Something Beautiful Has Been Lost.

This is something I have been mulling around in my brain for a while.

Our american culture has lost something beautiful. We have lost the ability to be community, to be neighbors, to be friends.

I come from a family that holds on to the old traditions a little more then other families. We are a farming family. We tend to be a little bit more slower paced and simpler then other folk. History is very important to us.  In fact the house I grew up was built when Lincoln was president. It's been in the family for YEARS. My Grandmother grew up in it, my great Grandfather grew up in it. etc. Awesome heritage to be apart of, let me tell you.

So being that our family has been here for a while,  it's a farming family and there are others like us in the area, I have noticed something. The older lady who lived down the road, should could tell stories about my grandmother. The guy who lived the other direction, that was "Neighbor Ed". He and his wife were great neighbors. There was a sense of community. A sense of "if you ran out of sugar or an egg short you could call them up and 'borrow' it."

We have LOST our ability to be like that. We don't know our neighbors. We don't even know the people around us. If it's not posted on facebook we don't know what's happening. We are moving to fast to wave to the neighbors as you pass by. Anyone even sit on their porches anymore? We have big screen tvs to entertain us. We have the smallest devices to take with us so we don't miss anything. But we do! We are missing community. I saw two friends get together to have coffee together and what did they do? They both sat there with their phones and scanned facebook.

I want to go back to the old days where people will take a walk down the road to visit their friend for tea! I want to go back to the old days where you knew your neighbors. Is that to hard to ask. I am guilty of it to. I can't remember the name of the couple who lives below me. I do know their kids names. I know a few other people... But I don't KNOW them. It's time to build neighborhoods that lookout for each other. Communities that share.

We are missing out, friends. We are missing a chance to live. We are too fast and to busy that we are missing the point of life. We are missing out on that community. We are missing out on the chance to be neighbors. We have to be intentional. We have to make a point to be friendly. To not ignore the people around us.

It's a challenge to you and to me. Don't forget what is important. it's not about what you do or what you drive or how much your worth. It's about the people those that you are around.  It's worth your time to invest in people!

It's Been a While.

Due to my 5 Min Power nap I am now wide awake. Curse the power nap right before bedtime!

I've had a lot of interesting changes happen recently.

First major one. I decided not to go back to Thailand long term. I am planning a short trip (I have to get my stuff that I left). But I felt God was closing that door. I don't know why or what is planned now but I am at peace with it.

Second... I got a full time job. As much as I wish at times it wasn't this I am working at a daycare. It never seems to end. I have been raised and breed to work with Children. Sometimes I feel like it's the easy fall back. But I don't take this job lightly. Sure I get to play with toys and I paint butts for a living (We use Q-tips to apply creams to sensitive bottoms) But God has put me here for such a time as this. Every time I hold a child in my arms I have the unique opportunity to pray over them. To pray that they would grow to become Godly men and women. That if they do not know of him now that they will meet those people in their future who will tell them and that their hearts would be open to the Spirit's prompting.

Third... I'm getting my own place.... Well an apartment with a roommate. Which for me isn't that new considering the many places I have lived and the MANY roommates I have had. However this is in Michigan and it is NOT my parents house. You have noooo idea how excited I am to be moving out of my parents and to have my own place again. To cook my own meals. Wash my clothes and dry them when ever I want and I don't have to wait for the weather to be nice! Invite people over and have young people parties without feeling guilty because I've also had to kick my parents out to do so. I am sooo excited!

I do miss the "old life" I miss the adventure that came with it. Sometimes it's easy to forget the hard times that came with it. But even though I remember them I still miss the "old days". I miss those seasons of Discipleship 24/7. I have some of that here but it's harder when you have to work around other schedules.

I miss Colorado. I especially miss my friends from there. I know many have moved on as well but you will always be there in my mind. And for the ones still there.... I may show up again. Course as to how many actually have read this blog is probably not many so it may be a surprise when I do show up even though I did give you warning on here. :-)

I have been sitting here staring at the blank text box thinking "Do I dare be honest?" While I don't think this blog is read by that many people or at all on a regular basis. I think I actually read it more then anyone else. Basically this blog has become my journal. I find it easier to type the words out then to try writing them.

I wish I knew what was up with my life. Even though I never had big plans in my life my life has been pretty organized (even that could be laughable) But recently my life is so turned upside down and around and pushed forward and backwards that I don't know which way is up, down or where I should be looking.

I'm not a visionary..... sure I have some dreams and ideas for the future but I don't see the big picture. I don't dream big....That's why I like working for dreamers.... However it overwhelms me because when I am around big dreamers I feel insecure and my foundation shaken. I like foundation. I like consistency. I like having organization to an extent. Still I am not someone who needs to have EVERYTHING always the same and organized because that to would drive me nuts. I do like some change but I think I prefer it in small doses or much preparation. But I still like to work with the big dreamers. Every leader I have had since I left home in the last 10 years have been Big Dreamers. It shakes my core and unnerves me but God keeps putting me with them.

Recently however I have had an overwhelming desire to not be apart of big dreams. But to do simple.... Get a job, find a home, go to school, just give money and some time here and there. I know, I know, for you who are doing that, it's not that simple and it wouldn't be for me either. But I like the thought behind it of consistency.

Planting roots for me is difficult. But when I do end up planting those roots, I plant them deep. Which makes it hard to plant in the next place.

Sometimes I wish I could just get a monthly plan from God. I don't need to know my whole plan but if He could give me a monthly calendar before each month save me many questions. Shoot I would even be happy for a week. I'm flexible I can handle that.

