You Make Beautiful Things

National Geographic Photo of the Day

Kendi Everyday

Source Unknown

Brooks Family

You make beautiful things...out of the dust. You make beautiful things...out of us.

Suiting Up

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, 

so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, 

and having done everything, to stand firm. 

Ephesians 6:13 NASB

There are days...

God of our life, there are days when the burdens we carry chafe our shoulders and weigh us down; when the skies gray and threatening; when our lives have no music in them, and our souls have lost courage. On such days, flood the path with light, we beseech Thee; turn our eyes to where the skies are full of promise; tune our hearts to brave music; give us the sense of comradeship with heroes and saints of every age; and so quicken our spirits that we may be able to encourage the souls of all who journey with us on the road of life, to Thy honor and glory, we pray. Amen. 


St. Augustine, third century Christian leader

Check out a four minute radio program on this prayer here.

Traipsing

For quite some time the "frolic and traipse" spirit of this blog has succumbed to "contemplation and bemused melancholy." The frolicking may have abated, but here is some evidence of recent traipsing.


1.) Weekly hikes in the Santa Susanna mountains with my intrepid co-workers and friends
2.) Weddings. 'Tis the season.
3.) More hikes and time spent with dear local friends.
4.) My brother's high school graduation.
5.) My frolicky siblings.
6.) Visiting Central Coast friends. (Okay, I cheated. This picture is from November, but I did just dash up there last week.)
7.) Visiting family in Louisiana. The continual transition from lawn to air conditioning reminded me of jumping from hot tub to pool.
8.) Okay, my brother graduated. I already mentioned that. Did I mention that my sister flew from Texas and we were able to visit with dear friends who happen to be former high school teachers?
Middle.) I hardly feel that this picture requires an explanation since it is so obviously documenting a spontaneous evening venture into Dollartree in individual quest of the strangest item. E-pig/sheep. B-gigantor sunglasses with shifty eyes papered on the lens. Me-orange marmalade scented air freshener in a mini-jar. It was a narrow victory.


Next week I'll be traipsing off to Haiti to co-lead a team of ten interns in disability ministry. This is part of my new job as the coordinator of the internship program. Please keep us in your prayers June 29-July 8.

An Unintended Story

Just hanging out midst yellow grass and oak trees, wearing colors that represent sin and sacrifice as I cogitate on the perpetual question of human existence. This is my life.*

You're kidding, right? A small symbol of trial and torment (or at the very least, foolishness according to Aesop) has alighted unbidden on my hand?

God has a funny sense of humor. Pun intended.

No, this picture was not reversed with the previous one. This is my bemused facial expression when I consider God's sense of humor.

Go gently, little one.

Back to pretending that my contemplative moments are routinely spent in harmonious surroundings with an erect spine.*

*Actually, overthinking, beautiful landscapes, and good posture are indeed regular visitors in this moment by moment adventure simply termed "life."


Photo credit to Charles McPadden. Check out his excellent work here.

Media Monopoly

Celebrating a year and a half without Facebook!

Source

Abandoning my account was definitely a healthy decision for me, helping me to focus on my close relationships and use my free time wisely. Yet, I've recently begun to think that the "traipsing" portion of this blog has been sorely under-represented. It exists on multiple real-life friends' Facebook accounts. Weddings, birthdays, family reunions, graduations, hikes, day trips--I remember being there but have no proof to offer. I've recently been reduced to sending pleading text messages to friends and family to email me pictures of said events. I'm still committed to social media solitude, although the future may see some sort of photo page. In the meantime, if you need a fix of my thoughts on ministry and missions, check out the Cause 4 Life Facebook page. Leave me/us some comments!

Next to Me

I love this song.

When I first heard it (aka yesterday), it reminded me of the constancy of Christ in my life about a year and a half ago when my circumstances simultaneously crumbled: boyfriend, job, independence, stability of friends and family, health. It's rare to be able to celebrate your trust in a person's loyalty and support, but I am blessed with a family and, more importantly, a Savior who are indeed "next to me."

(Email recipients click here for the YouTube video.)

The Big Day

Click here for a special post about hope and love after brokenheartedness in which I played a tiny role. Early this spring, two of my sweet friends and I packaged up our forlorn bridesmaids dresses and one wedding dress and sent them with a group of travelers to Gulu, northern Uganda. After years of extreme violence, the region has begun healing and regrouping.* One young American couple moved to Uganda five years ago to help women affected by the war and the sex trade. They call their ministry the Zion Project and offer unconditional love and Christ's hope. As the women heal, most of them desire to be married one day.

Slowly, I began to watch them start dreaming, start hoping, and this was the scariest part of all. To think that now open, now softened, they might be crushed again. 

I could only pray, “Father show them your goodness.”

Recently, our dresses were offered to brides with a history of abandonment and abuse--former prostitutes or naive girls who are now loved and protected by Godly men. In a country rife with polygamy and sexual abuse, these are miraculous love stories. Yours truly may sneer at chick flicks, but the tears come quickly when I hear of people who chose love and faithfulness in the midst of pain.




*The recently popular Kony 2012 video produced by Invisible Children describes the violence of Joseph's Kony's rogue forces as a current threat. While this army is still a danger, it has not been active in Uganda for some time. Ugandan partners of Joni and Friends and other personal connections of mine have expressed disappointment that Invisible Children did not highlight the healing and building that has occurred, due in large part to the dedication of Ugandan nationals.

Only a Dream in Rio

Rio de Janiero

Co-worker 1 after I proposed an ambitious project: 
"I’m all about experiencing life, not necessarily conquering it."

Let's skip learning Portuguese and hustle over to Rio.