if tomorrow were my last

The ultimate, inescapable problem that humans face on a daily basis is that our time on this earth is limited.  People deal with this issue differently.  Some choose not to think about it, others refuse to recognize it, and then there are people that understand it and in turn use that knowledge to passionately chase after every opportunity.  A question I have presented to myself in response to desiring to live a passionate, full life is, if tomorrow were my last what would I do today?  This age old question brings the pieces of life that truly matter to the forefront of the mind.  If tomorrow were my last, I would tell my parents how greatly they have shaped me, I would rebuild broken bridges, I would laugh, I would read, I would spend time with those that are closest to me, I would take a friend out to coffee that I have lost contact with, I would do something I thought I would never do, I would forgive, I would boldly speak truth regardless of the consequences, I would try something people always told me I could not do, I would watch the sunrise, I would choose my words carefully, and I would listen more intently.  If tomorrow were my last, I would do the things I should have been doing all along.  What a shame that we do not live with this mentality in mind, because I am convinced our lives would be more full, more vibrant, and more impactful.  As I attempt to live with the end in mind and make the treasures of life a priority, join me and ask yourself today..what would I do if tomorrow were my last?    

violence erupts in Gaza

Violence continues in the Middle East today.  At the center of this violence and other aggressive tactics within recent decades is the Israeli, Palestinian conflict.  Israeli fighter planes have dropped bombs on several militant compounds in the Gaza Strip, following recent rocket attacks on Israeli soil coming from the Hamas controlled region.  The Israeli attack killed more than 200 people, more than 700 were wounded, and it marked the worst attack in Gaza in regards to the number of Palestinian casualties since 1967.  The recent events in this area are discouraging because it represents further death, suffering, and the promotion of hate.  Hamas quickly vowed to carry out a series of attacks in response to the Israeli bombings, which leaves me to wonder about the effectiveness of violence.  Both sides have their own agendas and will obviously use any means possible to achieve such ambitions, however there must be other alternatives to reaching these goals than continuing to kill and destroy.  I realize that I do not and most likely cannot fully understand the situation and the feelings of resentment that these people have for each other, however as an observer and an individual who enjoys history, violence has been proven not to have lasting benefits, primarily within the realm of stability and prosperity.  If true peace is to be experienced and reconciliation achieved, the war must be waged at the negotiation table where understanding can occur.  A man named Dr. Martin Luther King Jr had an agenda as well, however he aimed at reaching his goal through non violent methods, even when his enemies did not.  Dr. King once said, "Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love.  It destroys community and makes brotherhood impossible.  It leaves society in monologue rather than dialogue.  Violence ends by defeating itself.  It creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers."  Although Dr. King and our Palestinian and Israeli brothers and sisters do not share precise similarities in each of their respective situations, there is a hint of universal truth within Dr. King's declaration in regards to violence.  My hope and prayer is that the ineffectiveness of violence would surface in the Middle East today, and that both sides would recognize the humanity in the other and ultimately agree on a resolution that would put an end to this conflict.

BBC

suffering continues in zimbabwe

The events that have occurred and are occurring in the country of Zimbabwe make my heart ache for our brothers and sisters there. The situation is deteriating daily, and as always, the people that are being hit the hardest are the poor. However the poor are not the only ones in Zimbabwean society who are fighting for survival. Teachers, business people, and vendors are also among the ones forced to scrounge for food and water, the basic necessities of life. In reality, only a small population of Zimbabweans are not influenced by the hardships going on in the country, which shows how dangerous of a situation this is. It is difficult to obtain specific numbers, yet it is well known that a cholera epidemic has been spreading and is gaining momentum. Thousands of cases have been reported with nearly just as many deaths. Other significant issues contributing to the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe include a severe lack of food and water, strikes by doctors and nurses, aggressive behavior toward civilians by the military and police, and a lack of electricity and power. These issues are quite substantial and are literally contributing to the deaths of many. Speculation and debate within the international community continues over the root of this crisis and what steps need to be taken, however many leaders and institutions agree that what is happening there is directly related to the inefficiency of the Zimbabwean government. Ultimately, the administration is completely neglecting its people, which is unacceptable. It will be interesting to see what the international community, especially nations within the region decide to do in response to the suffering happening in Zimbabwe. Recently Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said that Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe must be ousted, and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said that Mr. Mugabe's failed state is no longer willing or capable of protecting its own people, therefore more aid will be needed in the short term. One issue that must be addressed within the international community is what action to take when a state actor is ignoring the needs of its' people. Considering the country's sovereignty is something leaders must do, as well as discovering what level of interference is necessary without creating further chaos. In modern times, developing an appropriate action plan towards humanitarian issues where the government in that country is unwilling or incapable of helping its people, has not been completed, nor has it been a priority. This is something the international community must address though, because people are dying and little is done to alleviate such suffering. It is becoming more and more obvious that the suffering experienced by the Zimbabwean people is largely due to the administration's lack of action and poor policy and therefore a change in government leadership must occur. I do not believe military intervention should be used, however I do firmly believe that the beginning of restoration in Zimbabwe must involve the removal of Mr. Mugabe. Until that time comes, we must continue to pray for our Zimbabwean brothers and sisters, and vocalize what is happening in that country. This is a humanitarian crisis of the greatest proportions, and this injustice must be resolved.

