Watch it on CNN tonight at 10 pm Eastern, Friday or Saturday at 8 pm Eastern. The honor comes with $125,000 which will rebuild 10 families' homes! Thanks to all who voted her in and congratulations Liz!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
A page is turned...
Where do I begin to tell this story? It's the one that every girl dreams of and leads up to a day spent wearing a white dress and catching the eye of the man anxiously waiting at the other end of the aisle. It's the kind of story that should offer us a glimpse of God's love for his bride, the Church.
It's difficult to comprehend that the events of the past year would lead me to so much blessing—in many things, but most incredibly in Karl Bontrager. He has a generous, servant heart and truly loves me for who God made me to be. His love for the Lord flows joyfully into the lives of everyone around him and I am fortunate to be one of those people he naturally encourages and supports along the way.
As you can probably guess from the photo to the left (that was NOT staged), there is a beautiful, sparkly ring inside that little white box--one that now resides permanently and quite happily on my left hand. How did we get to this point, you ask? Here's my version of the story.
The Meeting
I met Karl on my first day in New Orleans after making the move from Colorado in September of 2007. Two friends, Jeff and Janell, that I knew through Habitat had also felt led to leave their Fort Collins home (in my neighborhood) to spend a year rebuilding in New Orleans. We made our plans simultaneously without knowing it and finally discovered a few weeks before their departure that we'd be serving in the greater New Orleans area--them with Mercy Response and the Vineyard Church, myself with the St. Bernard Project (SBP).
When my brother, Gordon, and I planned our route, we timed it so we could attend church at the Vineyard where Jeff and Janell had arrived to work a week prior. In the parking lot they introduced us to Karl from Columbus who had just completed his 6th trip to New Orleans since Katrina, quit his job as a Lighting Engineer (the day before), and decided to stay on as a long-term volunteer. We all went to lunch, during which time I learned he was a Bengals fan and therefore immediately removed him from my mental list of 'possible suitors.' As a brand new Volunteer Coordinator, I did suggest that SBP would have plenty of work and gave him my phone number.
A few weeks later, in typical New Orleans fashion, he used that number to invite me to Cafe du Monde for coffee and beignets. When he suggested via email that we continue to get to know each other, I followed up with a pseudo-rejection, citing another relationship. He appreciated my honesty and we moved on as friends.
As the next six months went by, I saw him here or there and began to discern that there was something very joyful and unique about him. I found myself secretly wishing that he would be around when I got together with my fellow Coloradoans and tried to disguise my own disappointment from myself when he wasn't. This became harder to deny when his time in New Orleans was drawing to a close. He kept me in the loop as his plans to move on--to Tulsa, OK--were finalized. We agreed that we should have coffee again, one last time.
The Leaving
We met on Magazine St. and he drove me home. We talked about keeping in touch and I wondered if we would. The day he left, I found out through this text message, "I'll be back for you... I mean, I'll be back. Ahem :)" I remembering thinking to myself, "That's rather bold... he's layin' his cards out on the table. Interesting!"
We did keep in touch through text messages and a random phone call over the next few months. We lived parallel lives in different cities: church-hunting, moving, unpacking, and relating our experiences all the way. The first Sunday in Tulsa he learned of another trip to New Orleans and informed his boss he would need to take off from work to participate in June on his 9th trip. We determined that another coffee excursion would be in order and planned from there. The days and weeks went by, with many text messages, but he did call to see if I would actually go out on a date with him while he was in town. (Can you go out on a date when you’re on a mission trip?) I remember thinking, “I’m really glad he called to ask me that.” This time there was no rejection plan on my end.
The Reunion
I’m not sure when the pieces of the puzzle started to come together for me, but I can safely say that by the time I finally saw him in June, a greater appreciation was growing between us.
With the rest of his team, we served dinner to some of the homeless population in New Orleans on the first evening he was back in town. His “quick to serve” instinct was in full force. The meal ended in a prayer circle and as he grabbed my hand for the first time, I distinctly remember thinking how glad I was that prayer was the cause of our first physical contact.
The next night it was time for our date on which he guided me along a series of undisclosed locations with clues --Juan’s Flying Burrito, Café Beignet, and a stroll around the French Quarter. We laughed, learned, and listened a lot that night. It left me curious, wanting to more fully understand his story.
