i’m “sew” not ready for this January 2, 2010

“Sew” sorry for the bad pun. Rend adores puns and bad jokes. I’m sure he’s passed some on to all of you. A fond memory for me…when I was in labor with our third child, Rend decided to “bless” me by reading me some Reader’s Digest-type jokes in between labor pains. Needless to say, my response wasn’t quite what he was hoping for. He thought he could actually make me laugh! If I remember correctly, he was grumped at instead.

Thanks to all of you who have followed this blog so far. Embarking on this adventure has stimulated lots of good and interesting conversation between my husband and I. Something I didn’t expect, though, is lots of emotional struggle (on my part) as I process through these issues. At times, the struggle has brought me to the point of finding it hard to function. Something NOT good for a mom and wife needing to care for her family. Also, I’m a graduate student needing to concentrate on tests and papers.

For these reasons, I don’t plan on keeping this up. Maybe I’ll try again when I’ve journeyed longer. In the meantime, I’m sure Rend will keep you “posted.” Sorry…another bad pun. Rend is gonna love this!

I think I might keep my blog “open” for a while in case I think of something to say or change my mind. Whatever I write, it will probably be on the lighter side.

Happy New Year!

Sew

The Poor Will Be Glad December 27, 2009

The other day while breezing through the library, a book with beautiful African children featured on the cover caught the corner of my eye. Without thinking, I grabbed it and ran in order to speedily reconnect with my kids. The book is entitled The Poor Will Be Glad: Joining the Revolution to Lift the World Out of Poverty. What this fascinating read lacks in literary prose, it makes up for in it’s informational and spiritual value. Also, did I mention the gorgeous photographs?

Though I’m sure many of you are familiar with the concept of microfinance, The Poor Will Be Glad does an outstanding job of explaining how it works and how it has the potential to change the economics of developing nations on a massive scale. Instead of focusing on handouts, authors Peter Greer and Phil Smith discuss, in detail, the workings of microfinance and employment-based solutions as successful methods for alleviating world poverty. By the way, the stats on world poverty given in the book blow my mind. Most Americans (including myself) don’t have a clue. Here is a taste.

As of July 2007, there were approximately 6.6 billion people living on earth. Approximately four billion live on less than $4 per day, nearly all of whom live in developing countries. Their incomes are distributed in the following way:

• One billion live on less than $1 per day.
• Two billion live on $1 to $2 per day.
• One billion live on $2 to $4 per day

The wealthy, and that includes everyone reading this book, lead lives that many of the four billion people living on less than $4 per day consider an unreachable dream (Greer & Smith, 2009, p. 29-30).

Through this book I learned that $40 American dollars loaned to a start-up business owner in Rwanda can give a living to an entire Rwandan family. Powerful. As we went Christmas shopping the other day, I told my kids that they had enough money in their pockets to get an entire Rwandan family back on their feet. My desire wasn’t to shame them, but rather to inform them of the power they have, even as children, to change the world and alleviate the suffering of others.

Recently, our family has gotten involved with microfinance through an organization called Kiva. It’s been a wonderful opportunity to teach the kids and learn ourselves.

The Poor Will Be Glad is written by two Christian businessmen though I wasn’t aware of it as I rushed through the library. Jesus, whether we believe in Him or not, had a lot to say about the poor and I am grateful to see some fellow followers taking an intelligent, practical look at a global problem.

Check it out!

www.thepoorwillbeglad.com

Just an added note.

Author Peter Greer is president of HOPE International, a global faith-based (Christian) microfinance organization.

Here’s a link:  HOPE International

everything changed December 26, 2009

After weeks, months, even years of thinking about it, I’m finally starting a blog. At first, I thought it might be the type you only send to immediate family and friends. Little daily happenings, pictures of the kids, etc. Turns out, this might be something entirely different.

Most readers here are, most likely, followers of my husband’s blog, “A Time to Rend” (ATTR). ATTR was birthed out of my husband’s need to seek and explore questions of doubt and faith. It has certainly been a season of disillusionment for both of us regarding faith and marriage. We were, just this very evening, discussing the fact that many people seek divorce over these issues. The past eighteen months have brought us closer to that in our minds than perhaps we would like to admit, but strangely, we’re doing okay. I’ll chalk it up to the fact that, despite all our faults, we are the very best of friends. I can’t believe he puts up with me! I think that perhaps, in all of this, we are learning the real meaning of love.

If you’re wondering what I’m talking about, my husband and I met at a conservative, protestant, evangelical church function some seventeen years ago. Christianity and church were our life. It defined us. For well over a decade, we were actively involved in various leadership positions in a particular movement of churches. Eighteen months ago, the underpinnings of his faith crumbled away. The carpet was pulled out from under me. Everything changed. At times, I’m okay. Other times, I find myself still reeling.

When looking for comfort, I certainly can’t find it in my own dark thoughts or reasonings…or anyone else’s for that matter. I still run to the One who has given me life and breath. Somehow, with all this talk about the meaning of scripture, I still find it to be the only thing that brings any order, sense, and comfort in my pain.

Strange how it brings pain and heals pain. Strange how it answers questions, but causes us to ask so many more.

Still, it has a hold on me like nothing else…and on my husband, too, whether we like it or not.