Birthday Beliefs
“The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” Psalm 16:6
I get to celebrate my 52nd birthday tomorrow May 4th. My life is an incredible gift. I’m acutely aware in this collective season of calamity that the gift of life and breath is not to be trifled with nor taken for granted for one millisecond. It feels like a slap in the face to God and to those who have lost a loved one to callously not recognize how precious is the gift of another day, another year.
Every breath I take, every word I hear or say or write, every thought I ponder, every act I offer to another or to myself, every step I take with my own healthy body, every prayer I utter deeply within my soul, every sight I behold, every scent I inhale, every emotion I feel – each and every one is a gift.
But I cannot and will not discount that there are people, systems, circumstances –- that cause me sorrow, frustration, anger. Anyone who knows me well knows I need to regularly release the valve of emotional expression to the injustices of the world. I believe if I say my grievances out loud, sometimes with great fanfare, it’s my way of not letting them go unaddressed, but rather it reminds me I can act, learn, try to understand, and use my voice and what power I have been allotted to make something better or right.
I think it’s the great quest of the second half of life to learn to straddle the worlds of both joy and delight and hold tenderly whatever causes heartache and disbelief. The key is to allow the roots of grace, love, kindness to grow more deeply, thus more fully creating the equilibrium to do this dance well. These roots must be tended to and cared for so the resulting fruit can be given away to those nearest, including ourselves, but also and perhaps most importantly to those who are not nearest, in thought, or appearance, or beliefs and ideology. Therein lies the proverbial rub!
As I round the corner into a new year, I know more than ever I cannot be all things to all people. I do want to offer gifts of goodness freely but also with great intention. I will look first to pour into those closest, and care well for myself; I’ll then to look to the next circle of family, neighbors, friends, colleagues; and then to those my hearts feels called to care for, the least, the last, the lost and the forgotten. I will be careful to not do things out of obligation but rather focus on what gives me life and what breaks my heart.
I heard someone say recently whenever anxiety rises up in her regarding her family’s financial future, she makes a donation to offset the panic. I love this so much! So as I’ve been asked what I want for my birthday I decided to invite my people to share about what is breaking their heart right now and how we can contribute to making the world a little bit better. So below are a few organization that we are contributing to as a way to offer gratitude for all the good gifts God has given to me.
May God’s shalom rule in our hearts, families, communities and the world more than ever.
My choice is Together Rising supporting women and their families in times of crisis. The work they are doing inspires me no end, particularly their incredible efforts uniting families separated at the border and their efforts meeting the needs of women and medical workers during the current pandemic.
Tony offers Restaurant Employee Relief Fund -- there's not much that brings Tony more joy than dining out for any meal of the day. He wants to support all the people who bring such joy in the restaurant world.
Casey chooses Covenant House California because he is seeing tangible, long term help being given to homeless youth, ages 18-24. And he started working there only a two months ago, so he’s getting a front row seat.
Riley and Alison love their community of Fort Collins and love Homeward Alliance serving those in homelessness. They also care deeply about medical research for those who cope with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome since Alison struggles with this chronic illness in her daily life. Donations made here to the American Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Society
