Pursue Life

There is a verse found in Matthew that has always caused a deep emotional response from me. I'll be honest in saying that the deep emotional response was anger, sometimes confusion and disappointment. (If Mother Teresa had doubts then so can I :)) It's found in Matthew 8: 21-22 and in the NASV it reads like this:

Another of the disciples said to Him (Jesus), "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead."

I have often wondered what my response would have been if Jesus had said that to me. It breaks my heart ,even now, to think of not honoring my father's life once he passes as I love him so dearly and completely. I don't know if I would have continued physically following. You see, I have been known to, on occasion :), respond very impulsively in high emotion situations. I often choose to refuse to look for greater meaning in situations that "feel" extremely right or extremely wrong. I have struggled so greatly with this verse for so long. Today, I decided to hunt around for meaning and greater purpose beyond just the words and beyond the actions. I was struck when I read this verse in the message translation and have been brought to my knees by the beauty and depth of it all.

Another follower said, "Master, excuse me for a couple of days, please. I have my father's funeral to take care of."Jesus refused. "First things first. Your business is life, not death. Follow me. Pursue life."

I now understand something far beyond the emotion. God's business is to offer life...eternal life. If this seems elementary I apologize. But, in these verses I have begun to see the urgency of pursuing those who do not know of true life. It's all about the priority that we put on others..on their eternal lives. Sure, it puts eternity into perspective. It's still very hard to swallow. But, missing opportunities to share life with the living is an even greater tragedy. It was never about the decision between his father and Jesus (which I always, maybe naively, thought). It is about the value and priority of God's call and mission to seek and show salvation to those who don't know about it. I will pursue life.

Hills and Belows

It was once written "You are the light of the world, A city on a hill cannot be hidden". For the last week I have been residing in the mountains of Tucson, AZ. I have been staying in a city literally built into a hill. The beauty of it all is breathtaking. The air is crisp, sharp and clean. It is true that nothing is hidden from view from where I stand. Anyone below could look up and see the glowing lights of this house. We are here on this hill with no place to hide. It's given me a great perspective on these words. It's shown me what it means to be exposed. But, that's not all.

Every morning when I drive down the mountain for coffee and every evening when I drive the kids back up from our fun activity of the day (I'm helping friends with their kids for a week of vacation) I notice something. We top this large hill on our way down or up and all of the sudden the entire city comes into view. My heart races each time we come to the pinnacle as I am literally overcome by the view. To see an entire city from your vantage point you realize how small you are and how vast the world really must be. If one city can make you feel so small imagine viewing the earth from the palm of your hand. I've realized something about a "city on a hill". Not only are you visible and unhidden you also have a clear view of what is below. They can all see you and you can see them.

A scary accountability comes with setting yourself on a hill. Not only do you allow yourself to be seen but you allow yourself to see all. You now see the pain and the beauty of a city. You will be held accountable to all you see and what you do about it. I can't just wish to be seen in this world. To stand for something and to be open about it isn't enough. To be seen and To See are now one in the same. Don't wish to be looked upon unless you wish to see. Don't wish to see unless you hope to act.

Revealing Riches

The greatest good you can do for another is not just share your riches, but reveal to them their own. --Benjamin Disraeli

I have been engaged by the idea of someone having unknown assets and riches while living in emotional, mental, or financial poverty. I have deemed it unrealized riches.

I made up that term so excuse me if it is yet to be documented :). But, I believe there is something to be said for the subject. Understanding what we have is critical in then deciding what we want and need.

To give an obvious example: There are those who are hungry but are within a mile of available food. If they lack the knowledge of the available foods existence, or lack knowledge in how to get there, they still hunger even in the presence of available food. I know in my own life, I often lose site of the most valuable things surrounding me in pursuit of the things I wish I had or even need currently in my life. It's a classic scenario with a classic moral yet it seems under practiced and not as politically correct to discuss anymore. To be grateful for what you have can affect what more you are able to receive.

Let me be very clear that I'm not saying the ungratefulness for what you have leads to poverty or continued poverty. NO THAT'S NOT TRUE. But, let me also say that a grateful heart can change the way you view your circumstance and your future. The Care Strategy understands that and addresses that.

I have seen the UN dropping food into crisis situations around the world via helicopter. The team of men in the back of the helicopter have a palate of food and they drop it from about 100 feet or so to the people. As you can imagine in such desperate situations this is often for safety of the men in the helicopter. But that idea does not promote hope or partnership..it shows resource and that's all. The Care Strategy's goal is not just to drop resources and run but instead to go into desperate situations and provide hope in the form of not only resources but to help show our friends what value already lies in and around them. To show them how to find hope and resource in any situation.

