Fleshing Out God's Call, Family Style....

So.  Today I am speaking for a BIG 10 Minutes to a small group of people about my involvement with The Spero Project.  (A local non-profit ministering to the under-resourced populations in Oklahoma City).  I got this text from Kim, the co-founder, she was really specific with her request and asked me to speak on:

"What the crafting co-op has meant to me and what I've learned."

um.

well.

(I was unsure where to begin. So I sat down to hash is out on the key board.  (I like the sound of myself typing much more than the sound of myself talking!)  Plus many of you know I am involved with Spero, but don't know how I initially got involved.) 

I thought I would start off by telling you how it all began.

3 years ago, Denver played a show for an organization called Keep It Local, here in Oklahoma City to benefit a "new" local non-profit, The Spero Project.  I was invited through Facebook to attend.  When I clicked on the "event" page to confirm my attendance, I saw a link posted for The Spero Project.  So.  I clicked.  Curiously, I surfed around the site, and instantly my heart was drawn to their mission.

"Confronting injustice and oppression by mobilizing the Church to fully engage in a Biblical response to under-resourced populations."

At the time I was in a strange point in my faith.  I was currently in a Bible study at church, and really digging into scripture with a group of amazing women.  We were knee deep in the old testament and I felt spiritually saturated, as if I needed to wring myself out... I visited another Bible Study (out of curiosity).  They were studying Isaiah.  This Bible study group was well known for digging into the word, and picking apart scripture, I was excited because I felt like I needed something "deeper".  After attending for 3-4 weeks I realized this was NOT the "deeper" I anticipated.  Yes, it was an in-depth study on Isaiah, but my discerning spirit kept nudging me, telling me this is not the place I was to be.  

I remember sitting in a circle and looking around the room the women.  We all looked alike, we all probably shopped at the mall, we all probably ate at Chick-fil-a, we all probably attended church, we all probably went to college, we all probably drove mini-vans... We sat there, in that circle discussing the following verse: 

Isaiah 1:17- 

"Take your evil deeds

out of my sight!

Stop doing wrong, 

learn to do what is right!

Seek justice, 

encourage the oppressed.

Defend the cause of the fatherless, 

plead the cause of the widow."

Out of no where I felt disgust ripping through my chest.  My eyes went blank and I mentally removed myself from the conversation that was going on within the circle I sat.  Suddenly, I found myself begging the questions:  WHY are we sitting in this million dollar building, talking about these issues, and why are we NOT doing them?!!?!  All of these women are 20, 30, 40 years old... WHY are we still talking about seeking justice, encouraging the oppressed, defending the fatherless and pleading for the widow????  WHY are we talking and WHY we are NOT DOING?!?!?! WHY?!?!  

I left Bible study that day feeling so unsure, convicted, repentant, burdened, overwhelmed... I had no means of articulating the emotions rising up in me that were spurred by this one small verse.  

I drove home, went on with life, but this inner rage never left.  It was as if God opened my heart and mind to things unseen and I could no longer look away, my soul scarred from the Holy Spirits prodding. (I have learned that  when true conviction sets in by the means of the Holy Spirit, you may run, you may try to hide, but He will seek you out, at all cost.)

God and I conversed continuously over those few weeks. I countered His calling with statements and questions like: How do I live this way; seeking, encouraging, defending, pleading?  My kids are too small (2 and 6 mo at the time). I have no money to donate.  I cannot drop my family and move to an orphanage in Africa, God.  I have children to care for, a husband to love, a family to build, how do I have time for this commissioning you have put on my heart??  He kept gently responding with, "I know, Heather.  Trust me.  Give ME the reigns to your life."  In our conversation I kept yanking those reigns tighter, claiming ownership to the life He gave me.  I came up with every excuse in the book, and God kept nodding, confirming that He knew my current situation, and the life He created for me did not discount the call he placed in my life.... Then, I had a revelation... God's Call and My Life are not mutually exclusive... They are instead harmonious, and when blended into ONE they are a beautiful display of sacrificial living.  

The lightbulb clicked on, shining a light on the fact that my life was caged by the excuses I was uttering.  I set up fences, gates, doors, barriers, walls because I had children who were growing and I had a marriage that was thriving... 

Thoughts started taking over my mind.  What would it look like if I sought justice with my children by my side?  What would it look like if my husband, children and I encouraged the oppressed in our neighborhood?  How could the family God gave me defend the fatherless?  Hand in hand, could we serve the widow?   

I had come to  point where I was willing to let the fence I built around my life fall.  Letting go of security and ownership of my own family I was willing to say "Yes" to the Holy Spirits nudge.  At the time I was unsure of what I was saying yes to.  I didn't know of the ugly tears that I would cry or how parched my soul had become, and no destination was set in front  of me.  I was simply saying yes to obedience. 

