DIVERSITY? LISTEN AND LEARN

MOM WHY DO SOME PEOPLE LOOK DIFFERENT?

An honest question asked by one of my children when we moved to the Washington DC area from an all white neighborhood in Arizona.

When we moved back to Arizona years later, we wanted all our children to appreciate cultural, religious, political and ethnic differences in others, so we volunteered to host a foreign exchange student for one year. That beautiful experience was repeated again and again. Differences in Japan, Russia, and China were now seen, heard, and felt in our home. We learned, respected, and worked through issues as we loved each girl into our family.

Today I see a polarization in many societal issues, including race. So often I hear the MY WAY vs YOUR WAY mentality. That’s a no-win situation. There’s valuable space in the middle to LISTEN AND LEARN. The result? Both sides come together with empathy and find a mutual understanding and agreement. Otherwise everyone loses.

Years later I saw the result of our diversity mission in my now grown children. I’m proud of all their accomplishments, but mostly love their SOFT HEARTS. When the earthquake and tsunami devastated Japan, it wasn’t just about “those” people. It was about YUMI and her neighbors. When political or societal unrest hit Russia and China, it didn’t just affect “those” people. It affected KATYA and SHIYING and their families. This new perspective now unites us all as children of God.

I’m not perfect. An honest self analysis tells me I can be better. This is certainly an ongoing process - not an event. I realize issues are complex and heated, but we can do better. Let’s work to find that critical space where we can all LISTEN and LEARN.

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The GIFT OF HOPE.

PEACE OF CONSCIENCE

PEACE OF CONSCIENCE.
What does it mean?
It doesn’t change what’s happening around you.
It doesn’t pay your bills or miraculously heal illness.
But it DOES give a sense that somehow ALL WILL BE RIGHT and God KNOWS the details.
PEACE OF CONSCIENCE is an INTERNAL FOCUS instead of fixating on and worrying about everything external. It can make all the difference even when there are no answers in the midst of chaos.
WHERE DOES IT LEAD?
A quiet motivation.
A confident sense of hope.
And cherished glimmers of joy.
Above all the noise ...
FIND THAT SPACE.

CLIMB YOUR WALL

WE’VE HIT A WALL.

Can you feel it? They tell us the Covid peak is over and cases are dropping. Slipping ...
BUT SO IS OUR PATIENCE, TEMPERAMENT AND MOOD.
Conflicting information and emotions are everywhere.
I’m SHAMED with raised eyebrows for wearing a mask and SHAMED by others if I don’t. I can’t win.
“Mom are we there yet?” We begged the question on car trips as kids and we’re feeling it now after weeks of isolation.

WE’RE IN AN EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL FUNK.
Burned out, angry, bored, lonely, feeling survivors guilt, battling anxiety, depressed and just really ... really craving a beautiful not-thinking-about-germs heartfelt hug.
IT’S A YO-YO BETWEEN HOPE AND HOPELESSNESS.

I’m not alone am I?
Here’s a thought. We’ve been here before. A crisis in our life where we didn’t have the answers. Didn’t know why. No end in sight. Now it’s a new crisis happening both on a global scale AND in our individual lives.

THIS IS WHAT I KNOW.
We CAN DO hard things.
We’ve all fallen to our knees for help with past hard things. God whispered and angels held us up as we rose to our feet and took a step forward. Now details are different. Unprecedented.
But the PATTERN is the SAME.
We can cower and wait for blue skies to be restored or we can pray to recognize a silver lining in current storm clouds.

TAKE A LOOK AT THAT WALL.
Partner with God. He’ll help you climb it. Embrace your faith.
YOU ARE HARDWIRED TO DO HARD THINGS.

See you on the other side ...

Shut up and LISTEN

SHUT UP AND LISTEN.
It’s a thought that recently caught my attention. The world is noisy. Corona confusion, fears and finger-pointing have managed to consume our senses. On top of setting up a home office to salvage our job and pretending we understand the math problems we’re now responsible for teaching our children, we’re stark raving stir crazy. Even during shutdown and isolation, the noise is consuming and desperate for our full attention.

Don’t misunderstand. Knowledge is crucial. We must educate ourselves and construct a plan for safety. But somewhere within the craziness, we need to SHUT UP AND LISTEN.

What are we supposed to LEARN? Those answers will be different, but potentially powerful for individuals, families, communities and the world. There’s a specific message just for you. A LESSON that could CHANGE YOUR COURSE. Actually IMPROVE your life. And God wants you to hear it.

SHUT UP AND LISTEN.
We must take some time to find a focus OUTSIDE of the noise, the uncomfortable conditions and the sacrifice and fear. We are hunkered down. Vacations have become staycations. There is more quiet time than we’re used to. The world is on pause.

SOMEWHERE IN THE SILENCE THERE IS WISDOM.

Take the opportunity to listen with your heart. Don’t miss an opportunity for wisdom. There is a silver lining somewhere in this darkness. Personal revelation JUST FOR YOU.

Shut up, listen and LEARN.