Every morning I wake up and realize I’m lucky. Lucky to have a house, a bed, food, games, and a family who cares for me. When I saw all the faces of the children in the orphanage, who lived in such bad conditions, I realized how fortunate I truly am. Fifteen children had only one mamita who took care of them and gave them love. Although these children had only a few things, they were smiling and playful. Their happiness does not require the superficial things that our society depends upon. The children of Virgen de Fatima have learned that all a person needs is love. They have been abandoned by their parents and have been left behind. They are always hoping for people with good hearts to adopt them and welcome them into a family.
When I work for Voices of Our Youth, I feel like a hero. I know I’m contributing to this world. I’m granting children an opportunity to have a brighter future and improve the quality of their childhood. VOOY is an evening when we, the youth, are able to share our feelings and thoughts; when we can say what we need to say, and be ourselves. We are able to express our thoughts any way we want. Voices Of Our Youth is the biggest event the middle school organizes and it’s one of the biggest fund-raising events in the whole school.
VOOY is basically a wonderful evening in which we can express our views in many different ways (poems, songs, letters, essays, etc…). This is a unique opportunity when people are all the same; it doesn’t matter where you come from or what you have. What matters the most is that we are all just normal people saying what we need to say.
After VOOY last year, I completely felt like a hero. I knew what we did made the world a better place for those children. When we went to the orphanage, we could play with the children and be with them for an hour or two. When I was playing with them, I could see how happy they were with only the few things they had and a little love. These children definitely deserve something better. We have to help them so that their quality of life can improve. These children deserve to have a caring family who will make them happy. So let’s get to work and all be little heroes.
If you would like to help us make a difference in the lives of the orphans and people of La Paz and Haiti, you can purchase a ticket or make a donation by contacting us at 2792302 or 2794750 ext 203.
Or check our website and donate online at vooylp.yolasite.com
Voices Of Our Youth
“Our Voice is Hope. Our Hope is Change.”
March 25, 2010
vooylp.yolasite.com
-Grade Eight student
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
I Think, I Dream, I Believe, I Speak.
So many people tell me to be quiet, tell me that I'm too young to understand or that I shouldn’t be giving my opinion. As they tell me all these things I become shyer and shyer until I obey and stop speaking. Now I see that I am a real coward. How can I think in such way, how can I let people engrave such nuisance into my head. I respect my father, my mother and my elders, but that doesn’t mean that children think differently or that we as children don’t have the right to speak. I am free to believe whatever I want, it doesn’t matter what’s in my head, and no soul can stop me from doing so. There must be a reason why God gave us the gift of talking from such a young age. For I believe that as we become older, we learn about life and about people. And as we mature, our thoughts have more meaning. Our thoughts have always had a meaning and an importance, but as we mature and grow they develop into strong statements. Grown-ups wait until children are a certain age and then they actually pay attention to these concerns in life. But what adults don’t understand is if they would truly listen, one day these thoughts may be global issues. And parents can be proud because they were supportive, supportive of a person’s thoughts, even if it was just a child’s. This is what Voices of Our Youth means to me; it is a place made by us and directed by us, the children, where you are entertained and enlightened by our speeches.
Do you want to change the world? It isn’t hard; you just need hope, determination and courage. Just open your mind and speak up, ensure that all can listen.
If you would like to help us make a difference in the lives of the orphans and people of La Paz and Haiti, you can purchase a ticket or make a donation by contacting us at 2792302 or 2794750 ext 203.
Or check our website and donate online at http://vooylp.yolasite.com
Voices Of Our Youth
“Our Voice is Hope. Our Hope is Change.”
March 25, 2010
http://vooylp.yolasite.com
-Grade Eight student
Do you want to change the world? It isn’t hard; you just need hope, determination and courage. Just open your mind and speak up, ensure that all can listen.
If you would like to help us make a difference in the lives of the orphans and people of La Paz and Haiti, you can purchase a ticket or make a donation by contacting us at 2792302 or 2794750 ext 203.
Or check our website and donate online at http://vooylp.yolasite.com
Voices Of Our Youth
“Our Voice is Hope. Our Hope is Change.”