One morning, I happened to run an errand for my husband and I stopped in a local store, Shop Good to buy some tickets to a Charlie Hall cd release show.  I walked in, lugging my giant infant carseat, ready to buy 2 tickets, when I met Audrey, one of the owners of Shop Good.  We instantly hit it off (only because we were meant to be friends) she began telling me about The Spero Project.  Every purchase made in Shop Good gives back locally or internationally, and the local non-profit they were currently supporting was The Spero Project.  I knew that rang a bell, because Denver was playing a benefit show for them coming up... so she gave me more and more info on what they did and gave me an e-mail of one of the girls who helps coordinate volunteers.

I left Shop Good that warm morning, with e-mail in hand... not knowing the repercussions of that encounter.  Later that day, I e-mailed Kelly (the name on the card) and met up with her the next week.

As we sat in a crowded Starbucks on a crowded Friday morning she asked:

Kelly: "Do you know what a refugee is?"

Me:  "Do we have refugees in Oklahoma!?"

Kelly:  "Yes.  Do you know where Burma is?"

Me: "Wait....We. Have. Refugees. In. Oklahoma. ?"

Kelly: "Yes...from Burma, Russia, Iraq, Afganistan, the Congo, Kenya, Jordan, Iran..... Can you come next week to our crafting co-op?  Wednesday night at 7:00." 

Thoughts started pouring into my head (Wait, Wednesday night?  I will have my kids.  Alone.  And...7:00... that's around bedtime....no. way. can. I. do. this.)

Me: "Can I bring my kids?"

Kelly: "They would LOVE for you to bring your kids"

Me: "I will be there...." 

I got into the car that morning, unsure of what I had committed to, but I knew it was right.  The next week I met the women and community that would change my life.  An entire community full of families: men, women, and children affected by war, genocide, religious persecution... within 10 miles from my doorstep. I saw families who had children snatched out of their homes to fight war; families that spent years in the jungle displaced because of war; families that had to pack 1 suitcase in a matter of minutes to leave the only life they ever knew because of war...  Families who were oppressed, children who were fatherless, women who were widowed... because of injustice. Isaiah 1:17 fleshed out.

I began to be involved in the refugee crafting co-operative through The Spero Project.  Women, sitting in a circle, on the floor, sewing, cutting, gluing, crafting... And through the work of our hands relationships were forged that went deeper than language, a love was developed that was carved in my heart so hard it will never leave, a respect grew that exceeds all the mountains in my life, and friendship that knows no cultural boundaries.  I am humbled by these women who I have sat with for 3 years, women from Burma, from Thailand, from Jordan, from Russia.  I am thankful for their children, who have played with my children, who have held my babies, who have braided my daughters hair and made my sons laugh.

After having my 3rd baby, the girls insisted I have a native Burmese wrap to carry my babies in.   I have yet to master the native art of "baby wearing" but Zadie sure enjoys it! 

As I reflect on the question "What the crafting co-op has meant to me, and what I have learned" words cannot express rapid beating in my heart, the swelling of my soul and the tingling in my eyes.  The tears shed, the nights I have lied in bed asking "why God?" on their behalf, the embarrassment I have bore because of our self-absorbed American culture, and the indignation I have felt towards a church that have looked over this population... no words can express these emotions that rise up in me.  No words can express the gratitude rooted in my soul, or the joy I feel after being with my community.

I did it because I was called, I do it because I love. 

Kim-chee is from Burma.  She came to our most recent Christmas craft co-operative.  She has been in the US for  under a year. 

War Gay is Karen, she is from Burma and has been doing work for the crafting co-op  since it's creation.  Her work is meticulous and all hand done.  She embroiders most of the clothing and Tom's that we have done.

Today I read Ezekiel 17:22-24

²² “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. ²³ On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches. ²⁴ All the trees of the forest will know that I the Lord bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish.

“‘I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.’”

Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of it's branches.  Yes.  Yes, they will.

I encourage you to say yes to obedience, and let that direct your path.  Your path will not be my own.  Maybe it is allowing your widowed grandmother to live with your family, serving the homeless, visiting a nursing home or helping a non-profit in your local church community.  Whatever it is be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's nudge, and don't allow your family to be an excuse, but invite your children to serve alongside you.  Hold their hand, walk with them into ministry, talk about needs of people in front of your children, encourage their questions, and give them SAFE and controlled opportunities to serve.  Sometimes their innocence, laughter and their smile can break barriers and bring peace to those in need the most.

Here are some projects our co-op has done through the years.

TOMS, TOMS AND MORE TOMS

We have hand embroidered over 500 pairs of Toms for Blue 7 here in Oklahoma City.  We have done mustache Toms, Scissor Tail Toms (shown below), Thunder Toms, OK Toms, Redbud Toms ... 

