A Giving Heart. No Praise Necessary.

Heaven Love Thrift Shop, January 31, 2016

My Grandma Shaffer read the comics out of the morning newspaper to me when I was young. I read the comics to this day. This morning I deviated from my usual comic strips in the Seattle Times, and I explored a new one on the http://www.seattlepi.com/: “Heaven’s Love Thrift Shop which “is a faith-based, Sunday-only feature created by cartoonist Kevin Frank. The strip centers on a community-minded, Christian-run thrift shop, its outreach programs and the diverse people who can be found there.” (Please see: http://comicskingdom.com/heaven-s-love-thrift-shop#about to learn more about “Heaven’s Love Thrift Shop.”)

I reflected about the scripture that the character of “WILSON, the rational and learned director of the thrift shop and its outreach programs” mentioned in the comic from Matthew 6:1-4:

“When you do good deeds, don’t try to show off. If you do, you won’t get a reward from your Father in heaven. 2When you give to the poor, don’t blow a loud horn. That’s what show-offs do in the meeting places and on the street corners, because they are always looking for praise. I can assure you that they already have their reward.” (Contemporary English Version CEV)

I sat in contemplation this morning and wondering if Living Stones Ministries Rock On! should share about our projects after sitting with the scripture. Living Stones Ministries Rock On! giving purpose to seniors through intergenerational activities, where giving back serves others while enriching lives.

During 2015, Living Stones Ministries Rock On! donated more than 400-knitted hats to homeless projects. Our projects are limitless.

A number of seniors throughout the years have said,

"It is time for me to go."

"I ask, "Why."

"I have no purpose."

Once one utilizes their talent to serve others, their purpose is realized. That is the mission of Living Stones Ministries Rock On!

As I continued writing this post, I received an email with photos from my friend, Theresa Van de Ven, who made eleven of the 20-hats unannounced donation to St. James Cathedral’s feeding program at the Cathedral Kitchen for Living Stones Ministries Rock On! for our “Ringing in Warmth for the New Year 2016” program.

I am sharing the photos due to the joy and warmth the photos generated within me. I also plan to tell the stories in hopes others will having a giving heart and offer prayer – especially for the tragic shooting with fatalities that happened last week at a homeless encampment, “The Jungle.” You can read about The Jungle at www.seattletimes.com

I had a resident in her scooter, who decided to wait with me for the number 60 bus. She noticed men, who were wearing the hats we made. I asked her how she felt. “I am ready to make more hats!”

I missed Sunday worship service to share about a comic, scripture, and hats, and I learned more for this experience this morning. It is apparent I am where I need to be, and I understand that I am ready to live Leo Buscaglia’s quote, “Your talent is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God”.

I am ready to use by talents, live a purpose as I continue to serve others and make more hats!

Mental Health is Taboo. Keep the Conversations Going!

I had decided last Sunday morning to stay home from church, and watch the Seahawks play the Minnesota Vikings at 10:05 a.m. PST. (Okay, I have missed church a number of times this fall.) Waking up with overnight bed head, smelling like Chinese balm and wearing the worst looking yet most comfortable sweats with mismatch socks, I turned on the computer and logged onto Facebook. I sometimes glance at the copy and paste items friends post. I read this one. The first paragraph was written by him, and the remaining the copy and paste.

“I rarely do these because, at times, it seems futile. It is taboo to talk about mental illness in good company, but this can't wait any longer. My family has lost too many people to suicide and my children have been greatly impacted by it. I was diagnosed with depression over 25 years ago, so:

We can't talk about it enough...Many people think that a suicide attempt is a selfish move because the person just does not care about the people left behind. I can tell you that when a person gets to that point, they truly believe that their loved ones will be much better off with them gone. This is mental illness not selfishness. TRUTH: Depression is a terrible disease and is relentless. A lot of us have been close to that edge, or dealt with family members in a crisis, and some have lost friends and loved ones. Let's look out for each other and stop sweeping mental illness under the rug. If I don't see your name, I'll understand. May I ask my family and friends wherever you might be, too kindly copy and paste this status for one hour to give a moment of support to all those who have family problems, health struggles, job issues, worries of any kind and just need to know that someone cares. Do it for all of us, for nobody is immune. Hope to see this on the walls of all my family and friends just for moral support. I know some will!!! I did it for a friend and you can too. You have to copy and paste this one, no sharing. To copy simply hold your finger on the text and the copy option will appear. Click on it. Then click on your status and paste will appear or hold down where empty screen is and paste will appear.”

This post touched me. I cleaned up and headed to a church in my neighborhood. I visited with members of the congregation during coffee time. A number of them live in the neighborhood, and others I met when I first moved to Seattle.

On my walk home from the church, I suddenly heard cheers coming from the apartments and condos through their shut windows. The Seahawks won.  I won, too from a post that has stayed with me throughout the week, and it has generated much conversation. Keep the conversations going!

Let It Go. Share Love. Give Gratitude.

A gift was given to me this past Sunday evening. I attended “an experiential presentation of insights and practices open heart and mind from the traditions of Sufism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Taoism" by Imam Jamal Raman, who is co-founder and Muslim Sufi Minister at Interfaith Community Sanctuary in Seattle.

It was refreshing how Jamal spoke about God and Jesus. The words he used, such as, seek, pray, understanding, acceptance, compassion, gratitude, water, love… led me through the Bible - especially the Gospel of Matthew, beginning with 7:7: “Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you.” (King James Version)

I periodically focused on this window as Jamal shared his story through spiritual practices, and remember a parable is a story with a lesson. I visualized the window open. The closed window symbolized the lessons I learned last year, and the open window was one of letting go on the things I refuse to carry from 2015.

What  have you learned from your story? What can you let go to make your journey lighter?

Let it go. Share love. Give gratitude.

http://interfaithamigos.com/About_Us.html

My Powerball Moment - Priceless!

As I stood in the customer service line at the grocery with my question, the woman in front of me suddenly turned around and in her excitement blurted out all of the "things" she would immediately buy. She then asked, "What would you buy?"

I said, "Churches no one wants and make them into community centers for those in need and housing for the homeless and give them skills, training, counseling, healthcare and guidance services with housing as they have the opportunity for hope and to follow their God given path.

I would want to help young people, who walk away from their high school education for numerous reasons. Let's find out why these students are planning to walk away from their education.

I will start a foundation, provide services for the elderly and create intergenerational activities for the young and seniors with purpose, to provide for family and friends, who have journeyed with me. And there is one thing money cannot buy - World Peace."

This woman quietly looked at me, shrugged her shoulders, and turned around. I took pause and reflected on the moment.

Instead of asking my customer service question, I bought a Powerball ticket. It was the best $2.00 I could have spent because I am a winner!"