Is ignorance bliss or denial?

I rarely watch Oprah, but today her show was actually quite eye opening.  It focused on the oppression of women and girls around the world, specifically in Cambodia and Africa.  Being an emotional person, I found my face covered by a waterfall of tears as I learned about individual struggles and losses.  Starvation, prostitution, and lack of medical supplies/services blanket so many countries.  So often, upon hearing this news, I turn the other cheek pretty quickly.  Overwhelming grief, sadness, and despair flood my being.  What can I do?  Little me, in a great big broken world?

Well, something clicked today in me.  I can write.  I can talk.  I can shine a light in the darkness.  And, so can you.

Heading into a meaningful season, full of wonder, grace, peace, and love — I feel convicted to fall on my knees in thanksgiving.  We have so much here in the United States.  Our country is overflowing with abundance and opportunity.  Yes, there is hardship.  Yes, there is pain, poverty, and injustice.  Here, there, and everywhere, people are hurting.  Voices are silenced, as shame, control, and oppression contend to take their place.  It’s just simply not okay!

Feed ONE.

So really, what can we do?  We can start small.  I find that an overwhelming anxiety soon follows an emotional outpouring, which often leads to inaction.  Yet, by starting small, we can and will make a difference.  Like the butterfly effect, where everything is interconnected, change happens from little acts.  Simple acts. We have no idea how these actions from the heart change the world.  We can leave those details up to God.

For Christmas, I am once again challenging our consumer culture.  Gifts are not wrong or bad, but refusing to open ourselves up to the  larger picture is.  Allowing ourselves to become distracted by the hustle and bustle of the season decreases our heart’s capacity.  How might your gift giving change by focusing on the realities of this world?  Feeding one child, supporting a small business, or sponsoring a child are some ways to start small.  Maybe helping out locally, giving your time to those without a warm place to rest their head is a place to start.  Time is a valuable way to give, and often creates lasting change for all involved.  How might you start a new family tradition this Christmas by cultivating awareness?  Living simply makes room to see the truth.  And from truth, comes real living and awareness.

The Girl Effect is a movement started to create awareness.  Young girls and women around the world are not treated equally and fall victim to horrendous acts.  We, you and me, those living in a safe space, can be their voice.  After all, knowledge is power and starting small, is where is begins.

“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.”

~Mother Teresa

We can make a difference.  Will you?

]]> http://findingsimplicity.wordpress.com/2009/12/01/ignorance-is-bliss/feed/ 2 Laura FEED Project http://findingsimplicity.wordpress.com/2008/10/31/the-gift-of-presence/ http://findingsimplicity.wordpress.com/2008/10/31/the-gift-of-presence/#comments Fri, 31 Oct 2008 22:32:03 +0000 Laura http://findingsimplicity.wordpress.com/?p=218 ]]>

I had a vision the other day.  I was standing in the eye of an intense storm.  All around me, swirling faster and faster, were things representing my life today.  God, school, church, work, responsibilities, hobbies, and relationship commitments.  And, although everything was twisting around me rapidly, I realized I was planted firmly in the middle of it all.  With this realization, I was reminded that I chose many of these things and at any time, I had the ability to drop them.  When this happened, the spinning began to illustrate a slow motion clip from the movies.  As this took place, I started to see each object more clearly, completely defined.  My sight and focus came back.  God most definitely showed up to reveal something important.  He was offering me the gift of being present.  It was imperative that I see these things and know the choices behind the chaos.

How will you step into this season?

For the past several weeks, I’ve been noticing the pace of life picking up rapidly.  One of my favorite things to do is people watch.  I often wonder where everyone is going and what they are doing.  As always, the speed of life is fast, especially as we approach the holiday season.  Our ability to stay present, mindful, and in the moment is tested to its breaking limit.

As we enter into November and December, I’m beginning to sense the tyranny of the urgent in many lives.  Thanksgiving and Christmas become one more thing on the “to do” list.  Between turkey roasting and present searching, it’s all too much for some.  Whatever happened to the spirit of the holidays?  Where have the hearts of gratitude and joy gone?  How did this time of year become something that so many people despise or dread?  When did it become a time of selfishness and hostility?

“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.”

~Hamilton Wright Mabie

Working at the YMCA, I’m experiencing a bit of the holiday, economic, and political frenzy.  It’s almost as if the attitudes of some individuals switched sourly with this season.  Honestly, some people are just plain rude, aggressive, and mean.  Taking their frustrations and negative energy out on a complete stranger seems to be a strategy they are willing to expel.  In fact, anyone working in the service industry can attest to this right now.

So, who will you choose to be this season?  What attitude will you manifest?  If last year didn’t go so smoothly, what things will you change this time around?  How will you bring your spirit back into the Spirit of this sparkling, magical season?  Maybe going out for dinner is an option, instead of the traditional (often stressful) home cooked meal?  Maybe the gift of your time and presence could replace the material things you wrapped so meticulously last year?  Whatever it may be, our ability to step back and clearly see each day, one moment, is a gift.  Will you openly receive it?

“For many of us, sadly, the spirit of Christmas is “hurry”.  And yet, eventually, the hour comes when the rushing ends and the race against the calendar mercifully comes to a close.  It is only now perhaps that we truly recongnize the spirit of Christmas.  It is not a matter of days or weeks, but of centuries – nearly twenty of them now since that holy night in Bethlehem.  Regarded in this manner, the pre-Christmas rush may do us greater service than we realize.  With all its temporal confusion, it may just help us to see that by contrast, Christmas itself is eternal.”

~Burton Hills

How will you be present to those around you this holiday season?  What practices or disciplines will you adopt to invite the Spirit back into your heart and home?

I absolutely love this time of year!  Can you smell the season in the air?  The cool, crisp nights and turning of the leaves make we gaze with wonder at all the change.  Many people experience a bit of sadness as we enter into the fall and winter months, but I have an overall sense of comfort and peace.  Although I enjoy the hot, long summer days, I always look forward to the turning of this season.  One of my favorite things in the coming months is cozying up to a warm, crackling fire, sipping steamy apple cider or soothing mint tea. 

Jeremy and I had the opportunity to visit Rasmussen Farms this past week in Hood River.  The location is spectacular, with views of Mount Hood and Mount Adams in the distance.  And while they carry a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, jams, and gift baskets, I was most interested in the “backyard”.  A pumpkin patch and corn maze!  Seeing these two things immediately propelled me back to my childhood days and our annual family trips to pick out the best looking pumpkins and gourds.  Oh, and I can’t forget the petting zoos and hayrides too!  And during the week of Halloween, my precious dad exuded endless energy in decorating our home for the countless goblins and candy seeking ghosts.  All of these memories carry incredible joy and will forever be etched in my heart.  Ah, the sparkle of fall.  I think the teapot is calling my name! 

“Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn.”

~ Elizabeth Lawrence

What special memories and traditions do you hold of this season?  How will you take time to create lasting memories this fall?