tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post4488447099674027732..comments2024-03-27T19:04:31.290-05:00Comments on The Amazing Trips: have a little faithThe Amazing Tripshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13761348688069779544noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-56389612269441409482010-01-21T22:03:24.255-06:002010-01-21T22:03:24.255-06:00Greg E?!?!?!
It's so great hearing from you!!...Greg E?!?!?!<br /><br />It's so great hearing from you!! I was just thinking of you this past weekend as I was pruning the plant you left for us to care for five years ago. Do you have our e-mail?? Please drop me a line sometime. I'd love to catch up with you! <br /><br />(TheAmazingTrips@gmail.com)The Amazing Tripshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13761348688069779544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-26865318623301151882010-01-21T21:25:18.715-06:002010-01-21T21:25:18.715-06:00Great Post. Haven't read your blog in a while...Great Post. Haven't read your blog in a while- will have to check in more often.<br /><br />I like to think that if there wasn't tragedy, strife and even evil in the world, then there would be no opportunity for there to be heroes. And we need heroes. And we need the opportunity (every once in a while) to be a hero ourselves. Anyone can say that they will lend a hand, help out or even lay down their life to save another. But it is only in these "senseless" tragedies that one has the opportunity to prove that they will.<br /><br />It is because the child needs a kidney that the cousin is able to sacrifice and donate hers. It is because there are natural disasters that many people will be sacrificing their own abundant comforts to bring comfort to those with little. <br /><br />It hadn't occured to me that "that feeling inside that makes our hearts hurt and that drives us to help, is divinely inspired." But I like that, in the past I would want to say that it is a human quality like honor or integrity that drives us to sacrifice for others.<br /><br />I hope that I may always be able to laugh at myself and cry for someone else. . . perhaps both are divinely inspired.Greg Enoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-48427609335029910372010-01-21T09:01:29.553-06:002010-01-21T09:01:29.553-06:00Amen, Amen I say to you!
GEAT POST Jen!
Much L...Amen, Amen I say to you! <br /><br />GEAT POST Jen! <br /><br />Much Love,Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395804927366343180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-30449320269870447612010-01-21T08:21:11.498-06:002010-01-21T08:21:11.498-06:00Hi Jen,
Did you know Catholic Relief Services hav...Hi Jen,<br /><br />Did you know Catholic Relief Services have had a very strong presence in Haiti for decades? Long before Haiti gained world wide attention last week, Catholic organizations have been present in the country supporting this impoverished land. <br /><br />It is heartwrenching to see the suffering and loss of life and hear the statistics. How can we not ask the question WHY? In times like this, we are given opportunities to spread God's love and compassion. Whether it be a financial contribution or simply prayers to cease the suffering. <br /><br />I, personally have been offered an opportunity to go to Haiti to provide some assistance in a hospital which is 70 miles north of the disaster site. This hospital has been receiving earthquake victims and is in dire need of doctors and nurses. I've answered the call and am planning to go there to work for 7-10 days. I am nervous & afraid of what I will see, but equally anxious & excited to help the victims. I expect, physically, the task will be difficult. Working with primitive instruments in uncomfortable conditions. Psychologically, I'll be left with unimaginable sites imprinted in my mind. But, spiritually, I'll be blessed and hope to come away with a satisfaction that I've spread some of God's love and heartfelt compassion to those who really need it.<br /><br />I'm awaiting all the medical approvals and then will get a departure date. It will be soon with less than 48 hrs notice. So, these past few days I've been gathering supplies and trying to get my head wrapped around the experience that awaits me. <br /><br />Keep the prayers coming for all involved in this horrendous act of nature, that God's mercy will prevail.<br /><br />~ReginaOne of many cuzzins!noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-73937544908047117982010-01-18T21:40:15.666-06:002010-01-18T21:40:15.666-06:00Hi Jen, another thought-provoking post from you. I...Hi Jen, another thought-provoking post from you. I read "When Bad Things Happen to Good People" like Erika, when I was going through infertility treatment. I remember it being a worthwhile read for what I was going through, but also feeling like it left a lot of questions up in the air. Some of those questions are fuzzy now, as it's been about 5 years. But the book didn't strengthen my faith in God like I hoped it would. I remember thinking that I'd love to have had the opportunity for a follow-up Q & A with the rabbi. One question I was left with had to do with what value he placed on prayer...because of some of the points made in the book. His logic was sound and it intriqued me, though...<br /><br />Have you heard of this book: Patience with God: Faith for People Who Don't Like Religion or Atheism by Frank Schaffer. It got my attention as I, like you, have been struggling lately with my beliefs (in an earlier exchange you recommended the Unitarian Church...tried that once...won't work). Anyway, I was just reading the reviews on Amazon (hey maybe we could do a bookclub of sorts?) It may be worth checking out, although I can't imagine him lumping fundamentalist Christians together with Atheists..nothing personal to either group-I just think that's odd. <br />I'll be checking out Mitch Albom's latest..thank you. -KarenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-82973627061726610592010-01-18T16:06:13.743-06:002010-01-18T16:06:13.743-06:00Hi back Jen! - Nice write-up and so happy you are ...Hi back Jen! - Nice write-up and so happy you are enjoying the book. I have donated money to UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) - 100% of relief funds go to the disaster victims and only 5% administrative overhead costs. In fact, UMCOR is emulated by other organizations such as Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc. check out their site at www.gbgm-umc.org/umcor<br /><br />love you! EileenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-2404412721615617502010-01-18T14:27:10.477-06:002010-01-18T14:27:10.477-06:00Go right now and read the book "When Bad Thin...Go right now and read the book "When Bad Things Happen To Good People"- it is written by a rabbi, but it is not about being Jewish or Christian or Muslim or Agnostic or Atheist. <br /><br />It is one of the VERY FEW books that helped me when my identical twin daughters were stillborn.<br /><br />It is the book that restored my faith. It's a GREAT book- seriously.<br /><br />You can get it for like $1 on Amazon used. I HIGHLY recommend it!<br /><br />xoxo,<br />erika<br /><br />funfinns.comErikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03863461381473308483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-16132893076876150372010-01-18T14:11:14.106-06:002010-01-18T14:11:14.106-06:00Jen~