By the time the weekend ended, we had seen each other three times and discussed our mutual desire to actively pursue whatever God had for us. Yet another opportunity soon presented itself to meet at a Jeremy Camp concert over July 4th weekend. Leading up to that reunion was a lot more serious discussion along with some intense question and answer sessions. It was refreshing and confirming to be honest and have a peace about what we were sharing.
The weeks finally passed by and I arrived at the July 4th show for my first, true backstage experience. During the concert, a new feeling washed over me along with the familiar music. As we watched from the crowd together, I was able to fully worship with him beside me. Karl’s presence didn’t distract me, but supported and encouraged me to enter into the Lord’s presence. We sat there, together, soaking it all in and breathing deep His peace and love. Later that night, I accepted his request and officially became his girlfriend. (See above.)
I could easily spend hours writing about the ways the Lord continued to work in our lives, allowing us more opportunities to get to know each other, but I will limit it to a few.
The Applications
During an evening phone conversation shortly after we 'made it official,' I warned Karl that my family and close friends serve as the screening committee for all serious relationships. He, being the quick-witted guy that he is, asked a simple question-- "Well, in that case, is there an application for me to complete?" This opened the door for a bright idea that would occupy some of my time while sequestered in Baton Rouge at a training. I was inspired by my witty friend, Jen Stewart, who had created an application seeking dates for the various and sundry weddings she attended last summer. Starting with her format, I began to craft Karl's application, complete with short answer, multiple choice, and essay questions. He completed all 40-some questions within 36 hours and wanted more! So, we opened it up to the family and friends for their input. The application became over 100 questions, thanks to their submittals, and Karl created one for me as well. They ranged in seriousness from, "What's your favorite character in 'I Love Lucy'?" to "Who is God to you?" Once completed, both applications filled more than 35 pages! It was an incredible exercise and one I would highly recommend! We read the answers to each other and submitted them to the screening committees for approval.
Evacuation Vacation and Music Builds
I visited Karl in Tulsa at the beginning of August before he started the Music Builds tour with Third Day, Switchfoot, and Jars of Clay. Soon after that visit, we learned that the tour manager considered it a 'wash' as to whether she put Karl up in a hotel in Nashville for his days off or flew him to New Orleans! Every Monday for six weeks he was scheduled to arrive in NOLA and leave each Wednesday to meet up with the rest of the tour. When the first show in Florida was canceled, I was frustrated because he had no reason to fly to New Orleans the first week. I sulked a little, but quickly realized after keeping up with the weather that it would be in my favor that Karl was still at home in Tulsa. On the anniversary of Katrina, August 29th, I began my Hurricane Gustav evacuation journey and made my way north to Oklahoma. Evacuating was, by far, one of the most stressful things I've ever done alone and I was never so glad to see Karl's welcoming face, at the end of my drive. As my sister said, "God canceled a whole concert for you!" There was nothing more comforting than being with Karl as we watched, waited, and prayed about the future of New Orleans and the Gulf. His heart is tied to the work there and could completely and easily relate to my perspective on the situation. It also provided an opportunity for him to see me under major stress. :)
When the time came to re-enter New Orleans after Gustav, he was able to take time off due to a break in the tour schedule, and make the drive back with me. This was a tremendous blessing as I was dreading the thought of making that same trip alone, again. We made it safely and he pitched in like he had always worked with us to put our office and our sites back together again, doing whatever needed to be done. Then he started volunteering as a plumber! When the tour resumed, he flew to New Orleans every Monday, scouted his plumbing job after I picked him up at the airport, worked Tuesday and most of Wednesday, until he had to jump back on another plane to rejoin the tour. He spent his 'days off' plumbing our houses with other SBP staff and volunteers for the next 5 weeks. (When he fell asleep in the chair next to my desk, I knew he needed a real day off.)
The Friends and Family Tour
While the applications seemed to pass with flying colors, there was still the actual meeting of family to be done. This was quickly accomplished as he toured--my sister, Rhonda; and her daughters, Kayla, and Maddie on opening night in Detroit and the Colorado crew on the final night in Denver (Ma
rcie, Zach, Kristin (and Boston), BJ, Kelli, Ciera, and Celeste)--all without me.