March 25, 2010
http://vooylp.yolasite.com
-Grade Eight student
Thursday, March 4, 2010
VOOY is Back
What has now come to be an annual event, Voices Of Our Youth, is back this March 25, 2010!
The students of ACS have been working diligently to have their voices be heard, and not only here in La Paz, but worldwide. This year you can check out what is happening with VOOY online and even join us in helping the orphans of La Paz, the displaced of Bella Vista and the multitudes who still are suffering from the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti. We are also raising awareness for the those who have been affected by the earthquakes in Chile. After much deliberation, the middle school students came to a consensus that the proceeds of their efforts would be best used in these places.
In early Feb. a neighborhood only miles from our school was destroyed by landslides. Today, hundreds are still living under tents, banning together and hoping for help. This is Bella Vista. We continue to aid Para Los Niños, a local nonprofit organization that is reaching out to orphanages throughout La Paz. Last year, our slogan was "I am the one whose voice can change the world." This year the students wanted to honor that sentiment and help the people of Haiti as well as those here in Bolivia.
So another year has come and our voice still speaks. Join us this year as our slogan is, "Our Voice is Hope. Our Hope is Change."
Check out our new website, http://vooylp.yolasite.com and join our Facebook group, Voices Of Our Youth, Bolivia, and receive updates on what is happening with VOOY 2010!
Thanks for all of your support!
The students of ACS have been working diligently to have their voices be heard, and not only here in La Paz, but worldwide. This year you can check out what is happening with VOOY online and even join us in helping the orphans of La Paz, the displaced of Bella Vista and the multitudes who still are suffering from the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti. We are also raising awareness for the those who have been affected by the earthquakes in Chile. After much deliberation, the middle school students came to a consensus that the proceeds of their efforts would be best used in these places.
In early Feb. a neighborhood only miles from our school was destroyed by landslides. Today, hundreds are still living under tents, banning together and hoping for help. This is Bella Vista. We continue to aid Para Los Niños, a local nonprofit organization that is reaching out to orphanages throughout La Paz. Last year, our slogan was "I am the one whose voice can change the world." This year the students wanted to honor that sentiment and help the people of Haiti as well as those here in Bolivia.
So another year has come and our voice still speaks. Join us this year as our slogan is, "Our Voice is Hope. Our Hope is Change."
Check out our new website, http://vooylp.yolasite.com and join our Facebook group, Voices Of Our Youth, Bolivia, and receive updates on what is happening with VOOY 2010!
Thanks for all of your support!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
today and every day...
Sometimes I feel as though if I am writing here, it has to have some weight, some bearing. I don't like wasting people's time to read something that doesn't say something "important" or thoughtful. Sometimes I wonder what really meets those requirements. Truly, if you are reading this you are probably close enough to me that you are just checking to make sure that I am still alive and Bolivia hasn't imploded yet. Well, it hasn't, if you are wondering.
The presidential elections have come and gone and the incumbent government continues to gain strength. The country is evolving and as it is everywhere else in the world, only time will tell where we will be in the future.
And with that, time will tell where we all will be in the future...trust and obey...
So I am well and the year is off and running. There is much in store and I look forward to experiencing each moment. My goal is to live in the moment this year, as I am more aware of my blessings and treasures in life today, as my time in Bolivia is waning. If you haven't officially heard, I have been accepted and will be attending Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, next year. I look to the future with joy and anticipation, yet live for today, with hope to not miss a thing!
Voices of our Youth is up and running for its 3rd year and the high schoolers are spear-heading the movement! The middle school students have voted that 70% of the proceeds will go to Bolivia: the orphanage we have been supporting as well as a local community that has been wiped out due to rains and landslides. More houses are lost each day as the rain is relentless right now. The other 30% of the funds raised are going to Haiti. The kids have spoken and their voices will be heard on Thursday, March 25. In the last two years we have raised close to $5,000 and this year we are able to accept international donations through our newly created PayPal account and web page, thanks to our students and administration! The students are in the process of finalizing the web page and it will be up and running quite soon. I am proud of their hearts and their efforts. They are passionate and are ready to change the world, here and abroad. I hope and pray that their passion never dies. They motivate me to keep mine burning!
I hope too that you are alive, well and passionate, wherever you may find yourself in life.
Grace and blessings to you this day and every day.
