Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Homeless

home·less
ˈhōmləs/
adjective
  1. (of a person) without a home, and therefore typically living on the streets.





And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in 

swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there 

was no room for in the inn.  (Luke 2:7)






And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the

birds of the air have nest; but the Son of man hath not where 

to lay his head.  (Matthew 8:20)







For in His love there is a home.



Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Because

be·cause
bēˈkəz/
conjunction
  1. for the reason that; since.
    "we did it because we felt it our duty"



Why I am I so interested in the poor of humanity.  I asked myself that
question a few days ago. Why?  Well part of the "why" was explained in
my first post.  And that is true.   And yet there is another reason. I have 
always felt a desire to serve those less fortunate.  Yet in the past little 
while the desire has deepened.  

Why?  Because. 

Because a year ago I did not want to live.  A year ago I was living in
 torment that I thought would never end. I learned that Hell isn't a 
place, it is a state of mind that you cannot leave.However, fortunately
 for me, it went away. 

 Because I came out of that awful experience changed. Determined.  And
 ready to change the world.  At least the world around me.

Experiences can equal connections if you turn them around
Because when I was at my worst, I still had a home.  I still had a family.  I had friends who
 cared.  The thought of any human enduring any type of pain without those essentials, hurts
 my heart.  So I serve.  In very small ways, but I serve.

Why?

 Because I have been Given so much.



Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Simple


  


  1. ˈsimpəl/


  2. 1.
    easily understood or done; presenting no difficulty.



 I love Children's Picture books.  I love the way they express ideas in such a simple, unassuming way.  There are many books simply expressing the complex issue of poverty and homelessness.  Today I want to share a children's book that is neither.



Edwina,  The Dinosaur who Didn't Know She Was Extinct.  by Mo Willems. It teaches us at the simplest childlike way to "behold' each other (see "Behold" Wednesday Words blog entry).

Edwina is a dinosaur who is adored by everyone except Reginald Von Hoobie Doobie (love the name!) because Edwina is supposed to be extinct!  In the end, Reginald learns it doesn't matter that she's technically extinct and learns why everyone else loves her.  It is a book that teaches acceptance, tolerance and friendship in a fun and delightful way.  

Do you see where I am going with this?  As we serve all God's children such attributes are essential:   Acceptance. Tolerance.  Friendship.  

Simply stated:  Love.


Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Behold

:see or observe (a thing or person, especially a remarkable or impressive one).





Do we "behold" each other?  This question came to me in those wee hours of the morning.  Do I behold my family.   Do I look  at them and observe them and respect them as the remarkable Creation that they are?  Or do I passively go about taking care of them, routinely doing my job without "beholding" them.

I believe the Savior wants us to "behold" each other.  He wants us to behold our children (3 Nephi 17:23), our family (John 19:6) and our neighbor (Matthew 5:23).  He wants us to see each other through eyes of love.

Which brings me to the purpose of this blog.  My other blog (Making Minor Moments) is now about Making Minor Moments.  Random thoughts, pictures and a blogital (blog + digital:) journey of my family.  I found my blog posts were a lot about something that I am passionate about:  the poor and homeless.  This blog will be about this social issue and any other social issues I care to write about.

Big disclaimer here:  I declare myself not an expert on the subject.   There are many out there who study, went to school a long long time who are much smarter than I am and ARE experts.  I am just simply a person who cares about the subject, wants to do what I can to help and maybe bring awareness to others.

My main goal is that we -including me- learn to behold each other.   We will behold our children, our spouses, our family, our neighbors and yes even the ones at the side of the road wounded and left alone, whether it's literally or figuratively (Luke 10).