Fortunately for me, one of Karl's trips coincided with my brother-in-law's trip to New Orleans. Carl, Cindy and their newest bundle of joy, Emma Joy, spent a week visiting and getting to know Karl as well. We asked them to talk through some common premarital counseling topics with us to be sure we were on the same page from their outside perspective. We also enjoyed the time together, visiting a plantation, riding the ferry, and eating lots of good NOLA food. Their conclusion was that Karl and I are very well-suited for each other. :)
So, that almost brings us up to date. I think I will let you hear from him about the rest of this chapter. Stay tuned for the details from Karl on his proposal.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Passing the Test
While at the Democratic National Convention, Mayor Nagin commented about incoming Gustav,
"This will be a good test for us, I wish we didn't have to go through this test, and I hope this thing veers at the last minute, because right now, these are the best levees that we have."
I'm grateful to say that the levees did hold and the storm cooperated. St. Bernard and New Orleans were spared the severe damage we saw just three years ago in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
When I watched Nagin's interview with Anderson Cooper from Denver last week, I wasn't sure what I thought of his word choice... 'test.' Now that we're through it, I can see a different perspective.
Passing the test of Hurricane Gustav could propel the much needed rebuilding work that is still leftover from Katrina. New Orleans and Louisiana have proven that lessons were, in fact, learned and that state and local and even federal governments can effectively evacuate over 2 million people in the face of disaster.
My personal prayers revolved around people this time, not the weather-- for evacuees and officials to be clear-headed, making good decisions. I think these prayers (and many others) were answered.
In our own staff at the St. Bernard Project, I can see the unity forming as we pulled together and prepared for the worst, while hoping and rejoicing when those efforts became unnecessary. Storms and tests are scary, but sometimes essential to taking the next step.
Zack, one of our directors and co-founders, has also started to blog. Here's his perspective.
"This will be a good test for us, I wish we didn't have to go through this test, and I hope this thing veers at the last minute, because right now, these are the best levees that we have."
I'm grateful to say that the levees did hold and the storm cooperated. St. Bernard and New Orleans were spared the severe damage we saw just three years ago in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
When I watched Nagin's interview with Anderson Cooper from Denver last week, I wasn't sure what I thought of his word choice... 'test.' Now that we're through it, I can see a different perspective.
Passing the test of Hurricane Gustav could propel the much needed rebuilding work that is still leftover from Katrina. New Orleans and Louisiana have proven that lessons were, in fact, learned and that state and local and even federal governments can effectively evacuate over 2 million people in the face of disaster.
My personal prayers revolved around people this time, not the weather-- for evacuees and officials to be clear-headed, making good decisions. I think these prayers (and many others) were answered.
In our own staff at the St. Bernard Project, I can see the unity forming as we pulled together and prepared for the worst, while hoping and rejoicing when those efforts became unnecessary. Storms and tests are scary, but sometimes essential to taking the next step.
Zack, one of our directors and co-founders, has also started to blog. Here's his perspective.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
The calm before...
Never did I dream that when my brother dropped me off in New Orleans with a card that contained $250 for 'evacuation' would I ever have to use it. Let alone on the 3-year anniversary of Katrina.
I'm safe in Tulsa where Karl was very glad to see me arrive safe and sound. I headed out of St. Bernard yesterday at 6 pm up Paris Rd. only to see a handful of banks and businesses boarded up in preparation for Gustav. I took 610-W and had very little traffic, as compared to normal city traffic. When I hit the turn for 55-N, it was smooth sailing from there. I was so focused on getting here that I didn't process much of the week's events... until now.
After driving through the night, I'm exhausted, but I can't sleep. It's all starting to hit me, in the calm before the storm.
As I drove away from the city that has been my home for the past year, signs of Gustav were all around. Those signs slipped away the farther north I got... the radio station announcing evacuation by Parish was out of range by Jackson, MS, the traffic thinned, and you would never know that over a million people were a few hours south, making plans to flee the impending hurricane.
This week has been a blur, but I want to memorialize it... for the sake of St. Bernard and it's residents.
Monday/Tuesday- We were eagerly completing our plans for the 24-Hour Build to honor the 3-year anniversary of Katrina, when a new storm--Gustav--appeared on the radar. It was just a tropical storm, nothing to worry about. We continued making directions for our 100+ volunteers set to work 3 shifts around the clock on 5 homes in St. Bernard. Miss Ann was thrilled to hear that she would be able to move in by the end of the build on Saturday.