The presidential elections have come and gone and the incumbent government continues to gain strength. The country is evolving and as it is everywhere else in the world, only time will tell where we will be in the future.
And with that, time will tell where we all will be in the future...trust and obey...
So I am well and the year is off and running. There is much in store and I look forward to experiencing each moment. My goal is to live in the moment this year, as I am more aware of my blessings and treasures in life today, as my time in Bolivia is waning. If you haven't officially heard, I have been accepted and will be attending Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, next year. I look to the future with joy and anticipation, yet live for today, with hope to not miss a thing!
Voices of our Youth is up and running for its 3rd year and the high schoolers are spear-heading the movement! The middle school students have voted that 70% of the proceeds will go to Bolivia: the orphanage we have been supporting as well as a local community that has been wiped out due to rains and landslides. More houses are lost each day as the rain is relentless right now. The other 30% of the funds raised are going to Haiti. The kids have spoken and their voices will be heard on Thursday, March 25. In the last two years we have raised close to $5,000 and this year we are able to accept international donations through our newly created PayPal account and web page, thanks to our students and administration! The students are in the process of finalizing the web page and it will be up and running quite soon. I am proud of their hearts and their efforts. They are passionate and are ready to change the world, here and abroad. I hope and pray that their passion never dies. They motivate me to keep mine burning!
I hope too that you are alive, well and passionate, wherever you may find yourself in life.
Grace and blessings to you this day and every day.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving
Just a note of thanks to you all, for all. On this Thanksgiving, I hope we can stop and smile and feel. Feel the love of our families, our communities and our God. I hope we can feel this so that we in turn can share this very precious love with the world around us in all that we do. I feel blessed to be a part of a community that does just that with each action of their day.
So absorb the love and gratitude that we are so blessed to feel and be aware of. The simple love of a friend, a parent, a sibling, a spouse. For this simple love is the core of who we are, yet sadly is so simply overlooked and falls to the wayside. For this simple love can not be lost; for if we feel it slipping, look to the greater source, in his majestic mountains, bright blue skies, and the warm, soft breeze--allow it to capture you. For we have a God who loves us oh so much to surround us with beauty so that we may never lose sight, never let go.
Thank you for sharing His beauty with me each day, showing me the truth of life is more than a dollar sign, or an A+ in the situations of our lives. It is relationship; this is the thing to truly be thankful for, and for this I truly am.
Grace, peace and blessings upon you all.
Love,
Lyndsey
So absorb the love and gratitude that we are so blessed to feel and be aware of. The simple love of a friend, a parent, a sibling, a spouse. For this simple love is the core of who we are, yet sadly is so simply overlooked and falls to the wayside. For this simple love can not be lost; for if we feel it slipping, look to the greater source, in his majestic mountains, bright blue skies, and the warm, soft breeze--allow it to capture you. For we have a God who loves us oh so much to surround us with beauty so that we may never lose sight, never let go.
Thank you for sharing His beauty with me each day, showing me the truth of life is more than a dollar sign, or an A+ in the situations of our lives. It is relationship; this is the thing to truly be thankful for, and for this I truly am.
Grace, peace and blessings upon you all.
Love,
Lyndsey
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Do We?
“Sunday”, derived from one language, which came from another, as are most words within the English language. From one to the next, we trace back through Germanic languages finally landing upon its Latin origin: dies solis (“day of the sun”). Amazing what one can come upon with a quick click of the mouse. The sun, the source of our existence on Earth. Without it, we are nothing. It would make sense that our ancestors would name a day in its honor and stop to appreciate something which solely gives asking for nothing in return. This would leave me with the begging question: Are we following suite?
Now, whether it be the seventh day or the first of a calendar week, we see Sunday as a day of rest, Sabbath within many cultures. I realize Saturday is the chosen day of Sabbath within the Jewish culture, being that the Lord created in six days, and on the seventh rested. This again rests upon the calendar and depending upon where you geographically have settled and the small grid of squares upon which you gaze, you’re going to see Sunday both as day one and seven. For the sake of argument, day seven or Saturday within the Jewish calendar could very well be Sunday. On the seventh day He rested. Also, followers are called to give their first fruits to the Lord your God. SO whether it be beginning the week focusing upon the source of life or the end of the week showing thanks, it is a consecrated day. Interestingly enough, in Greek, as well as Portuguese, the words for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc. mean second, third fourth, etc. Again, the wonders one can come upon surfing the web.