Source: BBC News

20 years from now..

Mysteries of the unknown and limitless boundaries are characteristics of the future, and these elements have always fascinated me. The thought of having a perfectly clean slate and being able to chalk out where we want to go and what we want to achieve is an amazing blessing that often goes unnoticed. Humans innately are quite good at conjuring up fairytales, imagining the impossible, and dreaming of one day turning their passions into reality. Unfortunately, the grind and monotony of day to day life has extinguished the fire that once existed within. People have stopped dreaming and aspiring to see their greatest desires unfold, which is devastating because the future and our dreams represent unique innovation. The ability to innovate and think outside of the norm are beautiful aspects of the capabilities within humans, and not acting on what gets us most excited is an act of defiance towards our Creator because we are rejecting what we were made to do. These are the reasons for why the possibilities of tomorrow energize me and allow me to envision where I want to be 20 years from now. So as I challenge myself to think about the future, and how I can act on the passions that have been placed within me, I urge you to do the same. Figure out what makes you tick, what motivates you, and what it would look like if you truly pursued the things that fit well with your purpose. It is when people start dreaming and acting on their passions that the world will indeed be changed.

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
- Mark Twain

christmas and giving

As the peak of the holiday season comes into focus I struggle with remembering why we celebrate Christmas in the first place. Daily I am bombarded with commercials, billboards, and sales advertisements attempting to lure me into the shallowness of consumerism. 'Stuff' is by no means the evil of the world, however there must be moderation and an evaluation of our motives. Christmas is about remembering Jesus' life and his sacrifice, being with family and investing in others, and slowing down to recollect ourselves before another year begins. These elements are fading away though, amidst the chaos that is, well, the holiday. One way we can get back to the basics is to focus upon rejoicing in the blessings we have been given, and then using those blessings to benefit others. Within this, the true meaning of giving will become illuminated. I am challenging myself this year to reignite my relationship with Jesus and others, as well as look for opportunities to contribute to something that will last instead of those socks that my sister will most likely toss out. A movement called Advent Conspiracy is attempting to do just this, and I encourage you to check out what is going on within this organization and how people all across the nation are becoming involved. There is something insanely beautiful about stepping outside of ourselves, recognizing a need, and then meeting that need. Remember what Christmas truly represents, and look for ways to give in a new and fresh way.

possessions - life - Jesus

The hot topic in several circles currently is on the topic of the uncertainties of life, especially in reference to the economy. Great concern exists within the discussions of retirement funds, savings, and whether that next promotion will come. A good friend of mine recently reminded me of how such concerns existed long ago as well; this is not a recent issue that people have had to deal with. Attempting to secure economic stability in ones life was even on the minds of individuals during Jesus' time on earth. According to Luke, a man once confronted Jesus, requesting that he tell that man's brother to divide his inheritance with him. Jesus' answer, of course, was two fold. First Jesus stated, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" He then went on to address the root of the man's question by saying, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Jesus could easily recognize the man's true intentions and took the opportunity to share with everyone the dangers of greed. He did not stop at greed though did he? Jesus goes on to challenge the man, including bystanders, to remember what life is and is not all about. As a Westerner, this hits hard because I live in a society where ownership, success, and getting ahead now so I can relax in the future are the norm and the expectation. Desiring economic stability and setting aside money now for the future are necessary precautions to take, however it is important to remember that these are not the things that should consume our minds, hearts, and souls. Life is so much more than an IRA, investment account, or the stock market. This is so because ultimately those elements can be taken at any time like many have come to realize in recent months, but the true treasures of life are eternal and cannot be found in monetary value. I love the wisdom of Jesus because he consistently addresses the question on the surface level, but then he addresses the heart. Be reminded that there is so much more to life than securing economic stability. Twenty years from now you will benefit more from the relationships you formed and the acts of love you carried out, than from the investment decisions you made. Find comfort in the small, yet mighty pieces of life and continue to seek wisdom was the wisest..Jesus.

zimbabwe + love

There is a lot of heartache going on within our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe this evening. Since August there have been approximately 500 deaths from cholera, clean water is difficult to come by even in institutions such as hospitals, food is incredibly scarce, and the Zimbabwean dollar is practically worthless because of 231,000,000% inflation. Statistics aside, these are real issues for millions of Zimbabweans and it is difficult to understand why such horrendous events continue to occur. Much of the blame for the current situation in Zimbabwe is placed on the shoulders of the country's President, Robert Mugabe. I have joined in the criticism of this leader and as I have learned more of what the circumstances are in Zimbabwe my criticism unfortunately has turned into anger. Following a recent rant I had with myself in the car after new information was presented by NPR about Zimbabwe, I suddenly stopped and had to be real with myself. As a person who firmly believes in the power of love, I was not being a good ambassador of that concept. I came to the realization that God loves the Zimbabwean young woman who has not had clean water to drink in two weeks, just as much as Mr. Mugabe. This was undoubtedly a difficult one to swallow, however it came at the right time because I have recently been asking God to show me who I need to love better. Trust me, I still struggle with the decisions or the lack there of, that the Zimbabwean government has made throughout the current crisis. But I have attempted to not let that frustration turn into anger and resentment which is the complete opposite of love. Love can and must win, so as we as followers of Christ must continue to pray for Zimbabwe, including its' leaders.