Like Children

     The past weekend, and the week so far, has been full of endless fun, and much tradition. From celebrating Christmas in July with the annual white elephant gift exchange and cookie decorating contest among my friends, to camping with my high school cross country team at Rocky Fork, there has been no shortage of action in my life recently. One thing I've learned this week is that you are never too old to let loose and act like a kid again.
     While camping with my team, I discovered a love and appreciation for backyard baseball. Normally I wouldn't be one to jump into a game of baseball, but I started playing catch with a few teammates and before we knew it we were all headed down the hill to an open field to start a game. The games of pickup baseball that followed were a glorious experience. Not a single one of us was  skilled, but we kept swinging, and missing, until we finally hit the ball. There were no strike outs in this game. Sometimes it's great to spend time with friends who will give you the opportunity to try until you succeed. Sometimes it's more about having fun than it is winning, and it's always great to feel like you're in one of your favorite childhood movies (The Sandlot)...

 

 

      Spending two afternoons enjoying every strikeout and every wild fit of laughter out on the field wasn't the end of the fun, however.We decided we'd take a roll down the hill, just like we were kids again, screaming and giggle the whole way.

 Most of the time, we take ourselves too seriously. We get caught up in who we want to be and where we want to go and think far too much of the future. We forget to enjoy the present. Sometimes you just need a group of silly, childlike friends so remind you it's okay to be goofy and get dirty. It's okay to play outside all day. It's okay to roll down a hill. It's okay too laugh until you cry. It's okay to have fun. You don't always have to work hard and be serious. In the words of Benny "The Jet": "It's baseball, just relax. Have fun." The same can be said about life. Relax, and enjoy the adventure. This Glass is full of a childlike spirit, and I hope you can connect with yours too.

The One

     "Sometimes working in a Third World country makes me feel like I am emptying the ocean with an eyedropper," says Katie Davis in her book Kisses From Katie. This favorite book of mine is a chronicle of Katie's life from the ages of eighteen to twenty-two, the tale of relentless love as an American teenager uprooted her life and moved to Uganda to serve poverty and disease ridden communities. Katie goes on to say "I have learned to be okay with this feeling because I have learned that I will not change the world. Jesus will do that. I can, however, change the world for one person."
     As we approach fall (sorry y'all, it's not as far away as it seems), many of us are preparing to start a new grade in school, maybe start high school altogether, start a new job, or, in my case, move on from high school to college. The fall is always a time I use to set new goals and to reevaluate myself and what I want to accomplish in the following year. As I  prepare to move in to college less than a month, I find myself feeling a little bit overwhelmed.
     Wittenberg is a service- oriented university, therefore it makes perfect sense that my goals for the coming year would be aligned with this orient. In the coming year, I want to commit myself to the service of others, and take advantage of the many opportunities for service that will surround me every day. As I start to brainstorm about the ways I will get involved in the Springfield community and fulfill my service requirement, I find myself thinking "I wish I had more time. I wish I could do more."
     I think about the children in Uganda that Katie writes about, I think about children in South Sudan who are without education and adequate living  because their country is torn apart by civil war, I think about those in our own country who are struggling, who are in need, I think about thousands of women who are brought into sex slavery and trafficking every day, even in our own country, and I want to do more. Always more. I can relate to Katie in the sense that, most of the time, any kind of activism or service feels like emptying the ocean with an eye dropper. But just as Katie says, we will never change the world, but we can change someones world, so it's worth it.
     There are so many people suffering, so that just means we have so much opportunity to make a difference. This Glass is full of passion for being that difference. I believe that it's importance to live a life filled to the brim with passion. It is not important to find a passion, but to live passionately. In everything that you do. In every situation. With every person that you meet. Have passion, and reach out to make a difference. I've always tried to live by the slogan "Be kinder than you think necessary, because everyone is fighting some sort of battle."
     Don't let yourself be overwhelmed by all the suffering in the world, but rather let it bring you to life and help you to see what you can do to change it. There is no right or wrong way to go about making a difference, just do as you have the means to do. Provide as you see the need, lift up as you see others beginning to fall. Never talk yourself into doing nothing only because you feel as if you cannot do enough.
     One smile. One kind word. One small act of kindness can go a long a way. We must never underestimate the power of the little things we do, and we must never lose sight of the large impact that a minuscule action can have. This year, I pledge myself to being the one. The one smile, the one kind work, the one action. I pledge myself to stopping for one person, one at a time, knowing that each one is worth it. I pledge myself to be passionate, and to not be discouraged when the tasks in front of me seem far too large, because the world itself is too large for me, but the world of that one person is small enough to change in a big way.

