When the Kenyan kids here at the high school ask me: "What's your hobby?" I always answer: "Writing." So for someone that likes to write, I sure don't write often enough, but alas today is a new day, a fresh start, a new beginning, a blank page for me to pen my thoughts on, so here goes.
I have been reading the book, "Half the Sky" where a New York Times husband and wife journalist team interviewed women around the world, telling stories of oppression, exposing cruel and violent acts and suffering done to these women by society and by men, things like sex trafficking, rape, female circumcision, dark deeds done to them in the name of religion or social norms. Those stories of death and hardship but also of love and hope have kept me up at night reading and reading.
I am inspired as I read each story. I believe it's all of our jobs to be aware of what's going on around the world, it's our jobs to go searching for the true meaning of human suffering, life and hope.
It is our jobs to go live among the poor, the broken, and the suffering.
I am doing the race for a year..so I can understand, so I can face poverty and know and empathize what it's like. It's one thing to know something with your intellect, but another to know because you've experienced it physically. So the next time I read about sex trafficking in the news, instead of a blank image, I will think of the women I met at the Red Light District in Thailand, I will think of their faces and the way they danced, smiled and entertained the guests. I may forget about the article on sex trafficking I read, but I will never forget my own experience.
I don't ever want to become too comfortable. I don't ever want to be so inwardly focused that I lose touch of what's going on around me, and miss out on seeing the real problems around the world, which often are not featured in the headlines but occur in the slums, the chaotic streets and in the everyday life of the ordinary.
So, it started me thinking. Is there a connection between how my heart speeds up when I see certain images or hear names of places around the world, between how my face lights up when I see faces of people groups or read about what certain organizations are doing to change the world – to where I get a little excited guessing about where God is calling me next? Perhaps He's put a "timer" in my heart that only goes off when those things are mentioned? It's likely.
Yesterday as I walked around a Kenyan hospital grounds with my world race squad coach Seth Barnes, he asked me the same questions that I've been pondering in my heart. "What are the themes that make your heart pound?"
Lucky for me, I didn't have to think long because I've been thinking and dreaming about these for the entire race.
Here are some of the themes in my life:
- NYC, Urban, City
- Women Issues, Brokenness/Hopelessness, injustice, those without a voice
- Writing, journalism, documentaries
- Storytelling, Artistic Direction, Photojournalism, Filmmaking
- Dreaming, Life purpose discovery
Seth advised me that the next step after having a list of the themes for my life passions, is to rate myself in each area to see where I'm at currently versus where I want to go. (ie: Writing: 6- currently; 8- future) After that, either explore ways to self develop these areas, or look for opportunities that can give me the chance to grow in these areas. Networking is also a good way to look for opportunities that match my themes.
With three months left of my race, it's time to start thinking and dream the big question: "What am I going to do for the rest of my life once I'm done with the race." While I'm great at improvising, the answer to this question is worth praying, pondering and planning.
Please pray for me as I start the "post-race" processing in my heart! And if you have any ideas or opportunities that match with the above list, I'd love to hear from you!
