My Thin Place

Author Mary DeMuth, you know her, you love her, and through her amazing memoir, Thin Places, Mary teaches readers about finding hope even in the darkest corners of our lives.

We all have stories of "thin places". Mary refers to these places as "snatches of time, moments really, when we sense God intersecting our world in tangible, unmistakeable ways."

This is our daughter, Amelia, and this is our family's story of a time when God came close to us even though we were unable for reach for Him.

This is our thin place. I'd love for you to click over to Mary's site so I can share it with you.

Amy Sullivan's Thin Place: What To Do When Your Baby Turns Blue

Tell Me A Story

I don’t have the kind of mind that holds random facts and statistics. My brain isn’t made up that way.

Instead, I have a mind that holds stories. I don’t care about a football game, but tell me about a ragtag team of mountain kids clawing their way to State, and I’m hooked.

Yes, stories I remember, and lately, it seems as if I’m addicted to stories of extreme faith and colossal-sized good. I happily eat up these accounts like that last spoonful of crunchy peanut butter hiding at the bottom of the jar.

But it isn’t just the big stories that get me. I’m a sucker for the everyday stories of people doing more than the required amount without much notice from anyone around them.

Oh, but you notice what these low profile, do-gooders are up to, don’t you? Of course you do. I do too, and I hope to learn from them.

Who am I learning from this week?

This week I’m learning from someone who doesn’t want to be seen. Someone who buys pizza and pop for seemingly unappreciative teens, but what this someone doesn’t know is those sulky, little souls see his quiet, giving ways, and so do I.

What about you? Can you share a story of a person in your life doing unseen good?

photo by Jeremy Hall. Flickr, Creative Commons.

Where In The World?

Raise your hand if you can tell me where to find Namibia on a world map.

What about Estonia?

French Guiana?

Cameroon?

Yes, you guessed it. I’ve been click, click, clicking on Blogger Stats.

Just when you thought the only person reading your blog was your Aunt Roberta, BOOM! You realize you are big stuff in South Korea. By the way, anyong-haseyo.

A few days ago, I received an email from a friend and the subject line said, “I’m like David Hasselhoff.” Inside was the following message: “I’m a hit overseas! Someone from Latvia has looked at my blog six times. I’m not even sure where Latvia is!”

Fear not, dear friend, I didn’t know where Lativa was either, but after a little map gazing, I do now.

Have you ever heard your hometown mentioned on national news? Immediately, you are interested in the story. You listen carefully to the report, and scour TV footage for familiar landmarks and faces. The news is relevant to you because you know the community, and you care about the community. Now what happens when you hear of a natural disaster in Angola? If you are me, not much. The news isn’t relevant because I don’t know the community, and I, um, I don’t really care about the community.

However, in an attempt to feel more of a connection with people we’ve never met, in far off places we have never visited, we have added a new addition to our home décor, a map.

Now, when we hear of extreme poverty, an earthquake, a fire, a flood or worse, our family can make a connection (even if it is just a small connection) to the place and people involved.

What about you? How do you stay interested and connected to people outside of “your world”?

photo by Tiflex2, Flickr Creative Commons.

Mirror, Mirror...

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fakest of them all?

Oh me?

Of them all? Really? Of all of them?

Me? Fine.

Do you ever question your motives? Question why you say something, why you do something? Question who you are verses how you want to be perceived?

Me too.

Here's the problem: This is how I want to be seen-

So, so shiny!

Then there is the real me-

Um, perhaps a little less shiny.

I want to be GIVING, but you know what else I want? Oh, take a seat people because this will take a few minutes.

I want a table right next to this desk so I don’t have to look at a random pile of papers scattered all over the floor, and I want a haircut, and I’m talking a real haircut, not a I-happen-to-be-at-a-major-discount-store-and-there-isn’t-a-line-so-I will-get-my-hair-cut hair cut. Oh, and yes, I want those sassy Skylair boots listed on p. 8 of the new Athleta catalogue with “cork infused rubber wedge outsole for comfort, leather insole, and partial side zip for easy on/off” but don’t even think about looking up the price of those babies because I’m pretty sure the cost is equivalent to what it would take to feed a small village for weeks. And the sad part? I could continue on for pages about my wants.

