God’s Love January 20, 2009

Today I have felt so enveloped in God’s love.    A couple of times today, however, I have found myself (with unabashed humanity) sitting in judgment of someone with whom I came into contact in the workplace.  Yet, with the slow prodding of God, I felt, “God loves her too, you know.” I think if we can put all people in that context, a loved one of God, we may could begin to see them differently.  I put this in the frame of the current election.  So many times, especially in the small town in which I live, I have heard people lament against Obama for one reason or another (eluding the true reason for the grievance against him).  He is God’s too, you know.  God does have his hand on him, and we need to be prayerful that he makes the right decisions, decisions in the best interests of all humanity, not just white American middle class or rich folks.  SO what follows is such, a prayer for Obama, a man who speaks with great integrity…. (His inauguration address was simply awesome; my favorite quotes, to paraphrase, “TO the Muslim world, we want to extend a hand to you if you will only unclench your fist…” and “To nations who engender hate, your people will respect you more for what you build than what you destroy…” Oh, I digress…)    

My prayer to God for Barack Obama (it reads like a letter):

To God From Whom Everything Originates:

On this day, January 20, 2008, our country has begun a new chapter in the formerly divided America.  We have hastened a man, Barack Hussein Obama,  into the greatest leadership position in the nation and quite possibly the world.  We do not know the intent of his heart, but we hear his words.  We hear him speak of the “disadvantaged” and the “disillusioned”.  We hear him echoing the mantras of Jesus that the true measure of a man is how he treats the least.  Let his words meet with action, God.  Through his leadership, allow us to echo the sentiment of service.  Allow us to live out what is the true meaning of life, service to others, which you provided in a stellar example through Jesus’ life.  Allow Obama to tout Washington a breeding ground of tolerance and compassion for the least of people in our country and the least of nations in this world.  Allow him to truly live out his creed that “we are not as divided as our politics suggest.”  Gird him with wisdom and surround him with people who our likeminded.  Help him be the change that he wants to see in the world.  Give him the same eyes through which great men like Gandhi and Martin Luther King saw; eyes that envision a world free from violence and hate.  Give him wisdom, God, concerning Afghanistan and Iraq.  Help him “wage peace” there as he suggested in his inaugural speech.   Guide him into a greener administration; help him realize that the earth is a gift, and we should treat it as such.  Lastly, God, fill him with your love.  Simply, let his cup run over with your love, God, because with that he truly cannot go wrong. 

I am yours most sincerely,

Candice

My Lists December 29, 2008

AH, another year has passed…  In the words of the Steve Miller Band, “Time keeps on slippin into the future!!”  I find as I am fastly approaching 30, this rings to be so true!!  I guess I should compose my 20th or so “New Year’s Resolution” list.  However, I have decided to compose a list with a different spin.  My cousin, Jennifer, recently sent me a compilation of lists, lists that reflected the essence of Jen.  I found myself inspired by her insightfulness and candor; therefore, I decided to compile my own list and share it here.  I encourage you to think…. and maybe do the same!!

Joys
1.  A good book- there is nothing better than curling up with a book and
 being compelled to keep going until the last page!   Of late, I have been into books that my kids are into- the Twilight
series especially.
 2.  Great lovin’- a good book runs a close second to this (even though these two are out of sequence).
3.  My warm, cozy home with the boys, William, and I engaged in “together” activities.
4.  Love
 5.  A book store, walking along rows and rows of books on literally any subject possible.
 6.  A new president, a new chapter in the story of a formerly divided America.
7.  The goodness in the world especially in regard to the goodness I see inherent in all of my students.  To see 12-13 year olds expressing compassion and good will to those who may be less fortunate than they are is truly awe inspiring and leaves me hopeful about tomorrow.
8.  A good movie- not of the mindless, popcorn variety, but those that are done with purpose, those that provide glimpses of humanity whether that be delivered in a comedy (Juno), drama (Gone Baby Gone), or action film (Taken).  I really want to see the new ones, Australia, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Seven Pounds.

 Fears
 1.  Death- hands down this scares the doodoo out of me!  I fear dying young and leaving my children motherless.  In addition,I fear someone in my family dying.  My mother will soon be 60; I can hardly conceive this!
2.  Someone kidnapping my kids and living every day in hell wondering where they are.
3.  Having a stroke or being diagnosed with cancer.
 4.  War- the idea of people dying for the political purposes of a select few.
5.  Leaving this world without impacting it in some way; of late, I just feel such an obligation to get off my butt and DO
something to help those ailing in the world (the hungry, the uninsured, the dejected).

 To Do List
 1.  Go skiing- I have never been snow skiing; I would like to start a tradition with my family.
2.  New York- I am so in love with the NEW York depicted in Sex and the City, not sure how accurate the depiction is but NY seems hot according to Carrie and the girls.
3.  France- these people, contrary to what many Americans believe, have their crap together; they value social issues and believe that government exists for the greater good of their citizens. Not to mention, I would so love to see the sights here.
4.  Start a foundation for destitute children coupled with providing educational opportunities for uneducated parents.