You are most certainly not alone in all this...Jen~<br /><br />You are most certainly not alone in all this((warm hug)). Maybe we just call that which lights us from within something different. Anyway, your post was beautiful, as is your entire family.<br /><br />Peace~<br />KarenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-8246511136724234112010-01-18T13:31:29.545-06:002010-01-18T13:31:29.545-06:00I don't believe in God, although I have nothin...I don't believe in God, although I have nothing against faith. In fact, we're raising our daughters Catholic. We, too, have set our finances back quite a bit by a donation to the Red Cross, but paying off our cars can wait.<br /><br />I personally find myself empowered by my atheism. I don't hold a higher power responsible for the good and bad things in my life or in the world, so *I* always have the ability to improve things. I suppose I grew up around too many people who sat back and did nothing because they thought making things better was God's responsibility. What turned me off religion early in life was the number of people around me who used God's forgiveness to excuse immoral behaviour.<br /><br />Religion is a great moral framework, but I think it's also possible to have such a framework without the structure that belief in a deity provides. My husband and I have been fortunate to be able to build a coherent moral compass for our family by pairing my husband's Catholicism with my atheism.<br /><br />I trust that Haiti will be rebuilt stronger from this tragedy, although I don't think history has shown impoverished corrupt countries to bounce back well, in the long term, from natural disaster. However, by the world doing what we can in the short term, the long term will be up to the Haitian people.<br /><br />Thanks for keeping Haiti in our memories. It's too easy to sit back and concentrate on our comfy little lives.Sadiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04042551936789254047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-81253044684667622232010-01-18T12:02:53.038-06:002010-01-18T12:02:53.038-06:00Beautifully put - twice.
I believe we will strug...Beautifully put - twice. <br /><br />I believe we will struggle until the day we physically "step" into the grave - I believe it is all part of the process of learning to <i>know</i> God.<br /><br />I believe He encourages us and is please with us for questioning (many will disagree with that).<br /><br />I believe this is where <i>I</i> have arrived. And it feels good, too.<br /><br />~Mad(elyn) in Alabama~Madhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14324326532848644809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-43475546984218194412010-01-18T10:40:19.530-06:002010-01-18T10:40:19.530-06:00pgrad - I totally agree, I don't see how any o...pgrad - I totally agree, I don't see how any one could blame any one else for this tragedy. It's unfathomable to me. This was a terrible natural disaster in the most unfortunate of geographical locations. <br /><br />But to me, that feeling inside that makes our hearts hurt and that drives us to help, is divinely inspired. I want to believe it is inspired. I want to believe that I'm not in this alone. I want to believe that there is a greater purpose to every struggle that we face, which we may never understand - but which if we listen to the voice within (rather than suppress it!) - will make us better and stronger and more compassionate to the entire world in which we live. <br /><br />Obviously, this has been a real struggle for me. But this is where I've finally arrived (at least for now) and it feels good. Please don't give me anything else to think about. I can't stand it. <br /><br />Just kidding. I think you're pretty wonderful, too. :)The Amazing Tripshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13761348688069779544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-42660925442986660072010-01-18T09:37:42.066-06:002010-01-18T09:37:42.066-06:00Thank you for your thoughtful and moving post, Jen...Thank you for your thoughtful and moving post, Jenn. I didn't know if anyone had posted about a very simple way people can donate to Haitian relief through the Red Cross. You can text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to American Red Cross relief for Haiti. The $10 shows up on your phone bill at the end of the month. They raised over a million dollars the FIRST DAY through this small, simple donation tool! You can verify this through the Red Cross website at: <br />http://newsroom.redcross.org/2010/01/12/disaster-alert-earthquake-in-haiti/Sarah Lnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-50998852149945656292010-01-18T09:26:58.847-06:002010-01-18T09:26:58.847-06:00"Provided of course, you believe God exists. ..."Provided of course, you believe God exists. Which to me, I'd much prefer to believe that than the alternative"<br /><br />Except the alternative comforts me. I am comforted that I don't have to look to "blame" anyone. I don't feel the need to wonder why something omnipotent and omnipresent (that is supposed to love unconditionally) would allow unspeakable heartache to befall some the worlds most vulnerable people. It is this: a horrible natural disaster that struck and already impoverished and hurting country. <br /><br /><br />My faith will lie in the millions of people all over the world ( believers and non- believers) who are donating what they can, in the face of their own economic strife to help. It will lie in the the thousands of people who leave their own family to dedicate their time an emotional energy to rescue people they have never met. And it will lie in the people (mostly women) who are marching through Haitian streets chanting and singing despite their unimaginable suffering.<br /><br />These are just my thoughts out loud Jen. I think you are a wonderful person.<br /><br />Peace~<br />Karen(pgrad)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com