On a practical note: Rockford First (through generous partnerships in our community) was recently able to open up a local Mini Putt-, Go Cart-, Laser Tag-type fun park to members of our congregation, free of charge, who had walked through hard times over this past year. The response was mind-blowing. So many stories and so many amazing people. The point of the evening was to promote strength in the family amidst hard times. It went better than any of us could have dreamed. It was a moment we were not only able to partner with families through rough patches in life, but where we were able to reveal some hidden riches in their life. Family is often overlooked when the going gets tough; it's in my nature and in many

others I would assume. But, to realize what a resource the strength of a family can be was awesome to see. I am continually amazed by this effort and by the change taking place through it! Search for the good today even in the midst of the tough and trying times. I believe you will find riches you didn't realize you had. :)

Love to you all...Callie

Unity fuels movements.

If you would have told me a year ago that today I would be working for the church I love and serving the community I live in...I would have only partly believed you. Not to say that I saw this career move coming in any shape or form because I absolutely did not. But, I know Rockford First's heartbeat is and always has been for people. It has now become my job to research, evaluate, and create solutions for the hurting and impoverished in this community. So, did I see it coming...absolutely not..but, can I see it any other way now..not a chance.

The Care Strategy is a People Focused, Faith-Centered, Community Engagement Plan that promotes virtue over values. It just launched at Rockford First about two weeks ago. The core of this movement comes out of a Christ-centered love for the community. The call is for the faith-community to unify, put aside any predisposed beliefs about the marginalized community and go into the areas hardest hit by poverty. The purpose is not only to go, but to act in compassion and love while we give out of our abundance. We want to give from whatever resources we have, whether it be time, talent, money or social capital. We have a passion to reach the lost and firmly believe that people often have a hard time asking for spiritual needs when there is a great, practical need going unmet. We feel the call to meet this part of our community at that exact crossroad. In essence, we would like to meet their physical needs in order to build a bridge to their spiritual needs. But, I feel like I've said all of this before. I really just wanted to give those of you who don't quite know about the mission of Care Strategy the chance to hear what I just said so you will understand why the next part is so monumental in our journey.

The job has just begun and we are already seeing momentum build. This past weekend was the first big volunteerism project we, as a Care Strategy team, got to be involved in. We had the opportunity to organize a group of volunteers to participate in a playground build, sponsored by Kaboom/Blue Cross and Blue Shield, for a local elementary school, Barbour Language Academy. CLOSE TO 100 VOLUNTEERS from the Care Strategy went to Barbour on Saturday, August, 28, and spent the majority of the day building an awesome playground for the students there. Not only was it rewarding to work alongside these amazing volunteers, but it was also encouraging to see what can be accomplished when a large group of people come together for one purpose. Unity truly is the fuel of great movements. I believe that principle rings true not only for the playground build but for the Care Strategy in general. When the faith community begins to see the need and act accordingly, and they are here in Rockford, we are going to see more and more change, not only in the community of Rockford, but also in the community of God. Thanks for being a part of this journey, thanks for the prayers, and thanks for reading this blog. My hope is it encourages movement in the body.

P.S. The photo does not depict only "Care Strategy" volunteers. This picture shows the entire body of volunteers from our community...how cool is that?!

My New Shirt, My New Way

I bought a new shirt a few weeks ago. I shouldn't have done it but, it was really cute and really on sale. So, I gave into the desire to splurge on this soft, airy, white, linen shirt. It had been quite a while since I had invested in a new piece of clothing that I really wanted. So, to me, this shirt felt like a little treasure.

This morning I awoke with one thing on my mind: I was customer of the week at Starbucks! Yes, I had the much coveted honor of receiving a free drink every day this week from my local Starbucks. So, I put on my new shirt, walked out with my great attitude and headed on my way to Mecca (Starbucks on Perryville). I arrived with a smile on my face and a song in heart. I ordered an Iced, Triple Grande, Nonfat, 2 pump Vanilla Caramel Macchiato. I began to drink and sank into the morning bliss that is coffee. I got to work so joyed with my morning thus far and as I unlocked my office door, to begin diligently working on my daily tasks, I looked down and saw it....Espresso was stained down the front of my treasured, soft, airy, white, linen shirt.

I stopped dead in my tracks and pouted, yes, I pouted. I went into my office and briefly toyed with the idea of just leaving it and taking care of it when I got home because I had a full day ahead. But then I realized a few things. I had worked hard to earn the money I used to buy this shirt. I also realized that my appearance, be what it may, is the first thing I give people as a representation of who I am. Now, my appearance isn't all I am but it's undeniably a part of me. So, I stopped it all and went to the closest bathroom, spent 10 minutes scrubbing, and got most of the stain out. My little treasure was bruised but not beaten.