Wednesday- I was glued to map after map of Gustav's progress and by the time Zack and Liz (co-directors and founders of St. Bernard Project) returned from the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday afternoon, I was very ready to 'turn over the reigns' and my newly crafted evacuation plan to them. Talk of Hurricane Gustav was in the air... you could feel the skepticism and worry mixed with hope and resiliency in the office. It seemed to be heading our way, but you can never really tell that far out. We all kept saying, "Tomorrow we will know more and can make decisions then." We met as a management team and decided that we would start to prepare for the worst, while modeling to our nervous homeowners that there was still hope of Gustav passing New Orleans right on by. Nevertheless, we called all of our out of state volunteers and urged them not to travel to Louisiana in case of an evacuation. The 24 Hour Build thus became a normal work schedule on a very important day.
Thursday- As computer generated models continued to track Gustav's progress directly into the Gulf Coast by Labor Day, we decided to put our evacuation plan into action. St. Bernard Project staff rallied and pulled tools from all our houses except 24 Hour Build houses, dumped trash, reorganized the warehouse, hauled tools to the second story, and consoled residents. I think we were all caught up in the frenzy of activity. Everyone sprung into action, worked as a team, and demonstrated an amazing ability to work well under pressure--together. After work, we had an all-staff meeting and mandated that all SBP Staff begin implementing their personal evacuation plan by 8 am on Saturday, with a mandatory evacuation of St. Bernard Parish most likely to follow. I went home to pack.
It's odd to look around your home and consider, "What can't I live without? What really is essential to my existence?" We were advised to bring enough food and water for 7 days, as things can get hairy during evacuation time. I'd heard enough horror stories of Katrina evacuees to know that I wanted to leave as soon as the office was secure. What I'm pondering now is what that same scenario would feel like for a family with an entire house full of years of belongings, or a home that was just rebuilt since Katrina. Evacuating from my small, unfurnished apartment is no comparison.
Friday- I loaded my car and headed into work on the 3-year anniversary of Katrina, anticipating my own evacuation deadline of 6 pm. We ended up with about 30 volunteers for the 24 Hour Build working on 4 homes. We had planned and planned for the anniversary build, yet Gustav's arrival overshadowed. Again, the SBP staff did what they do best and pulled off an amazing amount of work to complete the final pre-storm preparations. It was another flurry of activity, but with much purpose... many thoughts, fewer words, and awkward goodbyes. We hugged each other and went our separate ways into the unknown with our phone trees in hand and promises to keep in touch as we scattered.
Saturday- My phone has been consistently buzzing with calls and texts from staff members as they complete their travel and wait. We wait for any indication, just an inkling of what the future will hold.
As I sit here in Oklahoma, it feels like a dream... I drove north and removed myself from the path of the storm, but I feel so far removed, so quickly. I've been reduced from my first-hand experience to news snippets and emotionless articles on www.nola.com. In all the planning and preparing I didn't process. Now I will... in this space from the work of rebuilding, in this safe haven over 700 miles from the place I've learned to call home.
I'm safe in Tulsa where Karl was very glad to see me arrive safe and sound. I headed out of St. Bernard yesterday at 6 pm up Paris Rd. only to see a handful of banks and businesses boarded up in preparation for Gustav. I took 610-W and had very little traffic, as compared to normal city traffic. When I hit the turn for 55-N, it was smooth sailing from there. I was so focused on getting here that I didn't process much of the week's events... until now.
After driving through the night, I'm exhausted, but I can't sleep. It's all starting to hit me, in the calm before the storm.
As I drove away from the city that has been my home for the past year, signs of Gustav were all around. Those signs slipped away the farther north I got... the radio station announcing evacuation by Parish was out of range by Jackson, MS, the traffic thinned, and you would never know that over a million people were a few hours south, making plans to flee the impending hurricane.
This week has been a blur, but I want to memorialize it... for the sake of St. Bernard and it's residents.
Monday/Tuesday- We were eagerly completing our plans for the 24-Hour Build to honor the 3-year anniversary of Katrina, when a new storm--Gustav--appeared on the radar. It was just a tropical storm, nothing to worry about. We continued making directions for our 100+ volunteers set to work 3 shifts around the clock on 5 homes in St. Bernard. Miss Ann was thrilled to hear that she would be able to move in by the end of the build on Saturday.