I feel fake.

Caught between who I am (gimme, gimme, gimme), and who I want to be (take it all!) hoping this whole GRACIOUS GIVING adventure isn’t for my glory.

What about you? Sum it up. What do people see when they look at you? How do you want to be perceived? Are you working to become something different?

doll photo by Charles Roark on Flickr.com

A Radically Good Read

You know a book is good when as you are reading it, the book flies into a large pile of soapy bubbles (so maybe I shouldn't read and bathe my nineteen month old daughter at the same time), sinks to the bottom of the tub, is "quickly" retrieved by little hands, and then you proceed to read it flimsy, wet pages and all.

Um, yes. It's that good (Thanks to my bloggy friend, Julie for the recommendation).

In Radical, David Platt poses an important question: Have we manipulated the Gospel to fit the American Dream?

Check out this quote from Radical:

"God loves ME. ME. Christianity's object is ME. Therefore, when I look for a church, I look for the music that best fits ME and the programs that best cater to ME and MY family. When I make plans for MY life and career, it is about what works best for ME and MY family. When I consider the house I will live in, the car I will drive, the clothes I will wear, the way I will live, I will choose according to what is best for ME. This is the version of Christianity that largely prevails in our culture."

Oh David Platt, I hear you. I mean that is the whole focus of my family's journey- to get rid of the me, me, my, must-have attitudes we possess.

But how?

What? Radical lays out a five step plan?

Yes, Platt tells readers about a five step plan and a one year experiment. I like plans, and I really like plans with only five steps. Those are the kind of plans that are actually achievable.

So, I won't tell you every step of the plan (you can click over to Platt's site, and he will though!). However, I will tell you my favorite step of his plan. Ready?

Step 3: I will sacrifice my money for a specific purpose.

David says, "When you 'give to the poor', then you will lack a face on the need that reminds you why you must sacrifice to give."

"The poor" is too vague. See, if you lack a face when you give, then it doesn't make the giving as meaningful, but if you give to the same place for a specific purpose, you become truly involved and the giving is more real.

Want to read the first chapter for free, free, free? Click here.

Bekeri and Compassion

Have you been following the Compassion Bloggers as they visit Guatemala? Have you read their posts of challenge and hope? Have you viewed their pictures of sherbet colored buildings and brown haired children?

Our family has supported a child through Compassion for years. Sadly, here’s what that support looks like:

Oh, the Compassion letter and statement.

Toss it in the bill basket.

Eventually open it.

Write a check.

Attach a stamp.

Mail it off.

I wish I could say I stuff outgoing envelopes for our young, Kenyan girl with colorful art, photos of our family, or smiley face stickers, but the truth is I stuff our envelopes with nothing more than a quickly scrawled out check. Our family’s entire act of sponsoring a child isn’t filled with very much thought, and it’s definitely not filled with compassion.

Now let’s take a peek at another sponsored child-

At my church, the children in Kids Church support a boy through Compassion. His name is Bekeri, and he is from Ethiopia.

Today I watched as a wicker, offering basket filled, and loose change trickled in from the fingers of tiny hands. I looked on as little ones dug into their pockets and fancy, dress-up purses. I observed kids happily placing their coins on top of the coins of others.

This whole act of giving was so sweet, so simple, and so sincere.

On the way out the door, I pulled Bekeri’s profile off the wall to take home and read. On the way home, I attempted to make conversation with my daughter about this young boy.

Me: Do you know Bekeri eats a lot of potatoes and cereal?

Amelia: No (staring out the window).

Me: Do you know Bekeri’s family only makes about $8.00 a month?

Amelia: No (still staring out the window).

Me: Do you know Bekeri has three kids in his family?

Amelia: Mooooom, no (still staring out the window, only now mildly annoyed).

Me: Well what DO you know about Bekeri?

Amelia: (Heavy sigh followed by about five seconds of silence) I know he is from Ethiopia, not Kenya like you thought because I asked about that this morning. I know that Ethiopia is across the ocean. I know his favorite color is red, and he has a pet goat, but I don’t know why he has a pet goat, and I know that even though he is dressed nice in a tie, that he is poor. Plus, I’m not sure if he has a dirt floor or a dirty floor, but I know he has one of those things.

