Total Injustice

*I just need to get a few things off my chest so if you're easily offended or deeply in love with either Farrah Fawcet or Michael Jackson, I suggest you not read any further.

What the heck is wrong with us Americans? I am personally appalled by all the public mourning, weeping, and carrying on about two have-been pop/tv stars. Farrah's battle with cancer was admirable and she educated a lot of people with her documentary about fighting and finding a cure for cancer, now sadly her death is certainly taking a back seat to MJ's. So if I had to pick favorites, yeah it would be her. Michael, on the other hand, may have written some good songs which defined a decade, but do we forget such incidences as him dangling his son over a balcony or all the "allegations" of child pornography and sexual abuse going on in his own home? Okay, so they're only allegations, and OJ only "allegedly" chopped his wife's head off.

But this is not my soap box. My anger and disbelief are directed at the media and those who are skipping work to stay home to watch the live telecasts and tributes to these individuals. They're dead. People die every day. In fact, 28 million children die of curable diseases each year! 17 million children die from starvation. STARVATION! They don't die because they have fought a valiant battle with cancer deserving of media attention; they don't die of heart attacks sleeping between the finest of linens. They die because they have no FOOD. They die because they don't have a basic antibiotic to treat malaria....a $25 antibiotic!! But these children get no media attention. They get no justice. What is wrong with us? How can we sit in front of our big screen TV's munching on chips and watching and mourning the death of a freakin pedophile for goodness sake when children are dying TODAY because they have no food to eat? It's pathetic. It's inexcusable.

The child you see in the above picture is a REAL child from Uganda. This photo was taken in May; his body was lifeless and he was literally starving to death. You don't see these faces on the news. You don't see the ticker rolling every time an innocent child dies from lack of food or totally obtainable and affordable medicine. Instead we are content to live in our world with delusions of grandeur and Neverland ranches, while idolizing those pretty faces we see from our TV sets. We choose to ignore the suffering and the dying in places like Africa. Why? Because we are so far removed or because it hurts too much to watch or because we're too selfish and like to put ourselves up on pedestals because we're better, richer, and prettier than the rest of the world? No wonder the world hates Americans.

Did you know that every year 10 million children are involved in the sex industry? And some of that is within our own borders!? Instead of mourning Michael Jackson for his "music", wouldn't we be more effective in giving our time and attention to free the innocent from the bonds of sex slavery?

It's time that we wake up people. It's time that we did something. No more pathetic excuses. Two weeks ago two 11 year olds set up a lemonade stand and baked cookies and raised $40 to buy food for kids in Uganda. If they can do it, so can we. We can choose to not ignore the statistics, we can choose to not idolize people for their good looks or the ability to write songs, we can choose to make a difference, to pay attention, to do SOMETHING!

Weaving the Tapestry of Life

It’s funny how when you take a good look back on your life you can begin to mark the moments that have shaped you into the person that you are, the person that you were, and that person that you are going to be. I love to think of a hand woven tapestry and how it relates to life. When looking at it from the back you see the threads and loose ends and the mess that usually looks like a bunch of nothing. But when you turn it around you see a beautiful picture, a masterpiece. I believe that this is how God orchestrates all of our lives. Our Creator is the Weaver and we are His masterpiece.

Let’s face it, when we look at the back of the tapestry through our own eyes, we can seldom see the big picture. In fact, some of those threads are downright ugly and seem out of place. Other threads may be a nice color, but we just don’t see how they’ll fit into all that ugliness and mess. God tells us in scripture “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9. God uses every thread, whether we understand it or not. There is no way we can see the completed picture until He is ready to show it to us a glimpse of it.

For years now I have searched and prayed and tried to envision what all of the threads in my tapestry would turn out to look like. Sometimes I even threw in a few (or more) of my own just to add a little color to where I thought it should be. I’ve served the Lord in this ministry and that; trying to force myself into places where I thought my threads should be. Not all have been failures and I’ve grown exponentially in my faith and in my walk with my Creator. Not all loose ends or ugly ends are bad ends, they’re just threads in the fabric of our lives.

Over the past several months God has given me a peek at my tapestry and a vision for the future. Several weeks ago our church started a series called “One Prayer” that churches are engaging in all over the country. The first week I was encouraged to “mark the moments” in my life to help me see the big picture. As I’ve done that, marked the moments, I’ve been awed and thrilled to see the path that God is leading me toward. I finally know what I want to be when I grow up! I am so excited and I feel like a kid whose parents are getting ready to take them to the candy store! I might eat a few sour gummy worms while I’m there, but overall it will taste so sweet!

My goal is to begin journaling on this blog and to “mark the moments” in my life that are leading me on the journey of a lifetime. I can’t promise how often I’ll write, but it will be worth reading. I invite you to follow me and see my tapestry unfold.

~KBV

Finally an update

Hi Everyone,

The past few weeks have been quite hectic with all of the end-of-the-school-year activities going on!  I know that most of you know this already, but John is employed!  Last week was his first week.  Things are different for him, but he is feeling hopeful.  Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers as he transitions into his new job.

Lilly graduated from 8th grade.  We registered her for high school.  John and I have shed a few tears this past week or so, remembering our baby daughter with her perfect pouty lips who turned into an adorable, happy, and funny toddler, with her bouncy curls and infectious smile.  Now she's growing up; blossoming into an amazing young lady.  She is so beautiful both inside and out.  But oh I would give a million just to see her do the "little foot" dance in front of the tv again!  *sniff, sniff*  We are so proud of her!

We spent this past weekend at my parents' house for Erik's graduation from Chiropractic college.  Congratulations Dr. Beauvais!  We are so proud of you!  It was great to be with all of my siblings and their families.  They are all so beautiful in so many ways!!

This past Saturday my sister Medea also hosted "Pay it forward Saturday".  She had a counter full of donated items such as detergents, toilet paper, shampoo, conditioner, pasta, sauce, rice, gift cards to grocery stores and target, toothpaste, deodorant, and assorted other goods.  Medea gave free haircuts and my mom was there hemming and mending people's clothes.  People who were out of work and/or affected by the failing economy were invited to take from the pile of goods and receive the free services.  Others came to give freely and be a blessing to those in need.  It was an awesome day; people freely giving and others freely receiving.  This is what "loving your neighbor" is all about.  I love my family and the compassion they have for others and for the world around them.  I am truly blessed.