30 August, 2017

Where is God?







Frenchman Peak, Cape Le Grand, Western Australia

I was going to share something different today; a chirpy post I’d written about change and rainbows and turning twenty. But this has been pressing on my heart. I wanted to wait until I had concrete answers, but no, God had other plans. 

This world is broken. Pain exists everywhere –every country, ethnic group, family, and individual. There’s so much evil and suffering and disconnection. In the last week I: read No Longer A Slumdog which opened my eyes to the intense suffering of millions in Asia; saw footage of damage caused by hurricane Harvey; heard of crimes and suicides and miserable people; learned of toxins in our environment and food and corruption in the healthcare system; witnessed homelessness as a reality for many people; observed hurting, aching hearts; and yesterday evening I read Priceless which gives an inside look into human trafficking. 

That’s just one week. That’s only the things I heard about. That’s merely the perspective of a girl who has her needs supplied with extras on the side. I was lying in bed last night feeling overwhelmed by it all. How can people do that to each other? What would it take for people to see people as people? How much worse can it get? Is there any way to help? Is there any point trying? I’m one person, and it’s huge. It hurts me, and I’m not even experiencing it.

I was talking to God about it. I wanted to understand where and how I fit in with all this, but I ended up at the age old question: where and how does God fit into our human misery? A thought came forcibly to mind. It wasn’t an audible voice, but God spoke:

My heart breaks too.

Perhaps out of fear of cheapening God, of trying to keep Him high and holy, I forget He is real. He has feelings and emotions. He’s not a wall of piety, immune to our suffering. The fact we feel pain and horror about evil is evidence we’re made in His image and this world isn’t our home.

I don’t have a solution for world hunger, a plan to stop child trafficking, or a way to heal our hurting brothers and sisters. But I know when I feel weight in my chest, questions in my heart, and cry out, God, this is terrible! He replies: I know. My heart breaks too.

God is with us.

14 August, 2017

How to Help a Struggling Friend


Once I wrote a list of things I hated – actual hates, not dislikes or pet peeves. I wrote a few things before I saw the theme: I hate feeling powerless. I hate being in a situation where something awful is being done, but I can’t do a thing about it. I hate seeing other people hurt and damaged, and I can’t help. I hate being a viewer behind glass.

But there are times we can reach into people’s lives and hearts. I have a burden for helping those who are struggling. I don’t know how to help, what to say, or what to do. I’m awkward and I struggle too. I used to think I was powerless to help, until I realized: the smallest things can make the biggest difference. I once read of a girl who, because a stranger smiled at her, chose not to end her life. That was enough to let her know someone cared.  A sentence can change someone’s day. A thoughtful gift, or kind act, can. We have so many means in our grasp to be life changers.


Here’s a list of things I’ve found to be helpful in my experience, and I endeavour to be to others. I have much to learn. But it weighs on my heart that people are hurting, and some people don’t care, but some of us (including me) don’t know how to care. It doesn’t have to be hard or big; even the smallest thing can mean the world to someone. And God always has our back in this war. Let’s fight darkness.



Be there. This is the most important thing, and it’s simply showing up. We don’t have to have answers, or know what to do: just say, “Hey, I’m thinking of you. How are you going?” 

Show you’re there. For me, this mostly looks like sending a note by text, email, or on paper in real life. It could include phone calls, gifts, doing something for them, having them over for a meal - small tokens of love and care. 

Listen and let them grieve. We’ve got to understand their perspective, and that means listening. I have a tendency, when someone is talking about all the negative things happening, to drill positivity into them.  Count your blessings! Look on the bright side! It might be true, but it’s not what they need to hear then. These negative things are real in their life and by glossing over them, we’re not showing respect.

Ask genuine questions. Ask how they’re really feeling. Get beyond small-talk. Ask how they feel about themselves. And please, don’t be afraid to ask if they’ve thought of harming themselves or taking their life. Suicide isn’t always expected, and it’s worth the awkwardness: death isn’t something you can regret.

Pray for them and with them. Sometimes prayer is the only thing we can do, but it’s not a small thing. We’re talking about the all-powerful God here, and He has victory over darkness. We can claim His promises on behalf of our friends. And if the person is willing, praying with them is so, so powerful. Someone praying for me in my hearing is one of the most powerful things I’ve experienced.

Don’t break their confidence, but. If they share personal struggles, it shows care and respect to not repeat them to others. We’ll win their confidence and be able to support them better. But if the person’s life is at risk, we need to tell someone and get help. 

Earn the right to give advice. It’s natural for me to think solutions and strategies. There’s a problem? Let’s get to the solution already! But we have to listen and understand where the person is coming from, and remember it is their choice what they do. You can never have too much empathy. As they realize we care and understand, they’ll be more open to advice.

Don’t judge. The other person will feel more comfortable if they sense we’re not judging them. It’s easy to observe and presume things, but we can’t read minds, and understand hearts. 

I want to challenge myself this week to reach out, notice the beautiful people God has put in my life, how I can encourage and support them, and follow through with it. I want to show I’m there, and I care. We can make a difference; let’s believe it.


If you’re actively investing in someone who is struggling, look after yourself as well. Getting burnt out, or emotionally overloaded, doesn’t help us or others. Time with God, good rest, and nutrition, is still a priority, and sharing confidentially with a trusted friend or mentor can help. 

And, friend, if you’re struggling, please know you are not alone. God invested His heart and soul into you, and no one can take that away. You are priceless, of infinite value. I care about you, and if you want to talk – I make no profession of being able to help, but I can listen: blog.applesofgold@gmail.com. No one needs to bear their burden alone.

Thanks for being there for me, guys. Your lovely comments have cheered my blue days, and made me believe in my purpose. I know you’ve reached out to others, and experienced struggles, so what would you add to the list? What has meant the most when you’ve been struggling? Can I count you in on the challenge?

05 August, 2017

Be Fearless in the Pursuit of What Sets Your Soul on Fire



Rachel from Silver Mess, and Grace from Totally Graced recently shared posts where they challenged themselves to share a memory in one hundred words. I thought it was a great idea, and decided to condense what I wanted to share into one hundred words. My posts normally run between five to eight hundred words, so you can imagine I understand the ‘challenge’ part of it. I didn’t quite make it down to one hundred, but anyway, here’s my current inspiration on being passionate. I’m looking forward to hearing what you make of passion, and tell me if you try the one hundred word challenge!




 

My music teacher advised: pursue your passion. If it doesn’t work out, go study law. But if it does, you spend your life doing what you love.


Sara Beth said passion is God given; it’s how we’re created to exist. She quoted La La Land: “People love what other people are passionate about.” 


Ove’s wife says in A Man Called Ove: “We can busy ourselves with living or with dying...” 


Why settle for okay when you could be excited, on fire, spending and being spent, living up, wearing out, but you love it. You’re alive. You’re doing what you’re made for.


I’m re-evaluating:  am I doing it because I’m obliged, because it happened, or because I feel called, I fervently desire, I have excitement, enthusiasm, recklessly brave abandon, not to spend my life on something, but to give my life for something?


The world needs passionate people.