THINK "Globally" but ACT "Locally"

When I was a college student, I was certain that whatever I would be doing in the world, it would be something big -- involving nationwide policies, or (this was my real dream) influencing and ultimately bringing peace and justice to the whole entire world. As a youth, I had witnessed poverty, abuse, and injustice on every scale imaginable. My determination for a better life gave me DRIVE and HOPE. My determination to rid the world of the evil I had seen propelled me to not only survive my childhood, but to thrive for "others" sake...who I knew in this GREAT NATION America other children were "caught" also.

I don't remember an awful lot about my childhood, but there are moments that stand out for me which I held onto like a twig in a raging river to keep from drowning. I lived a double life. Monday through Friday at home with my mom, I went to school, and came "home" to a living Hell on Earth with Medusa at the Head of the Household. Then, on the weekends come Friday evening after school let out I was out of there.  My mother eager to be rid of me permitted visitation with extended family. Thankfully my grandmother, Aunt Virginia and Uncle Ed would retrieve me where I was introduced to Heaven on Earth as they did the best they could to relieve me from the fiery furnace of trials and tribulations of my week. Calmness on Friday Night, Education on Saturdays and Church on Sundays. My grandmother was quite the spiritual woman, and to sit at her feet in her presense in His presense while she read the Bible to me was my "safe" refuge hidden in the wilderness. Then, when I was with My Uncle Ed and Aunt Virginia...wow. My Aunt was the best cook ever! Fresh food she had canned right from the garden Uncle Ed planted were flavorful luxeries fit for a Queen..

Then, Uncle Ed would let me into his sacred closet after Saturday mornings cutting grass, and working in the Garden-Weed'en and Harvesting. In that closet was years and years of National Geographics. I was amazed at the places I could travel to with the aid of pictures and stories and never have left that closet on Saturdays. Then Sunday would roll around and off we all went to Church...althought I was too young to really remember much of the "lesson" from the pulpit...the greatest lessons I learned were in the "safety" of the presense of The Lord and those in whom He obviously resided. I only remember how they represented the fulfillment of my highest possible aspiration that one day I would also return to stand behind that same podium as a person who had succeeded in making the world a much better place teaching of Love, and Christ in all those places I saw in the pages of The National Geographic Magazines in my youth.

To this end, I began my college studies setting out to major in English and Religion, and dreamed of working for the PEACE CORPS or a Foreign Service  and climbing my way up into the upper echelons of international policy makers and shakers. I dreamed of introducing democracy and Christianity to to far away lands. I dreamed of sharing with others what FREEDOM was as I knew the bondage of Monday-Friday, and then FREEDOM on the weekends. I dreamed of making sure no child ever had to go hungry or abused. I dreamed that no child would have to endure the sexually crossed boundaries where innocence was preyed upon for adult pleasure. I dreamed of sharing Love with the world. I dreamed of bringing peace and understanding amongst people all over the world, and to make those people I saw in the National Geographics smile...cause they all looked so sad. I dreamed of teaching sustainable living and gardening where no one would ever have to live in poverty and go to bed hungry at night which no child or adult should ever have to endure. Mostly, I dreamed of representing HOPE for others that no matter how bad life seemed at the moment it will get better.

Despite my sincere desire to save the world, I never managed to move past rhetoric and idealism to meaningful action. In the end, as you might have suspected, my life has followed a very different path from the one I had envisioned for myself. I never finished college. I had to drop out right in the middle..go to work, then return to school, drop out, go to work...then HONOR THY MOTHER came calling. Some of you already know the story of my mom, and her dying, and my Heavenly Father using me to locate her "adopted out " child and leading mom to breaking the bondage the devil had her in all her life and the reason for the HELL I grew up in. So, I won't go there in this post except to say, when HONOR calls..please Answer. For what was the be the biggest challenge of my life, moving through forgiveness and healing through the pain of my mother, I in the end with the compassion and love of God  healed her, and she died in my arms at peace, and in love with The Lord.

