Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Behind the Scenes - Ready to Change the World (Again)

 
I will never forget this trip – the trip to Washington D.C. my senior year in high school. I can’t remember what class sponsored it or even who perked my interest, but it was for high school students interested in politics, interested in world change, interested in making a difference in their community. Yes. I’m sure you picked all of that up from this photo.

To be honest, the photo is fairly tame. You can’t really see my purple hair with lavender streaks. You can’t see the fact that I’m running around Washington D.C. in April with no shoes on, and you can’t see all the chains, chunky jewelry, and other metallic embellishments I usually had in abundance because I had to take it all off to go on the White House tour (ask me how many times they made me go through the check point). Funny things, those metal detectors, they just keep going off, and going off, and …

Back then, I had this idea that I wanted to change the world. I didn’t know what I wanted to change it into, I wasn’t sure how I wanted to change it, but I knew I wanted to make a difference, I knew I wanted to help people, and I knew I wanted to make my life count for something.

Back then, I thought that meant getting into politics (or becoming radically political), going somewhere into the heart of government and striking out with messaging, passing legislation, and lobbying for action.

Somewhere between Washington D.C and back home; somewhere between senior year and sometime later, that desire for change and making a difference broke on the rocks of real life; community college; and paying bills. It would be a long time before I heard the call for change deep in my heart again.

But I have heard it. In the last several years, things have been moving and changing in my life. Things have been stirring. I have been on a desert journey and come out the other side with a clearer path and a keener vision. I haven’t given up on the dream that I can change the world. I haven’t given up on my desire to make a difference. I’m finding ways to nurture that dream, one small spark at a time through small steps – nothing grand – but through understanding that change doesn’t have to be sweeping. It just has to happen.

Awake. When I first saw it, I thought it was a snapshot of someone’s morning coffee. Yes. It was an early morning. Then I saw that cup of coffee, ahem, book cover popping up on other Facebook walls, Twitter feeds, and Instagram streams and thought – something must be going on here. I was intrigued. This book – about absolute poverty and its associated tragedies like malnutrition, human trafficking, and other global issues – is written by a Noel Yeatts, Vice President of World Help, a faith-based humanitarian organization that serves the physical and spiritual needs of people in impoverished communities around the world.

I read the reviews of her book on several blogs, have a copy on the way, and have made the commitment to join the six-week study of the book. This fits so perfectly with so much of what I desire in my life: an opening up, a pouring out, a giving up. I want to do all of that while wide awake. I hope this study will be another step in that direction. I invite you to join. Read the book. Join the study. You can learn more about it here. I think this one’s going to be a game changer.


crystalstine.me I'm linking up with Crystal Stine and company again today; joining the Behind the Scenes link up. A place to make a connection beyond the Pinterest perfect ideals; to look past the edges of the photo to the real life behind it; to say hi, this is me in all my messy real-ness. Sounds like a good time to me.

I'd love to connect with you some more - stop on by the Three Bees Facebook Page or connect with me on Twitter @3BeesBlueBonnet. Let's continue the conversation!

12 comments :

  1. God puts those dreams in our hearts and then moves them in ways that surprise us all. Thank you for sharing!!

    xoxox

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    1. I love that this dream has stayed for so long - thanks Sarah!

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  2. Yeah - so - first off - how I wish I could see the purple hair... and those fingerless gloves (in April) - LOVE!

    Secondly - I am so thrilled that you are reading this with me! (As if we need more things to talk about next month - but still!)

    Love you!
    ~K~

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    1. I know - so crazy, right? I really loved that phase though. So excited to be reading and studying this with you. And yes, we're going to have such an abundance of things to talk about. I don't know how we're going to get any sleep! :)

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  3. What we thought we would be or do certainly is an evolving process that puts us in places we never expected. At least that's what happened to me. :)

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    1. I love how God always guides it back to what He's had in mind the whole time. And still allows us to grow on the path to getting there too!

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  4. I love looking back on life and seeing how God was placing a seed within us for something that would one day come to fruition. Sounds like he's doing that with you. And, yes, I keep seeing this book everywhere.

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    1. Amen to all of this Lindsay. I hope you'll get a chance to explore the book and the study.

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  5. Hi Rebekah,
    I subscribed to your blog a while ago...I think thru five minute friday? Anyway...I always love it when I meet a fellow Rebekah, ya know? So, I saw your post today and wanted to let you know I signed up for the Awake study and I'm excited about it. For three years, I worked with an organization that brought clean water wells to Sierra Leone, Africa and I miss the work there so much. I'm looking forward to reading the book and meeting some great people thru the study.
    Just wanted to say thanks for the nudge :)
    ~Rebekah

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    1. Rebekah - I got your note just as I was getting ready to leave work and it brought tears to my eyes. This is exactly the reason that I'm writing - and opening up and letting Him move through me. Your comment really touched my heart. So excited that you're going to be joining the study and reading along too. Here's another connection besides the name that I find interesting: my father was in the Peace Corps many years ago in Africa. You'll never guess what country he was in? Sierra Leone. Hope to see you online during the study!

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  6. I just bought the book...I've seen a lot of people mention it, and your words convinced me that this is a must-read. (I'm actually thinking about cracking it open as soon as I finish this comment to read for the ten minutes I have until I wake my girl up!) Thank you for sharing. :) AND...purple hair? Awesome! I had blue streaks a few months ago...thinking purple might be fun, too! Great post...blessings to you today, sweet friend! :)

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    1. So excited that you're going to be reading this too! Each of finding that motivation, that stirring in our heart, finding that place where we can make a change. Love it. I would love to see the blue in your hair - fabulous!

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Thank you for the kindess of your comment. I pray your patience with the word verification. I've had such troubles with spammers lately. Thank you for grace. I look forward to reading all the comments and responding. I appreciate you!