Previous to, or aside from Christianity and Judaism, Sunday or another day of the week are still placed aside as reverent days of gratitude and rest. The Sun itself is an irrefutable source of life, an origin of transferable energy which from life is produced and further multiplied. Today, to some extent we break from our work-week, but do we rest? Are we reverent? Grateful?
There is no “true” factual basis of the origin of the sun, yet we would be fools not to recognize its power and importance. Hence, people have bowed to it, entered into rituals and offered sacrifices. This was/ is a way of showing gratitude. I do not believe that this glowing ball of fire demanded this upon humans, but it was we who decided upon this necessity. Jesus, the Son of God is considered by many, identical to our center of the universe…a source who solely gives asking for nothing in return.
Jesus Christ is an example of the energy of life. His origin is elusive to us as is the Sun’s. Through his warmth, he loved and accepted all those he came in contact with, healed and fed those along his path. His quiet strength radiated far passed his immediate location and continued to bear life.
Sons emanate the life of their fathers. I would like to propose that these two life sources, the Sun and the Son, come from the same origin of life and are clear and irrefutable examples of life and what we are too designed to be—Bearers of life. We are to be as they are: sources whom solely give, asking for nothing in return. What does the Sun need from us? What does Christ need from us? Everyone is provided for when everyone gives as both the Sun and the Son do. Life mirrors life.
So this Sunday, go back to the source, pause and be thankful…Ponder for a moment. What/Who is this energy, this life that we have? What characteristics does it bear and radiate…what do we absorb and in turn exude?
Now, whether it be the seventh day or the first of a calendar week, we see Sunday as a day of rest, Sabbath within many cultures. I realize Saturday is the chosen day of Sabbath within the Jewish culture, being that the Lord created in six days, and on the seventh rested. This again rests upon the calendar and depending upon where you geographically have settled and the small grid of squares upon which you gaze, you’re going to see Sunday both as day one and seven. For the sake of argument, day seven or Saturday within the Jewish calendar could very well be Sunday. On the seventh day He rested. Also, followers are called to give their first fruits to the Lord your God. SO whether it be beginning the week focusing upon the source of life or the end of the week showing thanks, it is a consecrated day. Interestingly enough, in Greek, as well as Portuguese, the words for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc. mean second, third fourth, etc. Again, the wonders one can come upon surfing the web.
Previous to, or aside from Christianity and Judaism, Sunday or another day of the week are still placed aside as reverent days of gratitude and rest. The Sun itself is an irrefutable source of life, an origin of transferable energy which from life is produced and further multiplied. Today, to some extent we break from our work-week, but do we rest? Are we reverent? Grateful?
There is no “true” factual basis of the origin of the sun, yet we would be fools not to recognize its power and importance. Hence, people have bowed to it, entered into rituals and offered sacrifices. This was/ is a way of showing gratitude. I do not believe that this glowing ball of fire demanded this upon humans, but it was we who decided upon this necessity. Jesus, the Son of God is considered by many, identical to our center of the universe…a source who solely gives asking for nothing in return.
Jesus Christ is an example of the energy of life. His origin is elusive to us as is the Sun’s. Through his warmth, he loved and accepted all those he came in contact with, healed and fed those along his path. His quiet strength radiated far passed his immediate location and continued to bear life.
Sons emanate the life of their fathers. I would like to propose that these two life sources, the Sun and the Son, come from the same origin of life and are clear and irrefutable examples of life and what we are too designed to be—Bearers of life. We are to be as they are: sources whom solely give, asking for nothing in return. What does the Sun need from us? What does Christ need from us? Everyone is provided for when everyone gives as both the Sun and the Son do. Life mirrors life.
So this Sunday, go back to the source, pause and be thankful…Ponder for a moment. What/Who is this energy, this life that we have? What characteristics does it bear and radiate…what do we absorb and in turn exude?
Friday, July 17, 2009
The Grind No Longer.
June 28, 2009
“I come to you now, in this time, seeking solace, guidance and discernment.” I begin my quiet time today.