My own life experience has taught me the wisdom of "Think Globally, Act Locally" approach. Looking back, I now realize the MAGNITUDE of the "smallest" ACT from sitting at my grandmothers feet to my Uncle Ed's closet full of prized years of collecting National Georgraphics that he could have said "No" you can't mess with them. Instead, his one YES...opened up a WORLD of potential for me. The one yes, of the school friend who parents said YES, when you are ready to leave home, you can live with us and finish high school. Those tiny minute ACTS, caused a ripple in the continum of my life...and Christianity has taught me that all ACTS are either building UP people and granting LIBERTY, or they are tearing DOWN people and placing into BONDAGE. All other ACTS are either for providing an "enviroment" which fosters HOPE or threatens DISPAIR. Where LOVE is absent FEAR sets in.

These are the fine lines of living. No one can legislate morality. But what should happen in SOCIETY is just the things I had at times as a child...A SAFE HAVEN, A SAFE REFUGE from "tryanny", and a PLACE where I could grow into THE PERSON GOD intended me to be.

No, I never got to stand behind a pulpit sharing with a body of folks all about God and Christs Love. You see I grew up in a Baptist religion and was told there are no WOMEN preachers...so that dream got shot down very early. Being poor I never got alot of the "opportunities" afforded others. BUT there existed inside this "well-spring" lying dormant until just the right ingredients came long which brought it to the surface and in like manner of the twig of HOPE I held onto as a child, I held on that my VOICE MATTERS. Several years ago I decided to GIVE all my life to Christ to be used, and I began to share my heart and my voice with you gathered here ..one by one you listened. Lately I have decided to move more into the realm of taking Christs spirit and taking my voice and using it politically leading and sharing. For we are to provide a SAFE HAVEN from tyranny, and that is what America is to me, and its time to root out the "ELEMENTS" of EVIL which threaten that. We have a DUTY to VOTE, to get involved. Whether it is our calling to TAKE OFFICE, or not, we have a duty to GET CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLED people whose CALLING it is INTO OFFICE...and to CLEAN HOUSE.

I cannot live someone else's life for them nor can I fix them. I have been Johnny Appleseed many times in my life, mainly to those in emotional pain who truly need assistance to help them try to make some sense out of this world . I have had many wonderful teachers including the man sitting along the side of the street with dirty clothes on. Everyone has a story, talking to them is like opening a book. I have shared a part me with you today.

So these lessons and teachers are handing the baton to you now. All you have to do is pick it up and run with it!

Whatever you want to be, to have, to "become"---be it a harmonious family life, a courageous mindset, more energy to get the job done, passion FOR life, a joyous and carefree existence, loving relationship---whatever! But there are only 2 ways to go---learn on your own, from your own mistakes or learn from others and shorten the learning curve...that has always been my best teacher.

Great men and women rest one hand on the shoulder of the other for SUPPORT with the other stretched out behind "to help" a straggler. Small men and women put all their weight upon the backs of others with both hands out in "entitlement" indifferent to the sufferings and plights of others~concerned ONLY for self...and the relief of their pain.

At any given time, I have one hand resting on the shoulder of another by Grace, and I AM reaching out my hand to you. Take it and I'll do my best to lead you on a journey of self-discovery and growth taking you over or around obstacles and stumbling blocks in the path. Ready? Great! Then...let' begin with the journey and always remember our pact---TRUST IN THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE...the cues and clues are there for your journey...but KNOW it is YOUR journey YOU must take.
UNITED "tightly knit" WE can do all things through Christ who strengthens (in those bit difficult times). Yes, TO DO "righteousness" is a definite determinant of Character and of The Greatest of Virtues next to Love...which is COURAGE in my humble opinion. As I look back over my own life, I can single out the important role that courage played in ALL my struggles, wrestling right and wrong to arrive to a place of righteousness.