October 2, 2008

Certain people are going to find me absolutely crazy for continuing this argument, but it has grabbed my attention and I doubt it will let go anytime soon. I feel pushed to act--to do SOMETHING--but what?

Today in my American Government class we had a discussion about the "No shoes, No shirt, No service" signs and whether they are fair or not. Naturally we all had different opinions...I agreed with some others that if it was a rule that a restaurant or store holds, then it ought to be followed. However, I felt that if it came down to someone being unable to AFFORD such articles, that is it wrong to deny service. I mentioned this in class, and a friend looked at me as if I was stupid and asked something along the lines of "Who in America doesn't have shoes?!" Class continuud, and afterwards we made our way down to lunch. All of a sudden, the topic is brought up again (not by me), and by the time we "agreed to disagree", I was simply floored. Our discussion had turned from being about the "No Service" rule to being about whether or not "all homeless people have shoes".

The argument sounds absolutely ridiculous, and it is, I know. But...I just thought that it was extremely arrogant to believe that just because we live in "America" that every single person is taken care of enough to own one pair of shoes. "Maybe in 3rd worlds, but not in America". Sure, maybe a lot of homeless people do indeed own shoes, but to say that EVERY SINGLE person in big ole America does strikes me as simply arrogant. Someone also said "Why don't they just go buy shoes?"

...that's a perfect "cricket-cricket" moment!

My guess would be that if a homeless person acquired enough money to buy shoes, but they were hungry at the same time, food would take precedence.

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm way far away from the truth. I don't know...but I want to find out. I want to see those people and get to know them. I want to learn to love them, and I want to see God in their eyes.

Jamaica Day One

So far today has been quite the adventure! This morning we met at the church at 8:00 AM, loaded up our stuff, then stayed for the service. Pastor Mike spoke about urban legends part 3, and afterwards we had a special prayer time for the twelve of us who came to Jamaica. At 9:15, we headed out, and began the 2.5 hour trip to the Ft. Lauderdale airport. Due to bus problems that involved the inability to go over 50 mph, we were not able to stop for lunch until we got to the airport. By about 2:00 PM we were through check-in and security, and were getting our lunch at an airport restaurant. Because of the nasty, rainy weather, our plane was late, so we spent the time playing spoons with pens on the waiting room floor. It got so crazy! Crawling all over each other, fighting, hollaring, etc! FINALLY we were able to board, and we sorta switched our seats around. Well, I did. Once our plane began to get in line for take-off, Emily and I started our first video diary...We are currently up to #6 or #7, and they are quite funny!

Our plane ride was smooth, boring, and filled with Phase 10. The van ride, though...SUPER FAST! Everything was so narrow and there were times when I thought we'd hit! It's sickening though, to see one side of the road filled with shacks and poverty, and the beach side with skyscraper resorts.

I'll write some more tomorrow...
Dinner was GREAT and our rooms are nicer than American hotels, in our opinion.

At the moment, the security dogs are going crazy, and someone "knocked on my window"...the girls are freaked. I'm a little bit, too, I have to admit. Lol

Until later,
Courtney

P.S. "Look who's jumpin now!"

sadness

Today is Thomas' funeral. Even though death is one of the most natural things, it shocks me terribly when it is a young person, even more when it is someone I knew by name. I admit I didn't know Thomas THAT well, hardly at all, but nevertheless...it's tough.
I'm more concerned about my friends who knew him. Olga especially, and David and Chris and who knows who else. I pray that I can comfort them somehow...It's hard to watch people you care about deal with something so painful. It makes my heart wrench and tighten up, if that makes sense.
Lord, take care of them.

humility

1 Peter 5:5-7 "Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

"In today's world, asking for help is considered a weakness. We are taught to be independent and self-sufficient" --EC magazine

^ Yes! And that is me...I guess it's considered pride. I'm not necessarily boasting about myself, but I think I can do it all on my own. The fact of the matter is, I wasn't made that way. We're made to do things together.

1 Peter 5:5-7 talks about how we need to "clothe ourselves with humility". When we humble ourselves it might seem like we get the short end of the stick for awhile, but God will "lift [us] up in due time". If we keep humbling ourselves the way God asks, when the time comes, we'll see what came of it.
There's a verse that talks about tearing down the prideful and lifting up the humble.
--God will do that.

lillies?

Luke 12:22-30 "Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them."

Why do we worry so much about what we will eat or wear?
Nature is proof that God exists and that He cares for EVERYTHING.
It shows that he feeds the plants and animals without our help just fine, because he loves them.
Why, then, do we think He won't care for us?