This woman, this day, this statement...

"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the Hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."  - Peter

 The Haiti Earthquake

This woman... 

This day...

This statement by Peter...

All would call me to a new place in my walk of faith. 
Peter, a disciple of Jesus had penned these words so many years ago and I couldn't get him, her or this day out of my head for weeks that turned into months, years. 

This woman walked up to me and handed me her baby. 

Hope.

Give a reason. 

Wait, what hope did I have.

Did I have Hope?

This. 

This image, my camera captured, was her life after the earth shook for all those seconds.

And so, as Haiti worked to heal, I too, was left in a crisis of faith of my own. 

Hope.

Give a reason.

I felt like I had no answer.

Jesus.

Let us start there.

A (Strong) Woman, Her Voice

Photo Credit: Sheila Lynch

A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. 

But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult. 

– Melinda Gates

-------------------------------

She sews a purse, he paints on canvas, they thread beads.
By hand the clay is formed, leather tanned, metal hammered.
Their hands are no longer idle.

One by one.

That still small voice inside believes again, things can change.

One by one.

Hope and courage bloom in a dry place.
The air is busy once more.
The weight that takes the breath from your lungs and makes it hard for your heart to beat doesn't seem to come to rest as often.  

One by one.

The market seemed fuller today, maybe because you had more choices. The water you carry seemed a tad lighter and the song you knew as a child seemed to return. 
Today your child went to school.

One by one.

You did have something to say after all.

One by one.

Gratefully

 If you must look back, do so forgivingly. 

If you must look forward, do so prayerfully. 

However, the wisest thing you can do is be present in the present….gratefully.

- Maya Angelou

                                   

Before You Give Up...New Year - New Change

2013 was a year of transition and change. Period.

I thought of Jacob often...

Genesis 32

That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.  After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 

I don’t know what 2013 was like for you, for us it was a year of big changes, one after another. It was almost hard to catch our breath. Over and over I thought about Jacob, his life, his fight and his famous limp. 

I kept thinking I know I am limping.

I don’t think God "needed" to engage in the fight, it was Jacob who needed it. 
Boy was he ready too. All night he went at it with God.  

What I find most interesting was the questions they had for each other. 
Jacob said, I need to know who you are and I need you to bless me. 
God said, what is your name.  

When all was said and done, questions answered, Jacob was changed. 
Not only would he and his whole family enter a new land for a new season, he had settled matters in his heart with both man and God.

For a season, we know Jacob considered giving up because life wasn’t always kind.  But this time, he said, I won’t give up until you bless me.  

So, before we consider giving up... 

May this be a season when we settle matters with man and God, entering into our promised land with our family, embracing a new name and new season.

Here is to a new chance and a clean slate.