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140 characters on Twitter seems much easier - you can only focus on one thing and do your best to squeeze the idea in under the limit. A blank page presents a much larger challenge. So much room for so many words. That can be looked at in two ways - an overwhelming unending task, or an opportunity to write something beautiful. (I usually err on the side of the former.)
As I sit here I realize that this is analogous to the issues facing us in Haiti today. The future of Haiti is vast and uncertain and seemingly changing every day. There are a million different ideas being bandied about and each have their corresponding pros and cons and pundits. This challenge can either overwhelm us with its complexity or help us rise to the occasion and each do our small part in advancing this nation and helping these amazing people.
After visiting one of the largest tent cities in Port au Prince today, we were again struck hard by the sheer enormity of the need and tasks facing the Haitian people. This usually makes us want to get back to our own small corner of the city and get back to helping the few that we can affect and touch - because that seems real and tangible....and possible.
In that sprawling field with thousands of refugees living under twigs and tarps, where we saw trenches being dug to divert the rains in order to have a dry place to sleep tonight - we entered the home of one family. Nine people will live in this ten-by-ten foot room made of scraps of wood and blue plastic tarps. One mattress on the ground. Laying on gravel with mud on the sheets. Their access to clean water, food, health care, sanitation, and basically everything else most of us take for granted would be described as difficult if not impossible.
Their situation is replicated thousands and thousands of times over across this city for untold numbers of other families. Even though we can't do anything about this problem on the whole - we can for this one family. They have received medical care, new beds to sleep on above the muddy ground, tarps to keep out the rain, and our commitment to continue loving them and caring about their well being. We cannot do that for everyone - but we can for some.
We cannot allow ourselves to be overwhelmed and unable to respond. It is not acceptable to throw our hands in the air and hope someone else will take care of it. We are not responsible or able to change the whole world-country-culture-city-community-neighborhood or disaster...but I know that we can all touch someone and make a difference for one person and one family at a time.
Mother Teresa was apparently much better with words than I am, because she managed to say all of what I just came up with in far fewer:
The needs are great, and none of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful.
She went a little over the character limit, but I would follow her on Twitter in a heartbeat if I could.
Thank you for joining us in doing the small things that turn into something wonderful.
-Troy
24 comments:
Thanks Troy! I think this is just what I all need to hear and then take action. You amaze me. Keep on loving, serving and being a role model to others. Your love for Jesus oozes out and it is so beautiful.
Beautiful post. And I smile at the thought of Mother Theresa on Twitter...
I think you said it so well, even though you went over the character limit : - ) Thanks for helping us to understand that we don't and can't help everyone, but do what little we can and hope that others do the same, and we help this nation.
That was really nice Troy- and so fitting for yesterday.
Troy & Tara--Mother Teresa also said, "My Lord did not command me to be successful--He commanded me to be faithful." I imagine seeing so many people suffering can make it feel pointless to do anything small. I'm awfully glad you and others are being faithful to doing the things that feel small. I'm certain they make a much bigger difference than you'll ever see.
--Maria
Babe-
I am pretty sure Mother T. would also follow you on twitter if she was here and had an good phone. :) thanks for writing ... sorry i bossed you into it, but it turned out lovely.
T.
I have that quote on my wall. :-) It helps me to not be overwhelmed. Press on, Troy. God is using you.
Mother Teresa also didn't have the responsibility of her own children and family to raise. It seems that you two are sacrificing the well being of your own family to go on some martyr mission. You have to wonder why you even had kids or adopted more. If people are going to make this their life mission then they shouldn't pretend to be able to be good parents to a bunch of very young children who need their parents and their focus on them. Where is their stability? School, consistency of parents being there without taking off on the next flight, moving them between countries, one of which is devastated, and so on? I'm sure you will say you can have both, but I would then say you are both in deep denial.
Oh, anonymous. Ignoramus may be a more accurate name. I guess we can't know that since you don't have the courage to use your real one.
You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about and you could not be more wrong about the well being of our children.
Question for you - why do you even bother reading?
Thanks for being rude though and reminding me to be a better person today.
Troy replied earlier but I thought about this and I would like to quickly reply too.
If any one of our close friends and family who have watched us (like been in the same room/house/country as us watching us parent) came to us and said what you said, I would really need to think on it. Truthfully if they thought we were not putting our family second after God that would be something I would want to hear from them.
But because I assume that you have never seen us, our kids, or our parenting, I don't think you get to speak into our lives... you're a stranger.
We have counselors, pastors and close friends and family who have never said anything of the sort to us and I tend to think they probably have a lot more information than you do.
If you *do* know us and have seen us parent, I would really love if you emailed us directly with your concerns -- unidentifiable anonymous comments from strangers don't pull any weight with me. Concerns brought to my by friends and family certainly matter.
On another note, I would bet that we value different things. That's okay - you're free to make choices that reflect your values and so are we.