I say all of this not to receive your sympathy or a truckload of gift cards for a new shirt, although both would be greatly appreciated :). (I kid) But, I say all of this because immediately upon arrival back to my desk I saw a correlation between my morning and my mission. My community is a little treasure of mine. The people in this community are the true treasures (paid for at the greatest price) and of the utmost value. If there is a stain on this community, be it poverty, injustice, lack of resource, it is my job as a investor in the community to stop what I'm doing and explore the solutions. I can't take care of it later because the longer a stain lies untouched the greater the lasting impression. It is an urgent moment in Rockford. There are stains on this community that have lain untouched for a long time and one way or another I've gotta find a way to make them less visible. I have to find a way to add hope, resource and justice..and maybe a little Tide :) and see how much of this I can scrub away. My little treasures deserve that. So, wash your clothes people, protect your valuables, and don't let the stains set in. I love you all and God Bless your journeys..I know He's blessing mine :).

P.S. (The other photo below relates to the following story: Yesterday we were able to take a donation of 6 boxes of children books and donate them to a local school that was in desperate needs...Look at the treasured teachers in this community..How could you not love them :)!

Jump In

Diving into this year head first has been overwhelming. In a good way. I am learning each day that it is much less about the work and much more about people's lives. I am literally making a way into the lives of people in my community. It is scary...very scary. But, at the same time I can find no better way to do this than to just jump in..to go "all in".

Going "all in" is something I'm very familiar with. It's the way I'm wired up. I was never an ease into the pool kind of kid. :) I remember my dad always telling me "Callie, just jump in...it's scary but a lot easier to acclimate yourself that way". My dad was right. This year is about jumping in, getting involved, and taking a risk to be uncomfortable. My community is worth my lack of comfort. My community will be better b/c in the words of Jack Johnson "We are better together". :) (O yes..I quoted Jack Johnson)

I honestly believe that the community will be a better place when we start truly living as a unit. When we can focus on not just our needs but the needs of our neighbors and community members. When we can all just "jump in" and risk the rush of the "cold water". We have been called to that and I'm thankful we are listening to that call. The Care Strategy is offering support, mentorship, and CARE to a community that needs it. The structure it will add is going to be paramount!

Just know this: The strategizing is underway and more than the ideas I've been struck by the amount of love fueling this movement. Love is a catalyst that is constant, sustainable and not easily moved. I'm proud that love is a foundation of this project. We are going to move forward with purpose and structure, always keeping the main thing..the main thing. The main thing is people.

I leave you with this thought from my mentor: Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work. -Mother T

It's time Rockford..let's jump in!

Vista Day: 1

I do believe that at this certain point in my life I am coming into contact with dreams I have hoped and prayers I have spoken. In essence I am watching things that I have prayed for and hoped for begin to unfold before me. To clarify, today I began my year long service term with the Americorp Vista Program. I am an official government volunteer. I could not be more honored to give my time to anything more worthy than the fight against poverty.

For seven years I have studied my faith and the faith of others. I have looked for the truth and have found that I believe in a much higher power. I have noticed peace and understanding flood in where anxiety and ignorance once lay dominant. I have seen inner healing replace a heart ravaged by disease. But, in the midst of all of this personal healing I have found that I have become a professional patient. It is time to look beyond myself and share life with those who lack opportunity.

I was once a occupant of a land that lacked opportunity and hope. I was a child present in a community of little resource and even less hope for a bright future. I believe that because someone chose to "see" me..to notice me and offer me an opportunity to move forward that I am who I have become. Opportunity acts as a bridge for some to become all they TRULY are inside. Lack of hope creates fear and quenches beauty inside of the human heart. I remember that feeling and my goal this year is to build a bridge for someone to cross as I once did myself.

In closing I just want to say thank you to all of the people who have made this year a possibility for me. Monty and Renee, thank you for your vision, passion, love of coffee, and most of all your passion for the hurting. Jeremy and all of the Rockford First Team, thank you for your trust and love of this community. Anna, Dustin, Zee, Brent, Justin (my Care Strategy "Friends" :) ) thank you for your inspiring lives and even more inspiring futures..they truly are bright (I'll be there for you, cause your there for me too ;) ) . To my Vista Volunteers, you have taught me more in one week about social justice and acceptance than I have ever learned in my life...it is invaluable and thank you will never be enough. And to my entire purpose I say "I owe my life to you".