RFK

“Few of us will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.” Robert F. Kennedy

This is encouragment for a hopeful like me.

Mr. Hitchcock

Have you ever seen the terror on the faces of the people in Alfred Hitchcock's movie the Birds? My face looks similar to that when birds fly around my head.

I hate birds. I hate them. I have funny stories explaining why I hate them. It wouldn't be funny if I told them here. They have to do with geese and swallows (enough said). I'm farily terrified of them flying around my head. When a bunch of birds are in a tree over my head i want to vomit...seriously. So anyway, I'm sitting here trying to finish two 10-pager papers, but I can't because of the dang birds.

I hear them outside my window and I am actually surprised about how little animosity I feel for them today. I don't blame them for being loud today, because it is April.

It is already April and I have no idea how we got here.

sweatshops still?

Here on campus last week, a group of 12 students were arrested for a peaceful protest in President Coleman's office.

Their cause? Sweatshops.

Apparently, UM clothing is purchased through companies that work through sweatshops. Coleman's respoonse resembled: that UM doesn't take demands from students. The students were released, but continue to protest.

A few days ago in a discussion of economics (sick, i sound like a grad student), I heard that if sweatshops are closed down it would be hardship for the families who need the wages for survival. Ahhh! Ethical Dilemma!

The problem is that the wages are so low that the worker becomes more like a servant than an employee. If we advocate for a desist from purchasing from those 'sweatshop' companies we take their business but also take what little money exists in the workers pockets.

Product prices are higher for coffee and cocoa companies that use 'fair trade' agreements about equitable prices, but the selling companies are treated fairly. As a result the workers recieve just wages. I obviously don't know all the issues involved about this, but I'm working it out.

globalexchange.org
sweatshop.org
Hrw.org
iccr.org

...a few sites that keep watch on corporations; I got these from Shane Claiborn's book Irresistable Revolution

Blind, Deaf, Dumb

Blind, deaf and dumb, Westerners, the richest of the world, have the severest impairments. Blind to the inequities that exist in our own backyard, we trip over them as they eat out of our trash. Deaf to the voices of children, families and elderly constantly burdened by poverty, we ignore their voices that are rarely addressed by the media. Dumb, we fail to question these societal injustices in our churches, businesses, bars, clubs and homes. The wealthy in American are numbed by the green in our wallets. Worst of all things is the American failure to act in the face of perpetual, cyclical poverty.

a philosophy statement?

my professor assigned a philosophy statement. he said it disables us as social workers to work maddeningly without a theory base. why do we work? what motivates us? what do we hope to accomplish? how do these things impact/influcence our decision to pursue policy and structural change and evaluation? i think i've already written 2 this year.

I think about these things and what writing them really means, and I can bull shit, i can pull a theory out of a hat, or a database in this case and apply it.

or i can really share my piece and say i operate out of Jesus words to feed the hungry, clothe the poor, care the for the widows and the kids, comfort those who mourn, love mercy, etc...the list goes on. to the school of social work this discredits me. they scorn me. they scoff at the church. i understand, because I do too,,,too often. i cringe at the money the institution spends on the show rather than on the practice. i say these things not to be jugemental, but as a confession. I am sorry for wasting my time, money and pride on things that don't show Jesus' love.

Lord how do I balance what this world tells me and what you say? there is no balance is there? How do I share your Word to a people who don't want to listen? Lord help me to love in humility. help me to love you. Let people see you in me and glory in Your love.

last day of class

SO tired of school. This is my last day of class for a GIS mapping class. I'm more confused now than I ever was. What am I doing here???? I have a week off after finals week and then I go back to school. God make me effective in my todays!

Worry

Sometimes I sabotage my work with worry. I think about how I match to other professionals, students, christians, etc. I think so much about how I'm failing or how I'm matching up its like I injure myself. It like I'm "shooting myself in the foot" so to speak.

Recently, I've realized how damaging this pattern is. The problem is I often go through this cycle of realizing how bad it is BUT then I keep doing it.

Worry keeps me from performing my best. Anyone will tell you a little stress is good; it increase the quality of performance on tasks. BUT when worry/anxitey/self-depreciation become larger than the motivating force to move forward- a problem exists.

Lord help me to remember that I work for you and no other. My strength comes from your hand. Help me to honor You with my work. Help me Lord to change and have peace, knowing that I am Yours and that nothing can separate me from Your love. No failings of my own will keep you from loving me. Jesus be glorified in both my strengths and weaknesses today.