Fighting Against Status Quo

Being back in Michigan wasn't what I had in my plans. I for sure didn't see that coming. My plan was to go to Thailand and be there for a year. Come back to renew my visa and head back. I went but due to circumstances I am now back again 5 months later. It's been hard being back because I sense the questions..... Or maybe it's just me. "What? She's back? Wasn't she going to be gone longer? What happened? Could she not handle it? Did something go wrong? Is she going back? She should have just stayed. Maybe it was to rough?"

Personally I don't like where I'm at. Personally I don't like not knowing what's going to happen. How long am I going to be here? I'm broke. I have no money, no airfare back to the place I am calling home. People are involved in their lives and it's hard to work into that. My Friends are all over the world.

I ask..... God couldn't I just get a job, and apartment, Involve myself in the lives of youth around me where I can actually communicate with them. It wouldn't be easier but it would be more solidified. At least I would hope so.

I'm not stupid enough to know that it would make life easier. But after these last few years there is something so appealing about working a "normal" job. Where I can say I worked this many hours and I know I will get this much money. I desire normalcy. I desire to be steady. Try out the other side of the fence and try that grass..... I probably would be ready to be back to my life in no time because despite this desire right now. This life style I am living, well it's in my blood. I would be ready to head out again in no time.

Shoot.... I'm just rambling. I don't even know if this makes any sense. If you are reading this by some chance. I hope it doesn't confuse you. But it boils down to this. God is faithful and He always will be. No matter what He has me doing in life, I will be obedient to what I know he has me doing. I will continue to be faithful to Him because he has shown me nothing but love, protection and provision and just because He is who He says He is. And I know, that I know, that I know, that I know, that he is the one and only true God who doesn't change. He will always be the same as He was yesterday, today and tomorrow.

And that is what it boils down to.

Pushing against what seems to be walls.

I was talking to my friend today and I told her this comment: "I'm just mad at man kind right now!" Due to a circumstance of frustration (being at war with United). And my friend said something interesting to me that made total sense! She said " Charity, I feel like this, it, all of it, it's much deeper then that. Deeper then man kind."

Well I don't know about you but I had a forehead slapping moment! OF COURSE! It is much deeper then that. It's not against flesh and blood that I'm at war with. I am at war with the enemy of the King. Suddenly Months of struggles flashed before my eyes. Mostly in the financial aspect but also emotional, physical and spiritual struggles. It's been happening in all areas of my life. It's been little things here and there. Some bigger things as well.... But in the mist of it I had forgotten that my battle isn't against flesh and blood.

Sometimes I feel like that baby bird that struggled to get out of the egg.... It pushed and pecked it's way out, exhausted and free it looks up to see that it's in another egg. And then another and another and another.

I know that God never promised it would be easy. But sometimes I want to find the easy way out and try that road. Course me being oh so smart knows that that road is only going to bring worse things so I continue on this dang hard road.

I guess I just wish that I would find a jack pot with a good looking prince sitting on it next to a new home that was deeded to me by some distant relative that had payed all the bills for the rest of my life, a maid coming to daily, a garage with good reliable working vehicles and an IPhone.

Hey.... It could happen here... and it will for sure happen in the future.

Being Single

One of the things that drives me nuts being a single person is how the world views it. I went to my grandfathers mega church in Ohio where I scanned through a bulletin. On it was advertising a group for the singles in the church. It said "Single? Come join us at _____ ______" That question irked me.... To me is said " Oh your single..... I'm so sorry about that. Why don't we put you in a group of other single people in hopes that maybe you will luck out and find your soul mate.

Society looks at singleness as a disease. Like it's something wrong with you if your single. It's a thought process that has seeped into our youth and kids as well. We are matching our children with our best friends children when they are still in their cradles. The world tells us that we are not complete until we are matched with someone.

There is a status that comes with being married. Being 28 and single, I find that at times I do not receive respect that someone who is married would receive. That my God given gifts aren't good enough for something because I am not married. My choices and decisions can't be really trusted because I haven't been married and there is not a man in my life.

There are always exceptions to this rule. There are always people who recognize that you are who you are and it doesn't change because of being married or not. I love those people.

I am content being single. I have enjoyed it very much. I have been able to do things in my life because I am single that I would have never been able to do if I was married.

Yes, I hope someday to find out who that guy is who will love and cherish me. Someone that I can love and respect in return. But I am not going to base my life on it. I'm going to keep walking out the direction that God sends me in and God is going to take care of the rest. I will not treat singleness as a disease or curse but as a blessing. I am not going to shrink back from what God has for me because of my marital status. If your single enjoy it. Chances are you will have more time being married in your life then you will be single. If your married.... Congrats! I'm thrilled for you. Just remember not to treat those who are still single as they are waiting for their life to start. Their life has been going on for a while now. Look at the person and the heart and not at the marital status!

Mini Events

Usually there are many mini events that take place in a day. Today I feel like that was one of those days for me when it was one moment to the next. First of living in a foreign country I have a real sense of appreciation for the creators of communication on the internet. From Facebook, Gmail, Skype etc. They have been my connection to the people I love and cherish far away from me. It also was a opening to frustrations today.... it was more in the form of a business. United Airlines... They have me on the border of being really pissed off right now. I feel like they ripped me off of $600 and "there is nothing they can do about it" Right.. So money doesn't grow on trees for me. And I called them back as soon as I realized the mistake. And now I am being tossed to and from person. "I'm sorry there is nothing I can do about it" What happened to integrity and honest dealings? I understand that they want to make a profit but honestly if they would work with me on this problem I would be more willing to fly with them again in the future. Right now I want to tell everyone I know "DON'T FLY UNITED!"

The regular ole joe doesn't have money to dish out. I wasn't expecting to lose that much money out of my account either to United it may not be that much but to me it's a fortune!

Wow.. I feel like I went off a tangent there. But it's fresh on my mind....

Back to how awesome the people in my life are..... The people in my life are such a blessing to me and I am glad that none of you work for United!