I find the word solace frequenting my mind and in ways a feeling of my heart. This is a desire of the heart coming to mind. Not vice versa. Heart to mind. I don’t even know where the term is coming from, as it is not one which I use frequently, yet I sense truth with intrigue as I examine its meaning further.
I think of peace and comfort when I think “Solace”. A quiet serenity emanating from within—goodness per say. I sat on the front porch this week performing my morning ritual: pajamas, coffee, bible, fresh air and sunshine all upon the gentle sway of the aged porch swing. Solace. “Mornin’. How are ya?” I ask the towering black man who passes with a bounce in his step. “How are you?” he says with a bit more than a garnish of surprise in his voice. “I am well,” I reply as my chest rises and lowers as if a breath of peace in the breeze comes into my lungs. “What does that mean?” the man, still a bit puzzled as to why I even spoke to him inquires. “Great; Peaceful.” He begins to question what I am doing, saying that I am not good, but “Blessed”. I agree. His gospel-like dialect continues to emerge as he continues down his line of questioning: “What are you reading?” acknowledging the “book” on my lap. He comes to find that it is in fact my bible and not just a book then gently smiles, “And that is why you said hello.” He continues on his way, same bounce in his step, “God bless you.” “You too.”
Why it is that these times seem few and far between? These simple moments in which one can only arrive upon or within when “the stars are aligned”. Sometimes we miss them because we are too busy to truly live them. That in itself is a sad statement, but one in which we can all find a disheartening truth. Honestly, when do I find this gift upon me? Most frequently with a cup of coffee in-hand, milling through the world, quietly challenging its constant tribulations with a book close by. I find solace is there. But, why? How?
In these times, I stop and offer nothing. Nada.
Oftentimes I find myself wandering, wandering and searching for so much more than this entertainment-enriched, “anything-and-everything is possible” world. All I want is quiet; all I desire is peace. Sound familiar?
No television, no busyness, no flashy glimmer and glitz—
it isn’t even peace, but solace that my heart is seeking.
For in the solace, peace ensues. The word brims to the surface again.
Solace that I seek—what is that? It is something I am coming to find I will always seek and truly all of our hearts’ desire. Solace. 1. Comfort at a time of sadness, grief or disappointment 2. Somebody or something that provides comfort in times of sadness, grief or disappointment. Synonyms: comfort, consolation, support, relief, succor. Antonym: aggravation (Encarta.com).
Has someone died; has tragedy struck and reconciliation needed? Family problems? Tough day, week or year(s) at work? No? Yes? Yes. We are desperately crying out for Solace. Someone or something that provides comfort. Desperately.
We are not ok. Even if all the pieces seem to be coming together, there is a piece missing; things are looking good for the future and the family is healthy, but the question looms: When is the next storm coming? Should I batter down the hatches and be ready for the worst or is it just a few scattered showers? Hard to say…the weatherman is only right approximately forty percent of the time yet we tune in every night to check in. Maybe even a few times throughout the day as well. Forty percent. We rely on the 40%. Now wonder we need solace. Our rest and comfort, our plans rely on the 40% that the man with the map tells us every evening?
No matter how sunny it may seem outside the window at this moment or how warm the sun’s rays feel as you bask, there is a raging storm pounding on our windows. The Middle East, the economic downturn, the consistent bills arriving daily. The questionable job market, the ever-changing needs and desires of your family, the food on the table, the roof over your head. This is the world in which we live. Teenage pregnancy, broken families, abuse, neglect, miseducation, malnutrition—the number impoverished of lives that continue to rise. The storm is raging.
But it’s sunny outside; the weather is great, perfect for boating and summertime cookouts. Is there Hope? A break in the storm? Solace, Truth, Sonshine? Do not be ignorant, yet yes, never lose Hope.
Our sadness lies in uncertainty, our disappointment in broken relationships and hopes for this world and our lives that have come to pass yet not materialize. Yet there is something, someone who provides comfort in times of sadness, grief or disappointment. Someone who gives graciously: relief, consolation and succor. We don’t have to wait for the “stars to align” or a miracle to take place. Funny how we skeptically, yet anxiously await such events; they have come to pass. We no longer need to wait, but embrace the miracle and look to the star and follow as many have before us.
