On the Image of Beauty and Being Transformed

"Being smart is better than being good-looking" -Gilbert Blythe

I don't know if I have ever agreed with this for I have definitely cared more about my own appearances more than my intellect. But if you will forgive me for altering classic literature slightly I think I might just have a true statement…

"Being good is better than being good-looking"  -Autumn Blakley (soon-to-be Hall)

Most of my friends have been women who are genuinely beautiful, talented beyond their knowledge and wonderfully unique, but whom, like me are slightly flawed in one way or another. Rarely do we get the chance to know and love individuals who are not only beautiful and talented and unique, but who also possess a sense of innate goodness and kindness without condition. I have known very few, but they are the angels God has sent to protect, challenge and move me.

As a child I had few friends, but two of my closest were Emily and Jennifer. Now Emily was more like me, a good friend, but slightly flawed in the average human ways: prone to envy, pride and jealousy. We might, argue, fight, tease… but never Jennifer. She loved us in ways we never deserved. She ran around with the school's most unpopular girl (me), but that never seemed to bother her and she always encouraged me in my "funky" ways, as I remember her calling them. When I was self-obsessed, caring only about my own problems, she never complained, but only asked if I was okay.  When I had a crush on the impossible boy, who could never ever care for an ugly duckling like me, she told me I was beautiful. When I came out of the ugly stage, and boys finally did take notice, she was never jealous of the time I no longer gave her as I sought acceptance in their affections. She only encouraged, protected and loved. It wasn't until I was an adult and that friendship long since abandoned that I realized it was she who God used to see me through a difficult childhood and who kept me alive during my darkest moments.  

When I was struggling to understand faith and traipsing through all the do's and don'ts of Christendom, it was Stacey who finally came to me offering friendship and discipleship. She introduced me to her Bible, one that finally came alive with truth, conviction and transformation. I didn't know what I was doing, didn't know how to behave, how to be. But Stacey was patient and gentle, humble and kind, challenging me with the grace of a saint and love of a martyr. Genuine, Faithful and Good; this was Stacey.  I wonder if I would be a missionary today, if not for her love and edification.

Another Jennifer challenged me again, a few years ago when I first began working with Book of Hope. She is an amazing missionary with our ministry, whose kindness extends beyond all understanding. Everyone who knows her would label her the nicest person they have ever known and she taught me more about grace and patience in one week of ministry than I think I have ever experienced. She looked into my life, heard God's voice and spoke what would be prophecy as she gently hinted to a future with Book of Hope.  She listened to my story, and where I saw obstacles, she saw miracles; where I saw flaws, she saw gifts.

And so, here I am, running around the world with Book of Hope. And this week I have met another one of these truest of women, Niki from CBU.  She is faithful and kind as well as a true kindred spirit (we both love Anne). Her team is rarely problematic, but in those moments where tensions are strained, or nerves are frayed, she is peace and life to them. I have to wonder what crazy thing is going to come of knowing her, but at the very least she has inspired this entry. My own selfishness longs for her to come to work with us at Book of Hope, because every organization could use more of these beautiful souls.

So here is the point of my reminiscing: I want to be good: truly good. Not just a good person because I share the gospel in other nations. That's the easy part. But truly Good because I live it in every word I speak, and every step I take, everywhere I go. I long to let go of all bitterness, to see only the good in mankind and to love everyone because they are God's children and He has not forgotten his love for them. Am I able to alter my judgmental thought process, my lack of patience and my quickness to anger? I certainly wouldn't mind it if I could erase my use of sarcasm, the rolling of the eyes and my egocentric vanity as well. Oh, I am so flawed but there is always hope…

" …but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

-          Romans 12:2

Love to You~

PS : we are in Honduras, having a marvelous time and soon I will be printing stories from this team and their work here!!

Currently Reading The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical By Shane Claiborne see related

Spring/Summer Schedule

Currently Watching Anne of Green Gables By Megan Follows, Colleen Dewhurst, Richard Farnsworth, Patricia Hamilton, Marilyn Lightstone see related

Tired of Cleanliness

Have you ever found yourself surrounded by the smell of burning trash? It seems every path here in El Salvador is paved with this strange odor. It’s difficult to describe, however it feels like each breath I take is laced with the scent of ember, soot, rot, fire and disease. These fiery trash heaps appear at every turn and never seem to actually burn anything away, but are instead converting the filth into a new evanescent form and transporting it deep into my lungs; incenses from the streets of El Salvador.

I wonder how our antibacterial walls and hallways of perfect cleanliness might appear to the people of El Salvador? We have become a nakedness of humanity: scourged free of grime and scent and all that truly makes us human.

I don’t know who said “Cleanliness is next to Godliness” but I am convinced they never entered the dingy halls of a Latin Church Service, where despite all the cobwebbed ceilings and dirt floors, men and women come to humbly love their God, passing first the funeral pyres of yesterday’s waste.  In all the humility of such a place, these people approach the throne of God in the splendor and honor of Princes and Princess. They don’t doubt their place at the King’s table. Instead, from within their midst, a fragrant offering of praise wafts up to the Heavenlies; they dance in the presence of Purity and they put to shame the white washed worship of North America.   

Forgive me Father for believing that Freedom in your presence first requires the sacrifice of cleanliness, both in wardrobe and location. Thank you for reminding me again, that you don’t ask for perfection, only humility and that to bear your image we need only to walk in Love. 

Love to you~

Currently Reading The Notebook By Nicholas Sparks see related

 Hi Friends,

Right now, I ought to be packing to fly to El Salvador in the morning. But if i don't update you on Colombia now, I might get distracted and then this blog will be aa month later and primarily about El Salvador. Sooo...

Last week I was in Monteria, Colombia with a Chi Alpha Team from Cornell University. Although this was a small team of only SIX people, the work God enabled us to do was phenomenal. They were integral in training the local Book of Hope team, a group of enthusiastic young people who are excited at seeing the children in their community drawn close to the Lord.  The Cornell Team, lead by Chi Alpha Missionaries Matt & Tracy Herman, combined with the local team distributed approximately 30,000 copies of the Book of Hope  in only four days of school distribution!!! They worked hard, but they can go back to school knowing they have affected he destiny of thousands of young people in Colombia.

For those of you, who might have been concerned about the safety of Colombia, thank you for your prayers. However, guerilla violence hasn’t been a problem in the city of Monteria for at least 10 years, or so I have been told, and it has actually become a safe haven for refugees from other areas where war is still a concern.

One day, we were able to visit a school specifically located in a refugee village about 30 minutes outside the city. These children were so excited to receive the Book of Hope and I had the wonderful opportunity to meet a young girl named Veronica who wants to be a doctor some day. What a joy to encourage her both in the Lord and in her studies. She is completely able, but please pray with me that the Lord will guide her and keep her focused on His ways.  So many young girls in this area become involved in sexual activity at her age.  We saw many 12-15 yr old girls who were pregnant or mothers.

Please also continue to pray for Angela, the National Director of Colombia. She has been managing the Book of Hope there for the past 7 years. During that time we have distributed 3 million books. In 2007 alone however the goal is 4 million! God definitely has the right person in position to see that number achieved.

Well, it's time to finish my packing! Thanks for your prayers and support. They keep me going!

Love to you~

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