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When we're out and about meeting people and making casual acquaintances, folks will often notice we don't sound Texan and ask, "Where ya'll from?"The truth is- sometimes we just don't feel like telling the story. We might give some version of a truthful answer that will close down the conversation quickly. "Minnesota" is a true answer that satisfies curiosity just fine.
A couple weeks ago I got a haircut and the gal cutting my hair asked, "How long have you lived in Waco?" I actually took a deep breath as I prepared to answer truthfully.
She went on to ask all of the natural questions about the earthquake and Haiti and what was it like? I answered all of her questions to the best of my ability. She listened intently and asked more questions.
After a while she said, "I watched so much news coverage." "That earthquake changed me, I'll tell you that."
I said, "Oh really? How so?"
She replied, "Well I am just thankful nothing like that has ever happened here, you know? I just need to be grateful!"
Because this:
Next Five Minutes from David Platt on Vimeo.
Come Lord Jesus, come.
tara
Psalm 71:20-21 Though you have made them/me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore their/my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring them/me up. You will increase their/my honor and comfort them/me once again.
16 comments:
Oh Tara, SO TRUE. I have had so many conversations like that, not just since the earthquake. "I'm so glad I went on the missions trip because it makes me so glad for how good we have it here." Not a bad thing to be grateful, but that's just the start.
I use to want Jesus to wait, until, Carly is a bride, or I have a grand baby, or the kids graduate high school, or I make it financially, or attain my so called dreams...
I have learned, I mean, am learning...
that I want Jesus to come NOW.
Hurry, come.
I'm confused - I think she just meant it taught her to appreciate what she has, be thankful that she has never had to face such adversity, and not complain about her situation when things could be so much worse. Perhaps the rest of the conversation made it clear that she meant something different, but reading the comment here doesn't lead me to conclude at all that she is glad it happened in Haiti INSTEAD of Texas. I thought she was just indicating that it gave her a reality check about not taking things for granted in her own life.
being grateful is fine ... it just cannot stop there. this particular lady said "I am glad nothing bad like that has happened here" --- I am glad for her --- I just wish more people would move past thankfulness and into action. :)
thank you
Wonderful thoughts, thanks for sharing.
Before we adopted, I knew that it was hard in other countries - I knew that there were orphans, parents struggling to buy food for their children - but it was beyond easy to not think about it.
After we adopted - after my eyes were opened - I knew I wouldn't be the same.
I think for most people, it's easy to be concerned - jump to action - when something bad happens. But, then it's very easy to go back to your everyday lives.
I'm trying very hard to not do that. And, I hope I'm successful, because I don't want to forget.
That was a powerful video. Thanks for sharing.
I bought David Platt's Radical book last night. Look forward to reading it.
Laurel
I know what you mean and yet, millions of people did take action Tara. The donations that people in America and other countries made to Haiti have been unprecedented. People were and are generous. The thing I am having a very hard time with is that so much money donated seems to have done so little good. I just got finished writing an angry email to the Red Cross, who has spent so far less than 25% of the donations they received earmarked for Haiti. Catholic Charities as spent only 16%. They talk about their grand long range plans--in the meantime people are living in mud with sheets over their heads. We gave--many did-- and we care a lot. But I feel like it made no difference. And that really upsets me.Because I tried to make a difference. My kids and I held a bake sale that raised over $600 at our church. As a private family we've given at least that much. I want to see some families in houses, some people with jobs, some hungry bellies filled. And I just don't. It's like the money evaporated. I find it very discouraging, and it makes me mad and I can only imagine how the Haitian people feel. Terri Urban
Everyone is at a different place in their journey. I think the fact that she "watched so much news coverage" and didn't turn it off is something to be celebrated. How many Americans turned it off? Lots! You seem like a person who has come a very long way in your faith journey and perhaps this is just the beginning stages of hers. She watched it, she didn't turn it off, sounds like a little tiny seed of hope to me.
have you read "a hole in our gospel" by Richard Sterns? I just got back from sometime in Africa, and while that's a different experience than what you have been apart of it's brought up some of the same feelings and the book has been really helpful in sorting through my thoughts on all of it.
People won't understand, and people won't naturally be inclined to think of others before themselves.. It seems almost more "natural" as humans to look at horrific experiences and be thankful that you're not in the middle of them instead of wishing you were..Especially when you live in Waco Texas and may or may not have traveled much outside of the country...
To me, it sounds like your hairdresser was saying that for the first time she could see herself in something like that, and she's thankful she isn't. I think that's a huge step, she didn't turn off the TV or hide from it, she watched and it changed her.. That's progress in my opinion..
Jesus experienced this same lack of understanding everywhere He went. He was the link to understanding & He still is..
I can only imagine how frustrating things are for you right now, but I hope that maybe seeing things through a different lens will help you see that many people just don't understand, because they can't.. God has you in the most random location {Waco} for a reason, and is using your story to bring awareness to those there, and around.. It's not the same as living back in Haiti, but your time here won't be void, or less fruitful, it's just different.. I pray you find rest in that, and healing from your experience and that you will begin to see the ways God is using this season..
Your family is incredible, and I just really appreciate your vulnerability and willingness to share.. I hope my words haven't been offensive, you never know how things will sound via a blog comment.. Blessings to you and your family during this time..
:(
Hey guys -
Yes - all you've said is true - yes, good she watched coverage, yes everyone is in a different place in the journey - totally down with that -- yes she is realizing how blessed she is - and that is something - I think you're guessing I am really terribly upset that she was simply thankful nothing bad happened in Waco --- really the point was, thankfulness for safety won't really help unsafe people. We've all got to be more than thankful if the world is really going to change. That was all.
The exchange was friendly and went well, it just stuck with me as I thought about what grateful means and what it does to help those who don't have very much to be grateful for. Thanks for defending her! (But I was not mean or anything, just listening and thinking.)
Tara, I've asked myself many times why, after countless natural disasters we hear about on the news, it's Haiti that finally moved me to take action. This time, I couldn't rest or get the images out of my head. I found it almost maddening to sit at work in front of my computer knowing what was going on (thanks, of course, to your blog), wanting to do so much more than just throw money at this crisis and finding myself annoyed with those who didn't even seem to give it a passing thought. Finally, I think I've figured it out ... being a mother creates a wound of vulnerability that never heals and leaves us far more susceptible to feeling pain and empathy. And yet that's a gift, as it can move us to take action.
You're on to something Courtney. And, I recognize that there are causes in the world that I don't worry very much about - we cannot worry about ALL of it or we go nuts ... I just long for justice. Not just for my babies -- for all of them.
So you're all probably right that I should just be glad that some people are now *aware* that other parts of the world are dying terrible deaths each day and live a life very different to us in the developed world.
I am sometimes what others describe as "a tortured soul" -- and I am so troubled by the gap between the rich and poor that I get judgmental at times ... being judgmental is ugly. (so ugly!) I need to work at doing better to judge only myself.
Thankful for what I have -- and wanting to do better at giving to others,
T.
thank you for posting the video. i would so love to talk to you someday.
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