Wednesday- I was glued to map after map of Gustav's progress and by the time Zack and Liz (co-directors and founders of St. Bernard Project) returned from the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday afternoon, I was very ready to 'turn over the reigns' and my newly crafted evacuation plan to them. Talk of Hurricane Gustav was in the air... you could feel the skepticism and worry mixed with hope and resiliency in the office. It seemed to be heading our way, but you can never really tell that far out. We all kept saying, "Tomorrow we will know more and can make decisions then." We met as a management team and decided that we would start to prepare for the worst, while modeling to our nervous homeowners that there was still hope of Gustav passing New Orleans right on by. Nevertheless, we called all of our out of state volunteers and urged them not to travel to Louisiana in case of an evacuation. The 24 Hour Build thus became a normal work schedule on a very important day.
Thursday- As computer generated models continued to track Gustav's progress directly into the Gulf Coast by Labor Day, we decided to put our evacuation plan into action. St. Bernard Project staff rallied and pulled tools from all our houses except 24 Hour Build houses, dumped trash, reorganized the warehouse, hauled tools to the second story, and consoled residents. I think we were all caught up in the frenzy of activity. Everyone sprung into action, worked as a team, and demonstrated an amazing ability to work well under pressure--together. After work, we had an all-staff meeting and mandated that all SBP Staff begin implementing their personal evacuation plan by 8 am on Saturday, with a mandatory evacuation of St. Bernard Parish most likely to follow. I went home to pack.
It's odd to look around your home and consider, "What can't I live without? What really is essential to my existence?" We were advised to bring enough food and water for 7 days, as things can get hairy during evacuation time. I'd heard enough horror stories of Katrina evacuees to know that I wanted to leave as soon as the office was secure. What I'm pondering now is what that same scenario would feel like for a family with an entire house full of years of belongings, or a home that was just rebuilt since Katrina. Evacuating from my small, unfurnished apartment is no comparison.
Friday- I loaded my car and headed into work on the 3-year anniversary of Katrina, anticipating my own evacuation deadline of 6 pm. We ended up with about 30 volunteers for the 24 Hour Build working on 4 homes. We had planned and planned for the anniversary build, yet Gustav's arrival overshadowed. Again, the SBP staff did what they do best and pulled off an amazing amount of work to complete the final pre-storm preparations. It was another flurry of activity, but with much purpose... many thoughts, fewer words, and awkward goodbyes. We hugged each other and went our separate ways into the unknown with our phone trees in hand and promises to keep in touch as we scattered.
Saturday- My phone has been consistently buzzing with calls and texts from staff members as they complete their travel and wait. We wait for any indication, just an inkling of what the future will hold.
As I sit here in Oklahoma, it feels like a dream... I drove north and removed myself from the path of the storm, but I feel so far removed, so quickly. I've been reduced from my first-hand experience to news snippets and emotionless articles on www.nola.com. In all the planning and preparing I didn't process. Now I will... in this space from the work of rebuilding, in this safe haven over 700 miles from the place I've learned to call home.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Anniversary Worry
Bracing for the Worst
On the 3-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we at the St. Bernard Project are preparing for another potential threat--Tropical Storm Gustav. It is expected that by the end of the day, Gustav will be back to CAT 1 and reach make landfall along the Gulf Coast (exact location unknown) as a CAT 3 by Monday sometime.Residents of St. Bernard are anxious and volunteers like myself don't know really know what to expect. In anticipation of evacuation tomorrow, I will be leaving tonight after we have sufficiently battened down the hatches here at the office. This photo gives you an idea of what my office looks like this afternoon. Soon to be filled up with the remaining tools from the last 4 houses in operation today.
David Temple and his wife, Amy, have graciously opened up their home in Little Rock to me as my first stop on the evacuation route. From there I will head on to Tulsa to visit Karl.
I really can't believe how odd this feels... I have plenty of food and water and my car is filled with St. Bernard Project documents as well as my own personal essentials. I'm hoping that the warning of "4x longer drive time during evacuation" will not be the case in my situation.
I would greatly appreciate your thoughts and prayers for a safe evacuation for myself and all of our volunteers!
More soon...