And we thank the staff at Blue 7  for supporting the refugee co-op in this way.   

(You can purchase our TOMS at Blue 7) 

OKLAHOMA CANVASES

We have done a variety of Oklahoma themed canvases that we have sold at SHOP GOOD in Oklahoma City.  

CUSTOM JEWELRY AND ACCESSORIES 

Throughout the years we have done a variety of handmade custom jewelry and accessories.  We have done necklaces, earring, pins, headbands, and clips.  These are just a few that I have pictures of.  We sell our custom jewelry at SHOP GOOD 

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"Joy" Always Trumps "Happiness"...

Before having children I was a teacher.  One of the rituals I had every year was filling in my school calendar.  At the beginning of each school year I would buy a large desk calendar.  I would fill out the calendar with important events, most importantly the days we had off, decorating it with markers, color coding each event.   It was my holy grail of calendars.  If I was having a particularly hard day I could sit back in my fancy "swively" desk chair, look at my calendar and anticipate the next vacation, birthday party, or free day to sleep in until noon.  Often I would repeat to myself (or sometimes to the students), "Only three more weeks until Spring Break... you can do this!".  I seemed to be living from "calendar event to calendar event".

We do this so often in everyday life as well.  We have count downs for baby arrivals, marriages or even the return of a family member from war.  Though these events are life changing and weighty on the scale of importance, they have a pending end.  The internet has made our countdowns even more exciting by offering us handy countdown apps, or calendars you can subscribe to that tell you how many days, minutes (or even seconds) are left until the anticipated date and time.  I love living in anticipation.  There have been times in my life that I thrive on it, especially when I am anticipating something HUGE!

As we get older, we check off some of these "life milestones" like graduation, marriage, babies... then we hit a plateau in life.  I suddenly have no need for a fancy countdown calendar to reel by, and I hit a lull.

My mom is a wise woman.   (If you only knew the depth of her wisdom.)  She is the person in my life that I can count on to give me an honest answer, even if it is hard to hear.  She can be my sounding board when thinking through decisions.  Lately, I was talking to her about some different situations and she shared with me something that has been pinging back and forth in my head for the last few weeks.

She said.
 "Heather, you find HAPPINESS in "happenings", and JOY is constant no matter what our circumstance."

When she said this to me, I agreed and then we kept talking, eventually moving on from that topic.  But as I am still and listen, I keep coming back to this phrase.

First of all, am I seeking happiness or joy?  Am I depending on my life to be filled with exciting "happenings" one after the other, that lead me to believe that I am "happy"?  Am I putting more weight on being "happy" than being "joyful"?  Should I even seek out happiness, or is it a byproduct of joy?  (These are all questions that have entered my mind the last few weeks when thinking about my Mom's statement) 

I once had a friend of mine tell me "But, I deserve happiness...".  Really, DO WE?  Probably not.  Most likely not.  Actually the answer is NO, we don't deserve "happiness", what we deserve is the opposite.  Because of Christ, we are offered something far greater than happiness, Joy.

 Joy is internal contentment that comes from internal factors like our faith in the Lord, whereas  happiness is dependent on external circumstance.  

Over and over scripture talks about the Lord being a source of Joy.  "The joy of the Lord is my strength"(Nehemiah 8:10), "the fruit of the spirit is... joy" (Galatians 5:22) , the Lord is the "joy of our salvation"(Psalm 51:12)... you see what I am saying?  Joy is referred to over 300 times in the Bible, where as the word "happy" is only referred to 30.  The fountain from where joy flows is from the Lord alone, not by our own accomplishments, and not through any exciting situations.  Joy is unconditional, cross cultural, interdenominational, it breaks all socioeconomic rules,  it is intergenerational, non-gender-specific and uncircumstantial.

In James 1:2 Paul actually commands us to consider it "pure joy" when we are confronted with trials... (what!!  Talk about counterintuitive.)  Our human nature wants to look at the trails in our life, no matter what they might be, and focus on the negative.  When we give power to the "happenings" in our life, we allow them to lift us up (when they are good)... but to also bring us down (when they stink).  Instead we need to surrender that "power" to Christ, and when we do so, he replaces it with Joy.

If you find yourself in the plateau of life, and you don't have "joy"... you will either make up exciting "happenings" to get you through (sometimes these are detrimental to your relationships, jobs, or responsibilities) or you may sink into a circumstantial depression, because "things just are not going your way".  When I catch myself in this frame of mind, I pause and I pose the question:

"Am I seeking happiness or am I relying on joy?"

Really think, are you allowing the "happenings" in your life to dictate your emotions, or are you depending on the strength of the Lord to provide you with the internal contentment that we call "Joy".


Thanks for reading.