regardless of where or how the sign came to be, its message of Hope is what this town needs.

Sometimes we can't imagine life after a heartbreak but life does continue.  I have heard and sang that "Amazing Grace" song so many times without reflecting on the words.  Still when I hear the song, my heart is brought back to my Appalachian roots. Suddenly I am comforted and reminded of a safe place.  We may be broken down, have lost our way, living with struggles of pain, but God provides us with the grace and protection we need.  It is through our destruction and heartbreak that our eyes are opened.  God can't heal or build something new without first tearing down the old.  It is in this destruction that we can hope for the positive changes to come into our lives.  Oddly, destruction can bring us together as we reach out to others.  We have lost a sense of control and are at the mercy of God.  Our losses causes us to trust in God, our haven of hope.

 West Liberty - A Haven of Hope

 

May God bless West Liberty and the other places that were affected by this tragedy. Today is a new day to be grateful for our past and our future.

Ways to help:

• Salvation Army

• Red Cross

• Christian Appalachian Project

• Donations (KSP)

God will provide all your Needs.

Afraid of the Dark

We feel what we Believe.

A lot of kids are afraid of the dark but they usually grow out. However, my mom never really did. Today she still sleeps with a night light or a lamp glowing. Sorry Mom! :)  Growing up, I, too was afraid of the dark.  Fortunately I could place the blame on my mom for leaving the kitchen light or lamp on all night.

I got my own room one summer for awhile when we moved to the old schoolhouse. There was a "backroom" attached to the back of the schoolhouse.  It had been used as the lunchroom when the school was first built. I was happy to have a room of my own.

There are no "street lights" in a holler.  Only outside porch lights or a "pole light" supplied by the electric company provides a little light at night in a pitch black holler.  There was a small window in my "new" bedroom.  At night I would open the curtains for a little light to shine in.  I felt less afraid that way.

One night I couldn't sleep and lay restless in my bed staring up at the window.  After moments of staring, the curtains began to close in on their own -- much to my surprise.  I quickly closed my eyes and opened them. Unlike before, the curtains remained opened as they had been.  As I continued to gaze, they appeared to be closing again.  This went on for a little while even with me inspecting the curtains.  A few times the curtains seemed nearly closed all together.  Each time I would get scared and hide under the covers or close my eyes. When I opened them, they would seem fine again. It took me awhile before I realized that my eyes were deceiving me. The curtains weren't closing at all but it was my perception in the dark that made them appear that way.  If we stare at something for so long and become so focused, we lose sight of the things around us.

I have been living my life the same way as staring at those curtains.  I become so focused, worried, and lose sight of the truth of who I am. I lose confidence in me.  I tend to believe the lies and deceit that has been built up from my past.

Those negative feelings of shame, worthlessness, imperfection, alone, doubts, worry, the list could go on and on, are just lies about who we are.  These lies are so convincing that many times they are the only truth we know.  Sadly, they keep us in bondage.  By believing or focusing are these negative feelings, we can never really live a peaceful life.

We focus on the lies of deception because it's easier that way.  We think " Its always been that way."  We know what to expect, how to react, and fear trust or change. Sometimes we don't know how to even begin to change.

Believing and accepting ourselves can be hard. We have been brainwashed for so long that we now have to "re-program" our thinking.  This may mean re-experiencing the pain, trauma, and negative emotions that told us the lie about ourselves to begin with.  We re-experience the memories so that we can let go of the lies about ourselves. Re-experiencing trauma or painful emotions can be traumatic and should be done with a trusted source (counselor, sponsor, pastor, therapist, and/or and friend, etc.)

 Letting go of all that you thought "was the truth" can be a new scary experience as well. Who will I become? Will God "really" be there fore Me? Reprogramming and letting go of hurts takes time.  It is a slow process but awareness is the key. 

With help, I am hoping to stop staring at those dark curtains (lies) and believe in my abilities.  May you find the truth in yourself and allow God to bring you the peace you deserve.

Fear is not of God