Merci mingi

As many of you know, my friend and I hosted a clothing swap party for our joint birthday celebration. In lieu of presents, we asked people to bring donations for HEAL Africa, a nonprofit I have previously highlighted on this blog. Here is the fun email I received after donating the contributions:

Dear Katherine Brooks,

Thank you so much for this significant donation ($100).  Our executive director (Judy Anderson) just returned from Goma and again was so encouraged by the staff and the impact their work is having.  Not only are women realizing a new future, but communities are being restored and the fragile peace is gently expanding from village to village.  Judy met two young boys in one village who have been helped with loans.  They told her they are no longer living on the streets (and crime) but they each have their own small portable store and sell goods. With the proceeds they are now attending school and have been plugged into a mentorship program and are receiving life skills and good counsel.  They said their lives have been dramatically changed and they now have a future.  That’s what it’s all about- seeing change, one person at a time.

Thank you Katherine, for helping HEAL Africa expand these changes to others.  On behalf of our team and the Congolese community. 

Thank you, merci mingi,

Dick Anderson

PS… I like your handle--- chocolate puddings! 

Because He said so

A short series of articles in Essence magazine online interested me because it is about women repenting of unwise choices made in their quest for happiness. The first article was written by a woman who used to secretly date men in relationships. She was "the other woman." She says:  "I can’t fault anyone for my past. It wasn’t due to bad parenting, the lascivious nature of pop culture or even the Black man shortage. It was what I thought would make me happy. Sadly, I learned that happiness built on hurt and deception is short-lived." 

The second article I read was written by a former drug dealer: "I have to be honest. I wasn’t in dire straits. I didn’t come from a broken home. I wasn’t abused. Though I’d been exposed to the street life while living in Harlem, I didn’t start hustling by circumstance. It was a choice. I was a teenager enthralled by the toxic yet alluring mix of the street life. You know, the medley of close calls, quick cash and unfiltered fun. I had to have it. So I sought more." 

The third article was by a woman who aborted her first child and later married her partner and birthed two children with him. She shares: "Choosing to end my pregnancy was one of the most distressing decisions I ever made. I wasn’t just thinking about myself. I was consumed with thoughts about what type of life I would be able to offer my child. I was riddled with anxiety over whether my partner and I would be able to stay together for the long run, and how that would impact our baby. Last, I was worried about what my family would think."

These women all share that their decisions made in the pursuit of happiness and convenience brought them pain, danger, and broken relationships. In essence (pun intended), they are sharing their stories as a warning against their choices, but none of the three ever admits: "What I did was wrong." These women reasoned their decisions were bad because the consequences left them more broken. Following this line of reasoning, if drug dealing, having affairs, and aborting a child had made them happy long-term, then their decisions would have been good decisions. This is obviously backwards thinking.

Imagine a world in which you never knew the wisdom of your decisions until years later when you examined the consequences. Should I steal this iPod? Should I lie to my boss? Should I eat this entire pizza? Guess I'll find out in a few years...ridiculous! Obviously, we cannot foretell the future, but we CAN know whether most of our decisions are good and bad because God has set morality in place. Taking a job at Kohl's versus a job at Target does not matter so much, but cheating on your husband matters because God says it's wrong. He makes the rules, not us. And because He is good, He makes the rules for our benefit. Thus, do not steal because it destroys industry and breaks down society. Do not lie because kills trust and makes you an outcast. Do not have sex outside of marriage because hampers your ability to forge committed, lasting relationships and will harm your health with disease and infertility. Do not idolize possessions, passions, or people because the desire will consume you. The list abounds, and those who have eyes to see will note the natural and spiritual consequences.

Quoteables VI

Me: “We need to start practicing Spanish. Everyone. We’ve got to start.”

Co-worker 1: Bemused look.

Me: “You too.”

Co-worker 1: “Yeah—taco, burrito, enchilada.”

Me: “That works. I can’t put it off any longer. Even if it’s on a very limited basis, I need to start practicing my vocabulary.”

Co-worker 1: “I think we should learn French.”

Me: “Why? Oh, so we can live in Paris for a year!”

Co-worker 1: “I like the way it sounds. I think it sounds better.”

Me: “I want to live in Paris for a year, but Spanish is more practical.”

Co-worker 1: “So is studying engineering, but I took philosophy instead.”

Me: “Good point.”

_____________________________________________________________

Co-worker 1 and I talking about acquaintances who have ten or more children and how such a large number doesn’t appeal to either of us--

Me: “Yeah, it’s not my idea of fun, but—well—God obviously likes children! If you look at the system He set up…”

Co-worker 1: “He did say, ‘Be fruitful and multiply.’ But some people don’t know how to turn off the calculator.”
____________________________________________________________________________

Overheard at Goodwill--
Young teenager calling from the book section: "Mom! Look! Oh my gosh, one of my favorite movies is, like, a book!"
____________________________________________________________________________

Me pulling a small filing cabinet: "Brother, will you come carry this for me?" 
My brother: "No, I'm busy!"
Me: "Brother!"
My brother: "No, you've got it! Empowerment of women!"

This is Discipling

This is Discipling from The Foursquare Church on Vimeo.


After receiving this for the second time, I thought I should share. It's a good reminder of where our focus should be.

My middle class life

"Folded Hands, Brunei" via National Geographic Photo of the Day

This beautiful picture reminded me once again of how incredibly wealthy I am.  It takes mental exercise to have a proper perspective when advertisements are always pounding into our heads that we "need" and "deserve" this and that. Are teeth whitening gum or perfume or a new car really human rights? Consider this: you know you're among the world's financial elite when self-discipline is the struggle rather than earning enough money for food, clothes, and shelter. Sometimes when I cave and gobble the desserts at my office or get invited to one too many social events requiring the wallet, I am reminded that most of the world does not share my "problems" of excessive sugar intake and recreation. Historically, kings and queens did not even enjoy the quality of life standard to the American middle-class today!


This used to bother me. Why me? Why the people surrounding me? Why isn't everyone equal, if not in money, then in life circumstances? Although a version of "survivor's guilt" still strikes now and again, I've mostly moved on from being stricken by the disparate distribution of resources in the world. For me, the questions have become: Am I using MY resources wisely? Am I more prone to generosity than to hoarding? Am I too dependent on my belongings and purchasing power for happiness? Do I make financial sacrifices for others rather than giving only out of my excess? Finally, are there easy changes I can make in my purchasing decisions to promote justice for those who, unlike me, toil harshly for their living? Small changes in response to these questions have given me greater peace and purpose.