Complacency

Hope you like the new look on the blog. It was about time. The old was done right after we were matched with Lulu 3 yrs ago!!! Geez! Our friend Charlie did it for me and I think she did an amazing job! I am hoping to add a few more new things to it coming up soon.

Ok, so back to the topic of the post, Complacency. Defined as: : a feeling of being satisfied with how things are and not wanting to try to make them better : a complacent feeling or condition
Oh Boy! I do not want to get lulled into complacency. When I left China last summer after 2 weeks with the orphans of Chenzhou, I swore to myself I would not go to "that place of complacency." I didn't want to forget all that I felt on that trip. All that broke my heart. All that filled my heart with joy and meaning and fullness. I was so completely awed at the deep satisfaction and spiritual high I experienced on that trip that I just couldn't imagine going back to the lifestyle of upper middle class America. Why? Why would I rather walk the dirty, crowded streets of a "small" China town in the 100 degree heat only to be met by even hotter conditions once inside the orphanage. An orphanage filled with dirty, smelly, sickly children. Children pulling at you, pinching you, grabbing you,wanting you to hold them. Children who were not  neatly groomed in precious Matilda Jane outfits or sporting the latest Gap styles. Children that in some cases looked genderless. No bows or cute headbands. No preppy plaid shirts. Rotten teeth. Shaved heads. Lonely souls. Desperate for love hearts. Why? Why would I WANT that over my cushy American lifestyle of neatly groomed lawns leading to expansive houses with clean, coiffed children playing happily in their yards on their numerous toys. Sleeping on a soft bed in the air conditioning. Why? Because in China I felt God like no other time in my life. His very real presence. I realized Jesus walked streets like those I shuffled down. His heart broke for the least of these just like mine did. And I was so satisfied because we are made in His image. We are made to feel and hurt and love like He does. And I did that there. I gave of myself in a very raw way that was pure and genuine. Here in America, in my little bubble of a world, I don't often have to experience things that shatter your being and bring you to your knees in desperate pleas of "oh Jesus!" and so I don't look so much like Him here.  I look like the world. Have I become complacent? I fear the answer. But what? What do I do? I am here in America. God has placed me here at this time, not in China. I have 5 kids, 2 dogs and a rabbit right in front of me that need me. So what do I do? I am NOT "satisfied with how things are" because I know life holds more. It holds more of the deep, rich stuff that molds you into someone much better than you ever dreamed you could be... and boy do I need molding! There is something I can do. I just have to trust that God will lead me to it. So I pray and dream and ponder and smile when I think of the sweaty little faces that greeted us each morning in the doorways of the orphanage. I can't forget them and the lessons they taught me. I will not become complacent because we were put on this earth for a purpose. An eternal purpose He chose for us that matches our unique qualities and gifts. I encourage you to find what you are passionate about. That "thing" that pains your heart and stirs you up. It may be the elderly, homeless, abused women, armed forces, cancer victims, there are many, many out there who need you and your unique God-given gifts and talents. I will leave you with the words from the song "Do Something" by Matthew West. May you never be complacent.......

"Do Something"

I woke up this morning
Saw a world full of trouble now
Thought, how’d we ever get so far down
How’s it ever gonna turn around
So I turned my eyes to Heaven
I thought, “God, why don’t You do something?”
Well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of
People living in poverty
Children sold into slavery
The thought disgusted me
So, I shook my fist at Heaven
Said, “God, why don’t You do something?”
He said, “I did, I created you”

If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something

I’m so tired of talking
About how we are God’s hands and feet
But it’s easier to say than to be
Live like angels of apathy who tell ourselves
It’s alright, “somebody else will do something”
Well, I don’t know about you
But I’m sick and tired of life with no desire
I don’t want a flame, I want a fire
I wanna be the one who stands up and says,
“I’m gonna do something”

If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something

We are the salt of the earth
We are a city on a hill (shine shine, shine shine)
But we’re never gonna change the world
By standing still
No we won’t stand still
No we won’t stand still
No we won’t stand still

If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something [x3]