And, since we don't control the earth and when it trembles I am not really sure how we could have avoided moving our kids from one country to the next ... I guess we need to work harder at controlling Mother Nature.
thanks-
tara
I read what Tory wrote first which I felt was just beautiful. Then I read all of the comments before I posted my own. Next time I will post first and read comments after. The anonymous poster really has NO idea about parenting, helping, or compassion. To Troy and Tara - you are AMAZING and I think your kids are wonderful and you are doing more than most people and are not martyrs as anonymous wrote. According to the webster dictionary a martyr is a person who sacrifices something of great value and especially life itself for the sake of principle. You guys are life. Sure you are making sacrifices but you know when to take breaks, pull back, refocus, and start again. I LOVE what you do and only wish I could help like you do. I read your blog daily and have learned so much and have been able to refocus our own family here in the US where everything is so abundant and plentiful. Yesterday at the grocery store we bought only what we needed, not just what we wanted. I will stop for now as I may be over the character limit.
Okay, I've mainly just blog-stalked (or lurked if you prefer) ..I'm sorry that sounds so creepy, but I'm okay, I promise :)!
On the behalf of the rest of us who are HUMAN and COMPASSIONATE, please don't let what anonymous said get to you. The same could be said about any number of people, just insert "workaholic" or 'Special-needs child" into what that person had to say. Your kids have YOU, YOUR LOVE, YOUR COMPASSION, YOUR HUMANITY as the basis of their consistency. Keep on rollin' Livesays, I'd love to join you...maybe someday we will.
You are doing great work, here in TX and in Haiti. Just re-read this post if you ever need encouragement!
Amen.
This is a great post, Monsieur Tara. There will always be critics but you guys are the real deal.
Wow. Thanks, Troy, for doing what so many of us cannot or do not. Prayers for you and Jen and all those down there with you (and of course Tara here for the moment).
"Anonymous" is a word that describes how so many of us would like to keep the situation in Haiti. Thank you for fighting to make it human and personal.
oh Anonymous...stop hating and open your eyes. it's not like there's only one "correct" way to raise children. and who made you the child-raising police anyways?
T&T love you guys.
Listening to Christian radio recently, my 4 1/2 yo daughter said, "Mom, I don't have to wait to be an adult to help Haiti." I agreed and asked what she'd like to do in that moment, expecting a request to lead her in a prayer. DD replied, "You could get me a passport and renew yours. Then we could go to Haiti where I could move rubble. Cleaning up there will take longer than my room but little people can do things big people can't and I can move little things for a long time without giving up or getting bored. I could also play with children and read to those that cannot play while they heal. I can help watch little people that are smaller than me and I can sing and dance to help people feel better so they can keep working to heal all the hurt people."
Love is personal and so is service. My daughter has reminded me of Mother Theresa's words, the tireless dedication of workers there helping, of the resiliency of the Haitian people and how there is so much more that we can do to become one functional, healthy, loving family.
Tonight we pray for all the Livesays and those they care for in Haiti. We have not stopped praying since the quake and will follow my daughter's practical ideas to see what 'little' actions we can add to our prayers.
Love your blog - very inspiring in a world filled with "anonymous" people focused on self - it is refreshing to read - keep posting!
Anonymous reminds me of the people who criticised Jesus for healing on the Sabbath. Some people are so blinded by following their view of the rules that they can't see God working right in front of them.
Anonymous is pathetic and misguided. He/she needs to look in the mirror to find someone with flaws.
Troy and Tara,
You guys are amazing parents. Where ever you are, you provide your kids with love. They have a comfortable home and a community that supports them in both Haiti and Texas, and family all over the US. What a wonderful thing to grow up with.
Many moms feel called to work. What a wonderful thing that your work is so rewarding, and makes such a difference. Your kids must be SO proud of you. What a blessing for your kids to grow up watching their parents be so passionate about what they do.
I am so glad I know your kids. They are sweet, compassionate, funny, and well-adjusted. I want mine to be just like them. They are evidence that you are doing something right.
I love that Paige is so eager to go back to the country that she loves.
People who know you stand with your choices and feel proud to be your friend.
I've never met you but have been following your blog. And the work you do is amazing. And through it all the love for your family, your children, shines through. Keep going. You've been called to do this. And just like people were against things Jesus did on earth, we too will have people who stand up against our ideas/actions. Let's just pray this anonymous person's heart is changed. I can say as an MK I have never regretted the fact that my parents went into missions and that I had a different upbringing. Yes, there are consequences later in life, but so many rewards. I wouldn't trade it for a thing.
Thank you.
LIvesays, my choir at school is singing we are the world for our concert this spring. My teacher wants us to make a slideshow of Chili and Haiti for it. We wanted to know if it was a possibility to use your pictures as they are so beautiful, raw, and seem to have such deeper meaning coming from someone so close to the disaster. Thank you so much for all you do, I pray for you often and am encouraged by your journey.
Thanks so much,
Savannah Savage
Hi Savannah -
Use any photos you want to use! You can take them off the blog or Flickr
Thank you so very much! And thank you for all you do! I am extremely encouraged by your family as I long to and feel called to be a full time missionary when I "grow up"! Know that we are praying for you!! I feel you all embody the verses Philippians 2:1-4. Thank you so much for the pictures! have a great week!
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