Fasting for a Purpose

I am going to take a short break from all my chatter about traveling, fun, and food to talk about food, in a different way. Congress is proposing major cuts to programs the serve the least of these in the US. These cuts will cause people in the US to go without food, some even to the point of starvation. Supposedly it is because we as a nation are broke, and well we are, but there has to be a better way.

Most of my information has come through Sojourners and Bread for the World. They are Christian activist organizations that seek to serve the poor and oppressed in through policy. I have a great deal of respect for their work and have been supporting them in various ways for years. I trust them when they say that the new budget cuts are immoral. Further, when I read that these cuts are to programs like WIC, a program designed to feed women, infants and children, I have to agree that something has gone morally awry.

I have been reading about terrible budget cuts for a while. Most of them seem to make things worse. I am a bit concerned about a nation that is giving out tax cuts but not willing to give out food.

Some of the emails sent by Bread they reference the story of Ester. When she learned of the plot against the Jews she responded with a request for fasting:

¹⁶ “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” ~Esther 4:16

It might be time for some prayerful fasting. Maybe if those of us not in congress fast and pray our representatives will have the courage to go forward in truth and seek protection for the poor that are perishing.

Check out Bread for the World and Sojourners for more information about how you can participate.

20 Hours on a plane: I watched a lot of movies

Home and Fabulously Exhausted!

I want to tell you everything: every meal, every moment, every travel buddy mishap, every glorious connection with amazing community, every museum, every ache of carrying an over packed back pack, every blissful sight, and everything I learned. I am terrified I will forget it all before the words are put to the page, before you see the photos, before I am able to let it change me.

But today, I will say I am still soaking it in, and a bit speechless. I flew to Europe to live out my goal of a year of living a life of why not?. I went to see a dear friend (I spent much less time with her than I would have liked but we will see each other in Houston over the holidays). I went to celebrate healing and because celebration is a discipline. I went to see the world more fully. I went to be inspired. I went because I never went to Europe in college. I went because I could.

I wasn't sure what I expected, but somehow the trip was not whatever I didn't know I expected it to be, it was more. I am a better person for going and for the people that were part of the journey with me. It is crazy how just 10 days can do so much, but the last few days of the trip it became clear that God was moving and doing something. There is a small whisper I need to be listening to. God was there in unexpected ways: in the food, art, culture, and in some very special places, but mostly in people.

Soon there will be posts about coffee, chocolate, macarons, museums, neighborhoods, and food; but there will also be posts about people, and organizations, and the church.

Tonight there will be rest.

Paris

I Play from Shark Pig on Vimeo.

This morning I am taking the Eurostar to Paris.

Be back soon

(Found on Pinterest)

I am going to Oxford, London and Paris for 10 days. I might post a bit while I am gone but not much.

The King's Speech

I saw this movie Christmas day and completely loved it! (My friend Lydia went with me and made fun of me for saying it was a sign that I was supposed to go to England this year, but whatever, it was, and clearly I need to talk about it, because soon I will be in England.)

I find the story and the marriage depicted to be inspiring. To be the wife of a King that had so much to overcome, and to be that wife when you had never intended to be. He wasn't supposed to be King. His brother was, she never intended to be the wife of the King and no one was ready for a full on World War. Nonetheless, she was the woman that stood beside the man that had to be King. She was the woman that helped the King find his voice when a nation in need needed to hear it. Seriously, this woman is amazing.

So cheers to you Queen Elizabeth.






And yes, the Europe theme blogs will stop soon, and by soon I mean at some point after my trip...

C.S. Lewis

I get to be where he lived and wrote. I am excited! I am pondering taking a C.S. Lewis book with me just for the cheese factor, but I am not sure which one...