Join Me. Be The One.

Above is a picture taken from Katie's Blog. To learn more about her story and ministry visit www.amazima.org or see her blog http://www.amazimaministries.blogspot.com/ For Chillicothe residence, Amazima Ministry headbands are sold at Ivy's Home and Garden

 

www.dosomething.org is a great place to start if you're looking for ideas on how to serve your community or the cause that is closest to your heart

 



The Magic of Travel: Curiosity and Culture

     There's something about travel that will always excite me. Going new places, seeing new things, getting away from the familiarity of living in a small town that over time seems to become mundane. Travel allows me to see the world a different way, to think new thoughts, to learn new things. Travel allows me to immerse myself in cultures which I would never know of had I not left my own little corner of the world. Most importantly, travel awakens within me a curiosity that cannot be evaded, a thirst for knowledge, history, and the unknown. I'm a firm believer that travel is among one of the greatest investments a person can make in life, because when you step out of your comfort zone there is so much to be learned.
     Recently, I went on a trip to the Caribbean, a graduation present for my brother and I from our grandma. Throughout a week, we visited Mexico, Belize, and Rotan, an island off of Honduras. The trip was satisfying in so many ways, and I came back feeling refreshed and relaxed, as most people return from a vacation. My trip, however, produced much more than a relaxed mind.
     In Mexico, my brother and I shared a once in a lifetime, unbelievable experience. We took a tour through Rio Secreto, the second largest cave system in the world. The cave was pitch black and mostly filled with water, so we spent the afternoon hiking swimming around, knocking our headlamps helmets on stalactites. It was incredible.
     As we climbed out of the cave, our tour guide told us to listen carefully for the call of a local bird. The ancient Mayans used to listen for the call of this bird, and follow closely to their nest. They know that wherever this bird had nested, there would be a cave, and water, nearby. Once the Mayans found this bird, they found their fresh water, without which they could not live. The Mayans needed this bird to survive. This shows us all that sometimes, we just can't do it on our own. We have to look outside of ourselves, listen to the birds sing, and trust that with a little help, we will find what we need.
     While I learned of the importance of animals in Mexico, I learned in Belize just how helpful plants can be. Belize is an extremely interesting country. Made mostly of coastline, they depend solely on a few agricultural exports and the steady stream of visitors for their income. Belize's coastline is completely covered in mangrove trees. These mangrove trees put the entire country in somewhat of a catch 22. The trees are strong, and protect the coastline from any hurricane damage, keeping the country and it's citizens safe. However, they prevent Belize from building up any major industries, because they are protected by the government and cannot be cut down. Thus, the majority of citizens live and complete and udder poverty.
     The poverty of Belize is what sparked my curiosity. As I watched children walk home from school, I began to wonder about the goals of these children. What do they say, when asked "What do you want to be when you grow up?" What do they think of us American tourists? What is the cause of the adorable grins they all seem to be wearing? While these children showed me I should appreciate the opportunities I have, they also showed me that it's possible to be happy when you have so little. As an American, I will admit that is hard for me to picture life without the many luxuries I take for granted. But I need to realize that happiness does not come from any of these things.
     This trip showed me the magic of travel, the power of removing yourself from places in which you are comfortable, and the curiosity that can come about from experiencing other cultures. Travel is important for those that wish to see life from many perspectives. Sometimes, it's nice to take a journey, to learn how someone else lives, or what it looks like in another part of the world. But each and every day, we are traveling, traveling down the journey of life. If we look at life as one grand adventure, a splendid opportunity, we will surely always find happiness. Even if the longest journey you make is to the grocery store, and the only way you can leave the country is through a travel book or website, be grateful for those opportunities. Look at each day as an opportunity to learn, to spark your curiosity, and to fuel your creativity.

 

     .....And sometimes a day of relaxation can do wonders, even if a monkey is hanging from your neck. Never underestimate the power of the Sun, the ocean, a delicious Pina Colada, and a Jane Austen novel (aka my day in Rotan).