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Louisiana Summertime,
One Day at a Time
It has been recently called to my attention that it has been over 5 months since I have posted a thing on this blog. I wish I could say that my public has been up in arms and counting the days until this day when I would write again. I do have one fan though! The Pops. His ghost comments have inspired me to begin anew and blog yet again!
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School began here yesterday in New Orleans and the voice on the radio reminded drivers to look out for buses and flashing school zones on the morning commute. This reality is unfathomable to me. For months I was anticipating the sweltering, oppressive Louisiana summer and seriously wondering if I would survive without complete misery. I anticipated sleepless nights and wanting to make myself a bed of ice cubes. I had visions of hurricane evacuations and wondered how many hours it would take me on I-10 to make my way clear of the NOLA skyline. Now that August is nearly half-over, I guess it's safe to say that I'm in the clear. Don't mistake me--we are very much in the middle of Hurricane Season and it has been HOT and HUMID, but I guess what they say about your body 'adjusting' is, in fact, true. (I'm sure that my apartment with central air has something to do with that, though I keep the temperature between 78 and 80.) This season in the deep south of southeastern Louisiana that I have dreaded has not been nearly as painful as I had imagined.
It seems that this is often how life goes. We anticipate something, good or bad, and before we know it, that time has passed us by. Did we enjoy those moments of expectation? Did they cause undue stress and irritation? Did we trust or did we manipulate?
I just spoke with a friend about taking each day as it comes. That's what I'm aiming for... having the faith and trust just for today. Not for tomorrow or the next day. Just for today. And sometimes just for this moment.
Philippians 4 shares wisdom on this:
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
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School began here yesterday in New Orleans and the voice on the radio reminded drivers to look out for buses and flashing school zones on the morning commute. This reality is unfathomable to me. For months I was anticipating the sweltering, oppressive Louisiana summer and seriously wondering if I would survive without complete misery. I anticipated sleepless nights and wanting to make myself a bed of ice cubes. I had visions of hurricane evacuations and wondered how many hours it would take me on I-10 to make my way clear of the NOLA skyline. Now that August is nearly half-over, I guess it's safe to say that I'm in the clear. Don't mistake me--we are very much in the middle of Hurricane Season and it has been HOT and HUMID, but I guess what they say about your body 'adjusting' is, in fact, true. (I'm sure that my apartment with central air has something to do with that, though I keep the temperature between 78 and 80.) This season in the deep south of southeastern Louisiana that I have dreaded has not been nearly as painful as I had imagined.
It seems that this is often how life goes. We anticipate something, good or bad, and before we know it, that time has passed us by. Did we enjoy those moments of expectation? Did they cause undue stress and irritation? Did we trust or did we manipulate?
I just spoke with a friend about taking each day as it comes. That's what I'm aiming for... having the faith and trust just for today. Not for tomorrow or the next day. Just for today. And sometimes just for this moment.
Philippians 4 shares wisdom on this:
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
May it only be through His strength and for His glory that I live.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
On every corner in Bean-town
Locations in Greater New Orleans: 1
Locations in Boston: 100 (It felt like more!)
Source: www.dunkindonuts.com Store Finder
Easter Hope in the Voice of Luke (24: 36-49)
Jesus- May you have peace!
You might expect them to be overjoyed, but they aren't. They're startled and terrified; they think they're seeing a ghost.
Jesus- Why are you upset? Why are your hearts churning with questions? Look--look at My hands and My feet! See that it's Me! Come on; touch Me; see for yourselves. A ghost doesn't have flesh and bones, as you can see that I have!
Then He shows them His hands and His feet.
Now their fear gives way to joy, but it seems too good to be true and they're still unsure.
Jesus- Do you have anything here to eat?
They hand him a piece of broiled fish, and He takes it and eats it in front of them.
Jesus- I've been telling you this all along, that everything written about Me in the Hebrew Scriptures must be fulfilled--everything from the law of Moses to the prophets to the psalms.
Then He opens their minds so they can comprehend the meaning of the Hebrew Scriptures.
Jesus- This is what the Scriptures said: that the promised Liberating King should suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, that in His name a radical change of thought and life should be preached, and that in His name the forgiveness of sins should be preached, beginning in Jerusalem and extending to all the nations. You have witnessed the fulfillment of these things. So I am sending My Father's promise to you. Stay in the city until you receive it--until power from heaven comes upon you.
