May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people - so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war - so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in the world - so that you can do what others claim cannot be done, to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.
Amen.
(Franciscan Benediction)
While reading I came across this Franciscan Benediction and I was completely, utterly, owned by it.(To quote today's younger generation) It is the attitude that God has been using to compel me into action for many years - and lately through nights of weeping and wrestling with Him.
I can't say I have seen a more accurate description of how I feel as God breaks my heart for others.
I (Dave and I) am known for transparency, much to the chagrin of my family at times, so I have never been inclined to desire superficial relationships. As a matter of fact, though people perceive me as outgoing and confident, I lack confidence with people I do not know, and long for deep, one one one, REAL relationships. Without that, I feel awkward - like a ship out of water. I think that is why I am suited for grief and trauma work - I want to know and feel the persons pain - not just hear it.
I have tried to, "live deep within my heart" and my family will tell you that I have wept many tears, and sworn off transparency (literally on the swearing part), only to be encouraged by them, and by God, to be real at all costs. Now, after years of brokenness, I am rarely hurt by others as a result of my transparency, but have helped many others to have the freedom to be who there are in my presence, and sometimes among the very ones who previously threatened them.
Do Justly, Love Mercy- Micah 6:8 - has been our ministry quote for 10 years now (even before we were official) When I learned of the plight of orphans and widows worldwide, and saw the repeated biblical theme of caring for the poor, the orphan and the widow - of social justice and freedom from oppression, a fire was lit within me and an, "anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people - so that [we worked] for justice, freedom, and peace." The result was Samuel, pictured her in the orphanage before we brought him home; as well as aid to hundreds of orphans and widows in several countries.
Tears - well, all I do is cry. I was SELFISH and generally only cried over MY OWN pain, (and we did have plenty) so God had to keep breaking me- again - and again - and again- and again. He used our pain in my thick head, to give me "tears to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war - so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy."
And, the end result of that brokenness, is our ministry in grief and trauma work. My cry before God, always before Him, is that in my work, I will be a comfort to them and through the love of Jesus Christ, their pain can turn to joy.
I do not yet have a PhD, or years of experience in the field, any money for missions work, or a base of supporters; nor do I know if more than just a few people read these blogs or are moved by them....(so if you are, and you want to comment or become a follower it would bless me)
But I am just "foolish enough to believe that [I] can make a difference in the world and do what others claim cannot be done." That I can bring some healing and hope to Haiti first, and to all nations by bringing the ministry of Jesus Christ to others in times of great turmoil and distress.
And Dave is foolish enough to believe with me, and has learned to shed enough tears for others as well.
So, we step out in faith. Please friends, support us in this ministry. 100% of funds goes directly into meeting the emotional and spiritual needs of the broken, hurting, people of God's heart.
David and Jamie
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