Follow to where? Solace. A quiet peace where true goodness lies. No glitz, no glamour, just a family. Parents and a child—an environment seeping with the overwhelming simplicity of true love.
What we seek we elude in the chase.
Don’t we see—we all have this deep-seeded desire for rest; Enough is Enough. It is Freedom from exertion, aggravation that we want! We are only free when we can sit as we are—wholly accepted and loved, just as a small child. One the most needy living beings in the world, yet loved and adored and utterly provided for. Completely vulnerable and completely supported. We are the children of God. We are the small children in complete need, vulnerable and crying out for more than we know, but need to humbly accept the nurture of a loving parent. Even Jesus as a child needed cared for and God gave him to Mary and Joseph to do so. Even the Son of God, God himself in human form needed. He needed loving parents to take care of him, to provide for him. So why is it that we are too strong, too busy, even too “good” for the loving support…relief—solace of our loving father?
Where does your trust lie? Have you found solace?
He wants to give it to you:
in the sun,
the coffee shop,
your home,
at the beach,
even your workplace.
He is here offering more. More than we can handle. All we have to do is seek it and accept it each day.
Listen to what He tells us:
I have to come…So that your Joy may be complete, to heal the brokenhearted, bring the dead to life…to tell you to stop; eat, for I am the Bread of Life. You never need to go hungry again. True nourishment.
Each day it is a brave act of abandonment, but one we so desperately need.
Let go of the place you have built here that you can embrace as solace, yet will mourn as it fades away. For one day we may come upon the truth that his “yoke is easy and his burden is light”. Slow and steady as the animals plow the field, solace demands time and surrender. It is within his yoke, his solace He desires us to live, and we desire to truly live, eternally. And behind the yoke, in its wake, all is changed. Together, everything changes. Just as a field is transformed, so too is our world.
“Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Can you imagine?
Cover and comfort from the storm. The threatening storm soon becomes the soothing rhythm upon the sturdy roof under which we rest well. Every day. Every night. Let us begin. Let us live in solace.
“I come to you now, in this time, seeking solace, guidance and discernment.” I begin my quiet time today.
I find the word solace frequenting my mind and in ways a feeling of my heart. This is a desire of the heart coming to mind. Not vice versa. Heart to mind. I don’t even know where the term is coming from, as it is not one which I use frequently, yet I sense truth with intrigue as I examine its meaning further.
I think of peace and comfort when I think “Solace”. A quiet serenity emanating from within—goodness per say. I sat on the front porch this week performing my morning ritual: pajamas, coffee, bible, fresh air and sunshine all upon the gentle sway of the aged porch swing. Solace. “Mornin’. How are ya?” I ask the towering black man who passes with a bounce in his step. “How are you?” he says with a bit more than a garnish of surprise in his voice. “I am well,” I reply as my chest rises and lowers as if a breath of peace in the breeze comes into my lungs. “What does that mean?” the man, still a bit puzzled as to why I even spoke to him inquires. “Great; Peaceful.” He begins to question what I am doing, saying that I am not good, but “Blessed”. I agree. His gospel-like dialect continues to emerge as he continues down his line of questioning: “What are you reading?” acknowledging the “book” on my lap. He comes to find that it is in fact my bible and not just a book then gently smiles, “And that is why you said hello.” He continues on his way, same bounce in his step, “God bless you.” “You too.”
Why it is that these times seem few and far between? These simple moments in which one can only arrive upon or within when “the stars are aligned”. Sometimes we miss them because we are too busy to truly live them. That in itself is a sad statement, but one in which we can all find a disheartening truth. Honestly, when do I find this gift upon me? Most frequently with a cup of coffee in-hand, milling through the world, quietly challenging its constant tribulations with a book close by. I find solace is there. But, why? How?
In these times, I stop and offer nothing. Nada.
Oftentimes I find myself wandering, wandering and searching for so much more than this entertainment-enriched, “anything-and-everything is possible” world. All I want is quiet; all I desire is peace. Sound familiar?
No television, no busyness, no flashy glimmer and glitz—
it isn’t even peace, but solace that my heart is seeking.
For in the solace, peace ensues. The word brims to the surface again.
