The Compelling Nature of Compassion

First off, Congratulations to the Silvestris! They got the referral for their beautiful son Malak!

So...this weekend I went to Phoenix to stay with some dear friends, Sarah and Ron. Sarah and I met while studying abroad in Prague and this was the first time we've seen each other since we got back! Our friendship is a rare one...I think we would both say that it has drastically changed the course of our lives (to be infinitely better) and I never finish a conversation with Sarah without much to mull over. This weekend was no different!

Since I was in Phoenix, my Prague roommate Tiffany drove up from Tuscon to hang out for a day. This is Tiffany, Sarah, and myself:


Sarah works for Amahoro Africa, and I loved hearing the stories of what they have going on in Africa...people taking care of street kids and prostitutes, and also raising up a generation of indigenous leaders to love and serve their hurting countries. This time with my friend and her husband has left me challenged, encouraged and inspired.

On the flight home today, I read Red Letters, and it was the perfect time for me to read that book. Being with Sarah and Ron gave me so much to think about, and this book just put the thoughts I had into words I never would've found.

My favorite quote from the book says, "The gospel I believe in offers a cup of cold water in Jesus' name. The only gospel worth living is the one that incarnates love. The only gospel worth giving our lives for is the one that elevates the needs of others above our own."

Our lives must be radically altered by the love of Jesus and we in turn must share that with others. Any other scenario is not the gospel in its totality.

This feels completely insignificant compared to serving street kids in Uganda, but I did something I've been meaning to do for about a month. I disconnected my cable. I was going to give up TV for lent, then I realized if I can go 40 days, I don't need it (I do still get major networks, though). According to the guy I talked to at Cox, this will save me around $34.00 a month. I'm already used to not having that money, so I'm going to give it to blood:water mission. Every month that will be enough to give 34 people clean water for a year. I'm not saying this to praise myself, I just wanted to share my realization that necessities shrink drastically in light of kingdom knowledge (and I'm scared for God to show me what else I can live without).

What I'm listening to.

Since I'm sharing what I'm reading...I thought I'd also share what I've been listening to, so here is a little playlist of the songs I've had on heavy rotation lately. I know you'll want them, because I'm just that cool.

1. If You Need the Morning - La Rocca

2. Green Gloves - The National

3. Chelsea Burns - Keren Ann

4. Snowy Atlas Mountains - Fionn Regan

5. I Want You - Elvis Costello (this song is always on rotation).

6. I Don't Want to Fight - Derek Webb

7. Love is Only a Feeling - The Darkness (this album is always on rotation)

8. The General Specific - Band of Horses

9. The Engine Driver - Decemberists

10. Saint John - Cold War Kids

There are a few more, but I'll stop at ten. Enjoy!

And congrats to the Burrells! Baby Mira is here, yay!!!

Since I'm super bored...

I guess I'll share pictures from the last month. I've been back in Oklahoma for less than 24 hours and I'm already bored...I need classes to start!

Anyhow here is the marsh in my neighborhood on the way to the beach:

And the Briarcliffe (my neighborhood) beach in the winter: empty!

My friend Sarah and I at a luau in Kaua'i:
One of several beautiful sunsets we watched:
Waimea Canyon - amazing!:
Sarah and I at the canyon:

If only I had the kayaking pictures... we were covered in mud and pretty much disgusting, wish I could share!

Primary Time!

It is that very very exciting time of year in South Carolina! With our early primary, we actually make national news without looking like rednecks, yay! Myrtle Beach is hosting the Republican debate tonight and the Democrats next week, so let's hope we pull it off!

This election season makes me very excited to be an American. I am typically a little (okay, a lot) jaded and cynical about American politics, but it is so empowering to be able to say "You won't be my president without speaking to my issues." Since I won't be here for the primary, I drove to Conway (the county seat) and voted today. And I feel empowered.

I am actually very excited about the National Conventions for both parties this year. Since there are so many candidates and support is not really all on one in either party, I hope they just have some throwdowns on the convention floor. It used to be that no one knew who the nominee would be when the convention started, and people really had to articulate why they (or their candidate) should get the nomination, and I would love to see that happen again... I guess I just feel a lot of hope this year and I am thrilled to see what transpires in the weeks and months to come.

A New Year, A New Look..

Happy New Year to all! I have been wanting to change things for a while, I really wanted three columns, so here it is: different. I'll probably be tweaking it for a couple weeks, but anyway...

Hawaii was great, we are home and I have major jet lag...always fun!

I'm not a big fan of New Years resolutions, but I made one this year. Then I upped the ante. At first I said I was going to read a Dostoevsky novel (which I still plan to do) then I decided I will read one book a week this year. Or maybe it's equivalent, in case I'm swamped with school and can't read one in a week. I'm still working on that aspect.

Anyhow, part of my new layout is the "Books I'm Currently Reading" and if it doesn't change once a week...I might need to be reminded that I should be on a new book. I randomly jot down names of books I want to read in my journal, and so far I have 16, so that's a good start. If they're good, I'll blog about them.
Lately, I've been thinking a lot about coffee. My primary stream of thought has been the fact that I have strong convictions about fair trade and seeing farmers in developing countries make a livable wage, yet I still occasionally love a cup of Starbucks. I don't even think it's about the coffee, it's the whole Starbucks atmosphere that I love, especially at Christmas.

The main conclusion that I've come to is this: my convictions are completely worthless it they are not applied to my daily life, in those rubber hits the road moments of wanting my nonfat vanilla latte, then the inevitable guilt about the Nicaraguan farmer at the bottom of that chain who cannot support his family. It would be great to be completely ignorant and continue to drink as much as I want with no guilt, but that ship has sailed. It's funny how once your eyes have been opened to an issue, you can't get them shut again, no matter how hard you might try.

All that said, I've found a lovely independently owned coffee shop in Edmond with some really great Equal Exchange coffee drinks and some lovely employees. I think I've found my study spot for the new semester.

There is also a campaign called "Frankenbucks" that is trying to pressure Starbucks into serving 100% fairly traded coffee. I'm not optimistic about it, but I would love it if it worked!