 5.  Engender a deep sense of empathy into my children so that they may use the tools of understanding and compassion to benefit the human race.
 6.  Write a novel- not sure if I want to write Young Adult literature or contemporary fiction.
7.  Get my doctorate- develop a dissertation over a subject that through research will truly bring enlightenment and meaning (I am thinking of something that deals with linking student connectedness in school with parental educational backgrounds;my action plan would include providing educational opportunities for parents of toddlers so that real change could take place; the idea is that the children’s educational achievement will be
impacted when they enter school.)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8.  Live every day inhaling and exhaling love.  This is the trickiest task because life can throw some pretty hairy stuff your way.  I am convinced that we weather those times so that we can truly appreciate the beauty in the smallest things.

St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital December 22, 2008

Children all over America today are suffering from cancer.   Have you ever thought of a way that you could help?  Well, the following is a link that will direct you in helping them.  Join the fight against childhood cancer; donate to St. Jude’s today.

http://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=f2bfab46cb118010VgnVCM1000000e2015acRCRD

Promoting Compassion December 6, 2008

Of late, I have really been thinking of ways I can positively impact the world.  I have just had this sense that I should get off my butt and do something.  Well, eureka!  My cousin Jen suggested a blog site @shalomexperience.com, and I was amazed at the message of love that emanated from the author of this site, Andrea.  It never occured to me that the Internet that I use everday could be such a vehicle!  I have been full aware of the social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook, which incidentally, I do not have accounts at either site.  Social networking has not appealed to me; yet, I find this blog site and it all becomes clear to me. 

My intent is to educate and to promote compassion and good will especially in regard to children.  I have such a heavy heart for kids in need.   My 7 year old and I have been sponsoring children through the Feed the Children organization.  This is one organization that uses money donated to not only feed the children, but also to provide for their education.  We are currently sponsoring children in Kenya.  So, the first site I wanted to make bloggers aware of, if they are not already, is www.feedthechildren.org website where dollars can be pledged to sponsor children to help them in many capacities. 

Please take a moment to visit this site and make the decision to spread compassion to children all over the world.

Eat Pray Love December 6, 2008

“God is an experience of supreme love,” writes Elizabeth Gilbert in her memoir of her self discovery through Italy, India, and Indonesia.  This concept was the whole premise of her book.  Her book was so insightful that I found myself underlining something on most every page.  What was highly interesting was Gilbert’s finding of kundalini shakti, a state in the presence of God.  She referred to it as, “sitting in the palm of God.”  Through her meditation when she lived in an ashram in India, she was able to achieve this.   I was fascinated by her tenaciousness; she dedicated hours to nothing but prayer.  I was a bit shamed as well because I often find myself so busy or absorbed in other things to even devote 5 minutes to prayer.  This book  got me thinking about my spirituality itself, apart from organized religion.  Too often I have found myself identifying God with the dogma that pervaded my life when my parents raised me in a Pentecostal church.  This book took God out of that contextual sense for me and allowed me to realize the direct conduit we all have to God…

WWW.ONE.ORG December 6, 2008

The ONE Campaign seeks to raise public awareness about the issues of global poverty, hunger, disease and efforts to fight such problems in developing countries.  On this site, you have the option to be part of a mailer list where you will receive messages that often are letters beseeching politicians, both local and national, to consider global initiatives to end poverty.  One such initiative is the House Bill concerning forgiveness of debt in third world countries.  I was sent a petition via e-mail to sign to send to my Senator.  In addition, I have signed petitions through this organization that sought to increase federal budget funds to fight poverty.  You also have the ability to donate funds for the cause.

Please take a moment to navigate to this site and join.  Get involved:  www.one.org.

The Shack December 6, 2008

I am a true bibliophile!  I freakin’ love me some books…  In particular, I am always on the lookout for books with themes that deal with compassion.  I am currently reading Paul Young’s The Shack, which is an interesting take on God and man’s relationship with Him.  Even though God is manifested as a large, African American women to the main character, Mack, the themes of unconditional love and reconciliation are paramount to the whole essence of God.  Moreover, I have found myself reading myself within the pages.  For example, God tells Mack,

“Does freedom mean that you are allowed to do whatever you want to do?  Or we could talk about the limiting influences in your life that actively works against your freedom.  Your family genetic heritage, your specific DNA, your metabolic uniqueness, the quantum stuff that is going on at a subatomic level where only I am a present observer.  Or the intrusion of your soul’s sickness that inhibits and binds you, or the social influences around you, or the habits that have created synaptic bonds and pathways in your brain.  And then there’s advertising, propaganda, and paradigms.  Inside that confluence of multifaceted inhibitors, what is freedom really?”

Whoa… I read that and thought, yeah, my thoughts exactly.  Some people have certain chemical and metabolic factors that would limit their freedom.  What is God’s stance on their souls?   I am still reading the book and have not totally arrived at an answer (of course, I understand this is a fictional account).  I have to say that the book has definitely made me think…

Children Affected by War December 6, 2008

As a teacher of World Geography, my class and I have been studying the continent (yes, Sarah Palin, a continent ) Africa.  I have been staggered by how children there especially have been affected by the atrocities of war.   Children even as young as 7 and 8 in places like Sierra Leone and Sudan have been forced into military service, being forced to kill and maime even members of their own families.  When these children are assimiliated back into society after having lived that life, there is often much trepidation of their acceptance.  I have read accounts of children published through a series called Africa in Transition who have had to cut off the hands of their families; often their families may have a hard time taking them back. 

There is an organization (thank God) that is already in existence founded to help children affected by war.  I encourage you to go to this site www.warchild.org  to find out ways you can help.