All because of 2 candlesticks

On Christmas day my family likes to go see movies at the local theater. This year my sister and I were already preparing to go see the new Les Miserables and took my parents along. Just before we went I ran across this Gospel Coalition blog on Twitter - Law and Grace in 'Les Mis'  and probably cried more in the movie than I would have regularly.  This post is definitely worth a read!

It's truly a beautiful story of redemption, set in a backdrop of obvious social injustices. It moved me to tears because I see truth in it. I see our broken world and the unbalanced rules we are subject to, even in our present day world. It motivated me once more to speak out when I see injustice, to examine what I can do in my life to fight injustice, and to search for God in our world so I can be a light and part of His story.

I see in Jean Valjean someone who must overcome his past and choose to accept the grace given him in the form of 2 candlesticks. The lavish grace God gives to his children if only we will come to him. I see that in my own life and in the lives of so many I know and have heard about. Grace is freely given, yet how hard it is for some to take hold. His character shows that so well.

This movie came at a time where I was reading Kisses From Katie, a story of a young girl who chose to live a life in Uganda as a single mom to 14 children rather than the life of comfort and predictable mediocrity in TN. So my compassion and empathy radar was on high alert as I watched the story of Les Mis unfold and heard the timeless songs. I was also more moved by the sweet love of a father for his daughter that develops, given Katie's love for her adopted children and God's adoption of us into His family.

fanpop.com

I was reminded of my love of good literature, themes, and how a good story can speak on so many levels at once. It can reflect our own souls in each character. I saw myself in Jean Valjean as he sought to live the blessed life he was given. I saw myself in the inspector Javert as he was blind in his pride to uphold what was law. I saw myself in Eponine as she struggled with unrequited love and in Marius and Enjolras as they sought ways to bring about change.


This movie reminded me of how compelling emotions can be and how terrific Broadway and song are ways of expressing those emotions. I was truly impressed with the actors abilities to sing and cry at the same time. :) Check out this video on why it was so profoundly moving. Ah I love it and want to see it again.

A Year with my Motto

So about a year ago I attended a seminar called Finding your Passion and Purpose at UNCG. One of the activities we completed was to create a motto for our lives. We spend 2 days doing self-reflection activities to help us discover our purpose. So this was the culmination of the 2 days. Our guidelines were to choose words that have meaning to us and for it to only be 7 words. Apparently there is some evidence to prove that 7 words is easy for us to remember. The result of that task was my motto which now appears in my signature line for any personal emails I send, and is referenced often. I thought it would be fun to look back over this past year of having this motto to see how it has been worked out in real life. So here ya go: 

  Live Intentionally. 

                                      Be For Others.

                                                                      Cultivate Peace. 

Live Intentionally: 

• I created a 30 before 30 list. and have been intentional about creating space in my life to do the things on the list (not always succeeding, because sometimes its easier to watch TV than to read a book a month...)
• This year I've heard several friends remark on my being intentional with them - seeking out time to spend with them or doing something specifically for them (again I am not sure I always succeed in this area, but that's what "they" say)
• I've paid more attention to how I am intentional. I really do have reasons for almost all the things I do. This year I've had some tough conversations with people who have questioned my intentions and I've had to evaluate them. This hasn't been fun, but actually very important. 
• I have noticed this year, since having a motto, that I do in fact live my life with intention in a way that some others don't. This can make my life more exciting sometimes, and more boring other times. But I noticed it most when I meet new people and they comment on something I do or say in a way that reminds me - oh yea, it's because I'm intentional...Ashley Porter knows what I'm talking about in this regard. :) 

Be for Others:

• I went to Greece to be a counselor for missionaries. So while Greece was awesome and traveling is one of the great joys in my life - I went to serve. I wanted to use my skills and education in counseling for the benefit of the body of Christ, and what better way than with those whose job titles are the body of Christ in motion. 
• I responded to a basic need for water by raising $1400 for Rwanda and a new project that gives clean water access to people living in Rulindo. This is exciting because as the project is completed we will get to receive updates on how the money was spent. I was able to get my network of friends and fellow advocates to be for others that we will most likely never get to meet. But we have changed their lives forever. 
• I am trying to simplify my life by getting rid of the superfluous stuff in my house. I've been to Goodwill more this year than any other. I have tried to find good ways of getting rid of stuff, and even paying more attention to what gets recycled and what doesn't.  So I hope I am able to be for others who buy the things I take to Goodwill.

Cultivate Peace:

• This year I think I've had the most trouble seeing this one in my life. Probably because cultivation can take a long time. I may be planting seeds of peace in small ways and won't know about them for a long time. I did put a cool bumper sticker on my car in hopes of helping - it says "Love > Fear" and goes wherever my car goes. So that's something lol.
• I hope I am able to cultivate peace through my work with the high school ministry at my church. I love those students and seek to show them God's love and grace in this world. I find a lot of my time is spent encouraging and reminding them that God's got this, hopefully in turn bringing about some of that "peace beyond understanding" that only God can provide. 

 So I'm very thankful for my motto. I am grateful to God for making me someone who loves language and finding words that resonate with my soul and provide a "soul check" on how I'm living. I like having a motto that makes me question -  Is what I'm doing in a way that fits with how God made me and living into my motto - or do I need to realign myself with who I really am and who I want to be.

If you're still reading to the end of this self-reflection - thanks and enjoy this nostalgic take on the importance of a motto.

Advent week 2

My church is going through the book of Matthew. So I'm weeding through genealogies  of Jesus, which in the past has been pretty boring and something I skimmed over. Lately though, I've been reminded of how powerful the family history was.

http://sacredsandwich.com/archives/8072

About a year ago I heard a sermon on the passage with all the names and was struck by the significance of including women (women who didn't have great reputations) in the history. It wasn't normal to give props to the moms - don't get me started on that! But in this instance 5 women with storied pasts and scandalous claims to fame are included. I love this :) It reminds all of us that Jesus has family baggage and makes him more human. These women had names and were included in Jesus' story regardless of how uncommon a practice this was.

The variety of backgrounds included in the family history invite us to be part of the history too. To end today - check out Behold the Lamb of God by Andrew Peterson and listen to Matthew Begats. It seriously makes the genealogy SO cool :) Enjoy.

Advent week 1

Today starts the church's Christmas season. While consumer America has been at it since Halloween, I now feel justified in listening to Christmas music and  baking unhealthy and delicious items. But one thing that I have already finished and am now simply fighting the pressure for "more" is my Christmas shopping.

For the 1st year ever, I am done with my Christmas shopping before Dec. 1. Hooray! I get weird about our focus on gift giving during this holiday. I don't like feeling like I'm giving out of obligation; I want to find the perfect gift; or I have trouble sticking to a budget. The past several months I've come across a number of awesome products that help someone else, in addition to giving you a gift to on Christmas morning.This is a way for me to feel a whole lot better about the gift I give and the purpose of this season. It makes my money matter more than the item that gets shipped. It allows me to live out my values of care and concern for a hurting world. It gives me a neat way to give to people I know and love, and people that some may consider unlovable or forgotten.

A few examples have been added to one of my Pinterest boards - Shopping that's Worth It. I LOVE being able to help someone in need while loving my friends and family through gifts at Christmas. I hope you'll check out some of the ideas and sites included there and give me more suggestions.

Merry Christmas!