Solace that I seek—what is that? It is something I am coming to find I will always seek and truly all of our hearts’ desire. Solace. 1. Comfort at a time of sadness, grief or disappointment 2. Somebody or something that provides comfort in times of sadness, grief or disappointment. Synonyms: comfort, consolation, support, relief, succor. Antonym: aggravation (Encarta.com).
Has someone died; has tragedy struck and reconciliation needed? Family problems? Tough day, week or year(s) at work? No? Yes? Yes. We are desperately crying out for Solace. Someone or something that provides comfort. Desperately.
We are not ok. Even if all the pieces seem to be coming together, there is a piece missing; things are looking good for the future and the family is healthy, but the question looms: When is the next storm coming? Should I batter down the hatches and be ready for the worst or is it just a few scattered showers? Hard to say…the weatherman is only right approximately forty percent of the time yet we tune in every night to check in. Maybe even a few times throughout the day as well. Forty percent. We rely on the 40%. Now wonder we need solace. Our rest and comfort, our plans rely on the 40% that the man with the map tells us every evening?
No matter how sunny it may seem outside the window at this moment or how warm the sun’s rays feel as you bask, there is a raging storm pounding on our windows. The Middle East, the economic downturn, the consistent bills arriving daily. The questionable job market, the ever-changing needs and desires of your family, the food on the table, the roof over your head. This is the world in which we live. Teenage pregnancy, broken families, abuse, neglect, miseducation, malnutrition—the number impoverished of lives that continue to rise. The storm is raging.
But it’s sunny outside; the weather is great, perfect for boating and summertime cookouts. Is there Hope? A break in the storm? Solace, Truth, Sonshine? Do not be ignorant, yet yes, never lose Hope.
Our sadness lies in uncertainty, our disappointment in broken relationships and hopes for this world and our lives that have come to pass yet not materialize. Yet there is something, someone who provides comfort in times of sadness, grief or disappointment. Someone who gives graciously: relief, consolation and succor. We don’t have to wait for the “stars to align” or a miracle to take place. Funny how we skeptically, yet anxiously await such events; they have come to pass. We no longer need to wait, but embrace the miracle and look to the star and follow as many have before us.
Follow to where? Solace. A quiet peace where true goodness lies. No glitz, no glamour, just a family. Parents and a child—an environment seeping with the overwhelming simplicity of true love.
What we seek we elude in the chase.
Don’t we see—we all have this deep-seeded desire for rest; Enough is Enough. It is Freedom from exertion, aggravation that we want! We are only free when we can sit as we are—wholly accepted and loved, just as a small child. One the most needy living beings in the world, yet loved and adored and utterly provided for. Completely vulnerable and completely supported. We are the children of God. We are the small children in complete need, vulnerable and crying out for more than we know, but need to humbly accept the nurture of a loving parent. Even Jesus as a child needed cared for and God gave him to Mary and Joseph to do so. Even the Son of God, God himself in human form needed. He needed loving parents to take care of him, to provide for him. So why is it that we are too strong, too busy, even too “good” for the loving support…relief—solace of our loving father?
Where does your trust lie? Have you found solace?
He wants to give it to you:
in the sun,
the coffee shop,
your home,
at the beach,
even your workplace.
He is here offering more. More than we can handle. All we have to do is seek it and accept it each day.
Listen to what He tells us:
I have to come…So that your Joy may be complete, to heal the brokenhearted, bring the dead to life…to tell you to stop; eat, for I am the Bread of Life. You never need to go hungry again. True nourishment.
Each day it is a brave act of abandonment, but one we so desperately need.
Let go of the place you have built here that you can embrace as solace, yet will mourn as it fades away. For one day we may come upon the truth that his “yoke is easy and his burden is light”. Slow and steady as the animals plow the field, solace demands time and surrender. It is within his yoke, his solace He desires us to live, and we desire to truly live, eternally. And behind the yoke, in its wake, all is changed. Together, everything changes. Just as a field is transformed, so too is our world.
“Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Can you imagine?
Cover and comfort from the storm. The threatening storm soon becomes the soothing rhythm upon the sturdy roof under which we rest well. Every day. Every night. Let us begin. Let us live in solace.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)