New Year's Resolution??

I know...I know... I've been so bad at updating my blog, but I am going to do my best to improve on this fact in 2010. It is sometimes hard to put into words what we do here keeping in mind confidentiality of the people with whom we work.

As I reflect on 2009, I am contemplating the amazing people; the deep issues that confront missionaries on the front line - from the 'uttermost' parts of the world; the diverse nationalities, and so much more - in this incredible work that the Lord has called me to do. I love what I do, and as I reflect on the transition of this past year, I recognize that the greatest sacrifice I make is in not getting to see my family and various friends around the world. That being said, I was so blessed that two of my sisters, Desiree and Dianna, were able to come to France (my sister, Desiree, won a trip to Paris and Bordeaux and I joined them) this past October. We argued over who God was giving this to - me or them (perhaps it was all of us!!). We were able to make special sister memories! What a precious time as we did the touristy thing around Paris, but more importantly, getting to share in each other's lives on a day to day basis for the 9 days we had together.

Also, my dear friend, Lisa came to visit me this past June and treated me to a beautiful time in various places around Italy and France. It's always a blessing when my family/ friends/ supporters get to see where I live, work, and experience a little bit of the european life-style first hand. And there's something to be said when they get to see 'how' I live, the rooms where I spend hours with the missionaries who come to us for debriefing, and meet my co-workers. It helps when we talk and I can say a name, and they can put a face to a name.

I am also reflecting on so many of you all over the world - from West Coast to East Coast in the US; to the beautiful Southern hospitality of the US, and up in the beautiful North Coast; my friends across Europe, throughout West, South, East and North Africa; all the way to New Zealand and Australia; others who are spread throughout India, Mongolia, China, Thailand, Singapore, and other countries in Asia; my dear friends who are aboard the Africa Mercy where I spent 3 of my 8 years in Mercy Ships pouring my life into the refitting of that ship; I think of my friends who are in different organizations throughout the world ... I marvel at the tool of Facebook and how it has allowed me to reconnect with so many people. I have over 1000 friends on facebook, and I say that not in a prideful way, but as a reminder to myself that my worlds have all come together. From past students whom I've taught, and who are all now grown-up and have kids in college of their own; to friends from my Apple Computer Days, elementary school days; high school friends; university friends; family; cousins; aunts and uncles; missions friends - it's amazing really!

It's a reminder that somehow, some way, we are all connected! And I hope it continues to be so, because in a world that says we should be independent, strong, and live for ourselves ... I am saying, we really do need to be dependent on each other; to help each other be strong, and to live for others. We are instructed to 'lay our lives down' for one another. I am willing to do that - are you?

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written." My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick.. Your friends and
parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it..
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey
is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never
blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you, really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up
to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an
answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't
save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will
this matter?
27. Always choose life.
28.. Forgive everyone, everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or
didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd
grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Ever feel like you are going against the flow? Ever feel like every which way you turn, you bump up against something hard? For me, that's life in missions. But when I really think about it, that's the way my life has been from the beginning. And as I've gotten older, I realize that I'm kind of glad my life has been like this. I believe it has strengthened me as a person and as a Christ-follower. Perhaps it's 'iron sharpens iron' in the flesh. 

I recognize that many of us develop a bit of a 'sharp' edge to protect ourselves, an almost self-defense mechanism. Those sharp edges keep us from letting others get too close, and also keep us from getting cut ourselves. But I'm learning that as we allow ourselves to 'bump up against iron', those sharp edges I've developed over the years are slowly rounding themselves out. I find that the more I grow in Christ, the less I really care about the sharp edges - in fact, I'm learning that those very edges I grew as a protection often were used to cut someone else (and much of the time, it was unintentional). I still go against the flow, and still bump up and around the other things that come my way, but I find that I am navigating the flow much easier without so many sharp edges. Just a thought ... 

Illusions

A New Year = New Beginnings =  ???

We say a New Year means New Beginnings, but essentially we always bring in our old paradigms. How do we go about taking off the 'rose-colored' glasses and see with 'new eyes'. During the Christmas holidays, I went to a Christmas market at a village up the road. It's a very 'posh' town called Montreaux. They had beautiful little vendor huts selling everything from mulled wine to chestnuts roasting on an open fire, to crepes, to gifts...well, you get the picture. There was a spot in the middle of the market where you could get your photo taken. Here I am with two friends (I'm in the middle as 'santa')...the interesting thing is that you see things from a different vantage point when you are 'behind the wooden posing platform'. I saw the little girl trying to hide from her mama. I saw the old woman walking by herself with her head down. I saw the beautiful lights across Lake Geneva. I saw people glance our way but not really 'see' us.

It's the last one that caught my attention the most. How many people do you 'glance at' but don't really see. Or maybe a better question is, how many people do you see, but choose to only 'glance at' because of the time and energy it takes to become involved in people's lives. Here is my New Year's challenge to myself and to you...if you want to make a difference in this world, then you have to make a difference in peoples' lives. It's messy, takes time, takes energy, and also takes a lot of prayer and dedication. How much are you willing you put on a 'God set of lenses' to see what it is that He sees every day!