You might expect them to be overjoyed, but they aren't. They're startled and terrified; they think they're seeing a ghost.
Jesus- Why are you upset? Why are your hearts churning with questions? Look--look at My hands and My feet! See that it's Me! Come on; touch Me; see for yourselves. A ghost doesn't have flesh and bones, as you can see that I have!
Then He shows them His hands and His feet.
Now their fear gives way to joy, but it seems too good to be true and they're still unsure.
Jesus- Do you have anything here to eat?
They hand him a piece of broiled fish, and He takes it and eats it in front of them.
Jesus- I've been telling you this all along, that everything written about Me in the Hebrew Scriptures must be fulfilled--everything from the law of Moses to the prophets to the psalms.
Then He opens their minds so they can comprehend the meaning of the Hebrew Scriptures.
Jesus- This is what the Scriptures said: that the promised Liberating King should suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, that in His name a radical change of thought and life should be preached, and that in His name the forgiveness of sins should be preached, beginning in Jerusalem and extending to all the nations. You have witnessed the fulfillment of these things. So I am sending My Father's promise to you. Stay in the city until you receive it--until power from heaven comes upon you.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
My shotgun
Long overdue, this is a photo of my place! Constance Street... just off of Magazine is where my shotgun-style apartment resides.
Now that Bethany is in town, I have a resident photographer. More spring time fun photos from NOLA coming soon.
Now that Bethany is in town, I have a resident photographer. More spring time fun photos from NOLA coming soon.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Forcing Hope?
As I begin again to post on this blog, I'm considering the reason I started in the first place.
To actively record my hope sightings. To memorialize the moments when hope rose to surface above the muck and sludge of life.
But what I didn't anticipate was the difficulty in seeing and defining those moments. The reality is that not every day is filled with them. Sometimes hope is hard to even conceptualize.
I think in those times when hope seems so far-fetched, so unattainable, so non-existent and impossible--in those moments, we have to look to each other for reminders that hope does, in fact, live on.
I recently discovered a podcast that addresses some of this. Thank you Donald Miller! He dares to say the things I only think... Listen to Donald speak on Hope.
To actively record my hope sightings. To memorialize the moments when hope rose to surface above the muck and sludge of life.
But what I didn't anticipate was the difficulty in seeing and defining those moments. The reality is that not every day is filled with them. Sometimes hope is hard to even conceptualize.
I think in those times when hope seems so far-fetched, so unattainable, so non-existent and impossible--in those moments, we have to look to each other for reminders that hope does, in fact, live on.
I recently discovered a podcast that addresses some of this. Thank you Donald Miller! He dares to say the things I only think... Listen to Donald speak on Hope.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Resolutions, Records, and Reflections
Out of the void I come, returning to this blog, vowing to make this new year one of reflection. Time has escaped me. I've lost all concept of it, going, going, gone... In much of my going and doing, I've missed precious moments. So, my resolution is to keep forcing myself to take time to observe, watch, listen, discern, and reflect.
Since Thanksgiving, I've come and gone from Michigan and Pennsylvania, both providing my senses with the much-needed atmosphere of winter wonderland I'd been craving. I had the pleasure of being with my family and dear friends, wishing the time would never end. I acted like a tourist in the 'Burgh, going to a Pens game (thank you Max!), eating at Primanti Bros (twice), and visiting the Fort Pitt museum (did you know it exists?). I've come to love the quirky, beautifully unique aspects of this city that I grew up near and never truly explored.
The change of scenery was nice. I worked a bit from the road, trying to stay on top of the countless emails and voicemails from eager volunteers, many of which would be arriving to work immediately after Christmas. But I managed to set apart two entire days, refusing to respond to the technology beckoning me to react.
Upon my return to New Orleans, over 100 volunteers were ready and waiting to invest their time and energy into helping others rebuild their lives--the true spirit of Christmas in my mind. Although Christmas looked and felt a lot different this year--no tree or lights in my apartment, no Christmas Eve service--I experienced the reality of Immanuel, God With Us.
Making the invisible God, visible--people came of all ages, colors, faith-backgrounds, genders, as they do every week--to serve, demonstrating compassion and love.
