Moving

I moved earlier this year and a herd of my friends showed up to help me move. They showed up to help us load a U-Haul. They brought their own trucks and cars to load up. They helped unload the U-Haul. They made jokes. They got the job done without thrashing our old place, our new place, or our stuff.

They showed up and helped and completely made it happen. We might have been able to do it without them using the sheer force of will and stubbornness, but it would not have been as good.

They not only blessed us but they saved us from an immense amount of frustration, headache, and loneliness. We are incredibly grateful to them all.

What can you do this week to be a help to someone else? What little or big thing can you do to add value to someone else’s life? What skill, ability, or knowledge do you have and can use to help fill a need in someone else’s life?

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Waking Up

The recent events of Paris have slammed into us all. These events have awoken me as well as I am sure you have been awoken as well. These events have reminded us of the worst parts of humanity. Our collective lowest points and how terrible humanity can be when we act out of pure selfishness and extremism. Truly an atrocity in Paris.

Alongside these events in Paris have come a series of responses ranging the full gamut. One response being the Bleeding Heart. These are the people who have been changing their profile photo, making statuses on social media of their thoughts, prayers, and good vibes being sent towards Parisians caught up in these events. 

Then there are other peoples' responses, such as the Cynic’s approach. The people who are unimpressed by these statuses, avatar changes, and sending of prayers. These people cite the monetary value of these changes to be nothing. To the Cynic, sending nothing to Paris is the same as doing the listed actions above. The Cynic also makes comments about the unreported atrocities going on every day. They point out the lack of emotion from the bleeding heart and the mainstream media's lack of coverage. All of which ends up hurting and devaluing what the Bleeding Heart was saying or doing in the first place. 

The Bleeding Heart eventually responds mad and makes an inflammatory defensive statement towards the Cynic. 

The Cynic, justified by the Bleeding Heart, fires off some snarky remarks designed to enflame the Bleeding Heart. 

At the end of the conversation, no one has won. There is only anger, pain, and hurt people. When all along the Cynic only wants people to take action and the Bleeding Hearts wants to help people. 

Action is exactly what everyone wants. Everyone wants to help. Everyone wants to see restoration and healing. The prayers are powerful. The thoughts are encouraging. And donating to the cause makes a difference. 

All of these parts are necessary. I cannot let myself stop short of taking action. Too often I hear of something tragic going on whether it be up the street or half way around the world and I say my prayer and call it good. Not often enough do I take time to donate my time or money to the cause. 

In this season of generosity, will you donate to the cause? What other times do you stop short when you are called to do more than an obligatory prayer? Who are you in this scenario, the Cynic or the Bleeding Heart?

Both And,

–JT

P.S. I found these two charities. One to help the victims of Bataclan and one to help the Syrian Refugees. I have not researched or vetted these charities in any way. I strongly suggest doing your research before donating, but I think these charities are trying to help people who are front and center of the world’s stage.

Support the Syrian Refugees [Global Giving] 

Support the Bataclan Theater victims [Bitcoin Only]

Christmas Adam

My wife, her family, and I have quite a few traditions around the holidays. Many of the traditions revolve around this day, 23 December. The family has come to call this day, “Christmas Adam.” (in reference to Adam and Eve. I appreciate the pun–tastic nature of this naming scheme.) We decorate cookies, judge each other decorating skills for prizes, sing songs, tell stories, swap gifts, and watch movies. This is a family tradition of theirs dating back millenniums as best as I can tell. Christmas Eve is usually a more relaxed day involving cookie/sugar coma recovery, possibly a Christmas Eve service of sorts and more movies. Finally, there is Christmas day, full of gifts, food, and family. I enjoy all of these times of celebration, memories, and family. I find myself still thinking about the rest of the month. 

I think about this month being a time where I am processing my messy places. 

I think of those who don’t have a healthy way to process their mess.

I think of those who are truly in need.

This year I have been thinking about my lack of service in the midst of our Christmas Adam/Eve/Day Trifecta. This year I need to be a part of making a difference for those who are not in the middle of a community who want the best for them. This may be service at a shelter or simply by engaging the people around me and telling my story. Showing that there is hope no matter how hopeless they feel.

How can you engage those you need to know there is hope in this season of darkness and loneliness?

Helpfully,

–JT