Sunday, April 26, 2009

Community Service.

This past weekend, I had the joy of going to Miracle Baseball league in Moody, Ala., to actually participate in one of the service projects that I mentioned in my story. It was amazing. There was a little girl who's leg was basically put on backwards by God. Another boy had the worst case of autism I've ever seen. He continued to beat himself on the head as hard as he could over and over again. I found one little boy who was precious then found out he had tried to throw a knife at his sister earlier that morning. One little girl was handicapped only because her father had beaten her so badly as a baby. Another boy was born into his mothers blue jeans because she was so maxed out on crack she didn't even know she was pregnant.

The stories will go on and on. These are the places you see the world, the out of Tuscaloosa world. This is where you meet God face-to-face and he tells you how it is.

I've fallen in love with the underdog, so to speak. I want to write for the voiceless. I've been blessed so much in being able to do mission work in Mexico, Houston, Huntsville and Panama. I've held dying babies. I've talked to 12 year old little girls about how their uncles rape them. I've held hands with the homeless, and I've prayed with drug addicts. I want to show the world these people, and more, I want those of us who have been blessed to go out and help these people. My experiences have made me who I am today. Every tear cried in Panama has just made me stronger. I've seen it, now it's your turn.

The other day, someone told me I wasn't in touch with reality. Here's the thing: I'm more in touch with reality than most people. You want to know what the secret to life is? That none of this matters. Blogs, websites, newspapers, none of it. That's why I chose these stories. I want you to go to sleep at night and feel good. I want you to work hard at a homeless shelter, and go to bed knowing you've fallen in love with them. I want the people of the world to mess with you, turn your way of thinking upside down, then let God himself put you together in something that resembles Him more.

All my stories tie into this. I want to comfort you. I want to write words like my grandmother's house. I want you to feel so comfortable with who you are and the world around you that you go to sleep knowing that good is all around you. I want it to be like homecooked food or long talks with friends. I want to write so that you feel God around you. I want to be His voice telling you, "Hush, child, it's going to be ok. I'm here." I want to bring the angels on earth to you. If that means writing stories about community service opportunites, then I'll do that all day every day. Maybe you're inspired to help them, maybe you're touched by one of my sources. Either way, if you read my story, you saw a little bit of Heaven in the people that are helping.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Dogs

I wrote the story on homeless animals with my own little ragamuffin, Daisy, sitting in my lap. I love that dog. She's my buddy and has nursed me through more heartaches in the past year than I ever thought I would encounter.

I couldn't really say that, you know, that I think everyone needs a pet. But, I do. The world is too hard to go at it alone. Your friends will ultimately turn on you at some point and you will be lonely. Those are the days you need a Daisy.

She's a mess. She's scared of her own shadow but watches Law and Order:SVU every night. When I need to clear my head, she's always ready to go on a walk. So, I walk and walk and pray and pray at night and I talk to her and I talk to God. You know, everything is better after that.

This year, I had awful Tuesdays. Work 8-9, Spanish Civ class 9-11, Geology 11-12:30, Geology Lab 1-3, TCF 112 6-9. Every Tuesday when I got home Daisy was there to run and sit in my lap. That's true love.

I wanted to write a story about these puppies because they've been abused and neglected. Daisy was and I saw how much it affected her. She hates to make me unhappy. So, I wrote for the underdog. I wrote for those puppies on the really sad ASPCA commercial.

This is what I love doing, and this is what I'll continue to do. Writing for the underdog, the people (or animals) that can't speak for themselves.

God is good.

Monday, April 6, 2009

Cleanliness is next to godliness.




I love this picture. It's the view of a baby in Panama taking a bath outside of the church building in Las Garzas. She had a bucket of water and a bar of soap and stood outside washing off for at least 30 minutes. Precious.

I miss this more and more each day.