Since my time began in St. Bernard nearly 4 months ago, 25 families homes are now underway, 10 of which should be 'officially' completed by the end of January. An average of 75-100 volunteers bring their hands and hope weekly to make the rebuilding process a reality. (If I do the math on the number of volunteers I've worked with, it might be too much for me, so I'll leave that up to you.) Just last week we hit a record: over 150 volunteers for the week and 19 houses actively running with volunteers!
I'm optimistic this new year. I've seen so much pain, yet so much hope these past months. Homeowners will tell you their harrowing story with the grand finale resembling something like, "But Katrina was probably the best thing that ever happened to me. I've learned to be grateful for the numerous blessings that have come through learning to receive."
As I sit here in our humble office, I'm reminded that this organization that is impacting so many lives was started and is run by people who aren't even claiming to rely on God for strength or direction. The activeness of the relief/volunteer community, largely made up of humanitarian folk, makes me think critically about how "Christians" are doing in this world where we are called to love our neighbors and be good Samaritans.
The hunt for a church as I keep this issue in mind continues to be a struggle. I've gone to 4 now and wonder where I should plant my roots for the next three-quarters of this year. If you're a praying person, I would appreciate prayers for wisdom and discernment. I don't want to miss out this year--on the lessons, on the relationships, on the things of true value.
If you're reading this, I was probably thinking of you when I wrote this. (My mind is swirling with memories and thoughts of the people I love.)
How I long for the day when there's no good-byes...Until then, my hope is that we will all find our places and roles in this world, learning along the way, as we discover and grow into the best versions of ourselves.
Since Thanksgiving, I've come and gone from Michigan and Pennsylvania, both providing my senses with the much-needed atmosphere of winter wonderland I'd been craving. I had the pleasure of being with my family and dear friends, wishing the time would never end. I acted like a tourist in the 'Burgh, going to a Pens game (thank you Max!), eating at Primanti Bros (twice), and visiting the Fort Pitt museum (did you know it exists?). I've come to love the quirky, beautifully unique aspects of this city that I grew up near and never truly explored.
The change of scenery was nice. I worked a bit from the road, trying to stay on top of the countless emails and voicemails from eager volunteers, many of which would be arriving to work immediately after Christmas. But I managed to set apart two entire days, refusing to respond to the technology beckoning me to react.
Upon my return to New Orleans, over 100 volunteers were ready and waiting to invest their time and energy into helping others rebuild their lives--the true spirit of Christmas in my mind. Although Christmas looked and felt a lot different this year--no tree or lights in my apartment, no Christmas Eve service--I experienced the reality of Immanuel, God With Us.
Making the invisible God, visible--people came of all ages, colors, faith-backgrounds, genders, as they do every week--to serve, demonstrating compassion and love.
Since my time began in St. Bernard nearly 4 months ago, 25 families homes are now underway, 10 of which should be 'officially' completed by the end of January. An average of 75-100 volunteers bring their hands and hope weekly to make the rebuilding process a reality. (If I do the math on the number of volunteers I've worked with, it might be too much for me, so I'll leave that up to you.) Just last week we hit a record: over 150 volunteers for the week and 19 houses actively running with volunteers!
I'm optimistic this new year. I've seen so much pain, yet so much hope these past months. Homeowners will tell you their harrowing story with the grand finale resembling something like, "But Katrina was probably the best thing that ever happened to me. I've learned to be grateful for the numerous blessings that have come through learning to receive."
As I sit here in our humble office, I'm reminded that this organization that is impacting so many lives was started and is run by people who aren't even claiming to rely on God for strength or direction. The activeness of the relief/volunteer community, largely made up of humanitarian folk, makes me think critically about how "Christians" are doing in this world where we are called to love our neighbors and be good Samaritans.
The hunt for a church as I keep this issue in mind continues to be a struggle. I've gone to 4 now and wonder where I should plant my roots for the next three-quarters of this year. If you're a praying person, I would appreciate prayers for wisdom and discernment. I don't want to miss out this year--on the lessons, on the relationships, on the things of true value.
If you're reading this, I was probably thinking of you when I wrote this. (My mind is swirling with memories and thoughts of the people I love.)
How I long for the day when there's no good-byes...Until then, my hope is that we will all find our places and roles in this world, learning along the way, as we discover and grow into the best versions of ourselves.
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