And at that I smiled. Our journey towards GRACIOUS GIVING doesn’t always need an adult at the helm, and maybe that’s a good thing.

Haven't checked out the pictures and writings from Compassion's Guatemala trip? Start here.

Another place for great conversation-The Compassion blog.

Her View on River Fest

Welcome to Her View! In Her View, my seven-year-old daughter documents our adventures in gracious giving. In this post, Amelia writes about a recent service activity our family worked together. We assisted in the arts and crafts section at a local river festival.

Read up friends and followers, this sweet paragraph cost me a quarter.

Sorry I havent wrote in fovoer.I helped save the river.We painted,facepaint,color and more.My mom, dad, and me were there. Me and my mom helped kids paint a big banner about keeping the river clean.I got my face painted like a dog, but it looked like a loin.We saw ariel people in the air. They were really cool.We saw bands too!I think thats all. Good bye! Amelia

I'm Rich, I'm Rich, I'm Filthy Rich!

Oh, whoops.

Sorry about leaving this big pile of cash just sitting right in front of you. I actually just scooped these bills off my kitchen table. My daughter needed some space to complete her homework, and it's difficult to find a place for our endless supply of moolah.

"Really?" you ask.

Um no, but well, sort of.

See, I ran across this website called Global Rich List. Basically, you type in your annual income, and the site calculates your rank compared with the rest of the world.

I'm the 324,540,230 richest person on earth! Discover how rich you are! >>

I know we always hear we are members of the richest country in the world, but at times, it certainly doesn't feel like it. Then I see actual numbers, and I'm convicted, really convicted.

Global Rich List states $73.00 could buy a new mobile phone or a new mobile health clinic to care for AIDS orphans in Uganda. I know I paid more than $73.00 for my cell phone.

Ahhh, I'm not exactly sure what a family that GIVES looks like, but I know GIVING starts with an appreciation of what you have.

Bounce over to Global Rich List if you have 30 seconds and see where you rank (Yes, yes, it really takes 30 seconds!).

Photo by Daniel Borman

When My Mouth Just Won't Stop

And this is how I feel.

Why?

Last week my talk dripped of sarcasm, not at all unusual.

Last week I forgot to press the edit button in my head, and when I thought something, it immediately came racing out of my mouth, and often with a sharp edge.

Last week instead of being funny, I crossed over into being mean.

Last week I wondered what the nonstop moving of my mouth had to do with my family’s overall goal of GIVING.

So I thought and

thought and

thought and

thought and

Oh yeah, I’ve got it.

Part of being able to GIVE to others is to actually be able to see and HEAR their needs. Hearing about the needs of others is impossible when sarcasm is oozing out my mouth.

Thankfully, God has blessed me with a clean, fresh and new week starting today. Actually, starting right now. So my mouth is closed people, and I’m excited to see and HEAR what I’ve been missing.

What about you? Do you struggle with talking over the needs of others?

Photo By Behrooz Nobakht

The Shirtless Dancing Guy

Lately I’ve been feeling very small in a world filled with problems far too colossal for me to comprehend.

In our family’s quest to find our way to GRACIOUS GIVING, I often put pressure on myself to focus on grand and original ways to help others. Example: Starting a diaper closet in our community.

Then sadly, I overlook the simple and practical ways to practice giving. Example: Participating in a local coat drive.

Sometimes instead of trying to lead the way, I need to just shut-up and follow. As I’ve been wrestling with this idea, I ran across a video.

This shaky footage of some crazy, shirtless dancing guy has a great theme- The world needs followers.

Attention sweet skimmers and those of you who don’t want to spend 2 minutes and 57 seconds watching some barefoot, concert-goer get down (Um, hello? Why not?) skip the video and HEAR THIS-

Followers make great ideas happen. Projects, movements, and missions can’t survive without people taking the courageous step to follow. So for now, I'm looking for ways to follow, and today I am going to search our closets for some coats. Maybe a diaper closet will come into the picture somewhere down the road, but today, I will just follow.

Where do you practice being a follower? What activity or ministry do you and your family participate in and support as followers? Tell me. Tell me. I'd love to hear the ways in which you are involved.