Wilmington

God is teaching me.

stretching me.

loving me.

Wilmington Delaware is like nothing I have expirienced.

It is broken, and beautiful.

It is full of darkness, but exploding with Light.

There is peace here, pain here... joy here and hope. Plenty of hope.

and He saw that it was good.

just printed off all my pictures from new zealand.
just looked through them 4 times over.
remembered every moment, every thought and emotion.
just cried and laughed and smiled.


a good day.
plus, it's raining.

an excellent day.

These seams are not straight

When I discover that an item I am wishing to buy was made in a far reaching place (usually China), I start to imagine small, shaking, overworked hands sewing, nailing or glueing this item together...its usually enough for me to put the item down, walk away, and get fired up over the injustice of the global market. But, sometimes, the urge to be 'fashionable', 'trendy' or simply to pay the lesser price crosses my mind. How can I even put such things above the safety, health and dignity of God's people, my foreign sweatshop working neighbours?

Most days, I dispise how I have been shaped by this ugly and selfish society.
Most days, I struggle to put that item back on the shelf.

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

And then, together we put it down.
And walk away.

You first.

I am currently writing a letter that will never be sent...

...seeing the words revealed, bare on this screen...

...excites my heart, to the point of hurting.

I'm sorry I am not who you want me to be...

I've been mulling over how to put into words that the path I am on is one that travels through danger, dirt, heartache and poverty. I have been trying desperately to even fabricate words to explain, or perhaps to show that if I didn't do these things, but instead I lived a comfortable and safe life, here... well then I wouldn't be me.



Indeed, Lawrence Weiner captures it in its entirety:

"You've got to be who you are no matter how dangerous it is"





.

I will go where you go.

When I stand beside you, I like the way the future looks.

...

What isn't convenient these days?