the great divide

I have recently realized something about myself that I do not like and want to change. I am not really sure how to write about it as it is something we don't normally talk about in the United States. When I first returned to my homeland one of the things I noticed was the obvious class divide, people who have wealth hang with others who are wealthy - never knowing and rarely interacting with those who are less fortunate. Perhaps the generous rich will write a check to an agency to help the poor, or on special occasions they may even give of their time, but do they invite someone who is poor to their home? are they intimately familiar with their circumstance? do they walk beside someone who is struggling financially? These are few and far between.

Research has shown that relationship/friendship is the best pathway out of poverty. A meaningful connection with just one person who can give a hand up will help change the oppression of generational poverty.

I knew immediately upon my return to the U.S. that I must be intentional in building relationships across class lines. I tried to do this in being selective about how I spend my time and who I spent time with.

Fast forward nearly three years (yes, we have been back in the States for nearly three years) and my intentions are for not. During the government shutdown when I heard that families who receive WIC (women, infant and children subsidies for necessities like food) were not going to receive their payments. I wanted to help. That is when I came to the uncomfortable realization that I live a sheltered life. While those I know have struggles, nearly all of the people I spend time with on a regular basis have good jobs, an emergency saving fund, a nice home and are not struggling to survive.

I don't like this truth. I don't want it to remain my reality. If I really believe the best way to help people who are struggling is through connection/relationship - then why am I not living that truth? My family was a recipient of WIC subsidies when I was growing up, it was a matter of circumstance not a reflection of effort. How can I now be so far removed from those in a similar circumstance? I find this unacceptable. I aim to change it. I would rather have Luke 14: 12-14 be true of me:

"When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your bothers or sisters, your relatives, or rich neighbors, if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

I am not sure how to bridge the great divide among classes in the U.S., but I hope to start in my circle of friends.

just Sheri, a sheltered professional

Snowden: revealing my inconsistencies

Recently I've engaged in numerous conversations on the topic of Snowden: hero or villain?

That really isn't the point of this post.

The media reports about the man who leaked top secret information has me thinking about the issue of privacy...

We live in interesting times where we use social media to announce to the world where we are (Facebook check-in) and what we are doing at any given moment (Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook status posts). I (obviously) have a blog and share portions of my life on the blog. I have user IDs for Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and post status updates periodically on all of these.

In addition to these, I have a smart phone and subscribed to the Google app which I find amazing. If there is a flight itinerary in my inbox, the app will automatically give me the flight status. The app has memorized my schedule and frequently visited locations and will give me updates on how long it will take to get home from work or to a regular destination on Monday nights or Wednesday mornings. When I travel, because of GPS tracking on my phone, the app creates a listing (unsolicited)of activities or restaurants near me. Every weekend it gives me a list of events in my area. I like the convenience of these functions. I find them helpful and useful. I sacrificed privacy to get these features and apparently I am okay with that.

I am not, however, okay with the government tracking and cataloguing these things without a reasonable cause. I don't care if it is in the name of national security. While I have nothing to hide, it feels to me a violation of trust that they capture this information without my permission.

I have been thinking about this inconsistency in my stance. I willingly give up privacy for the sake of personal convenience, but I feel it a violation when those concessions in privacy are being monitored on a grand scale.

Is my expectation of privacy reasonable?

just Sheri, trying to reconcile my inconsistencies

Free Food for Millionaires

A book club I was a part of a number of years back read a book by the title, Free Food for Millionaires. If memory serves, the title came from a conversation at an office on Wall Street. A catered lunch was  delivered for all of the wealthy Wall Street types and in a discussion with the protagonist of the story, a young second generation Korean immigrant, he coined the phrase "free food for millionaires."

I have been thinking a lot about this lately. The thoughts were sparked by the comments of a colleague who participated in a SNAP awareness program. For those who are unaware of what SNAP is, this is the food subsidy the government offers to those who are poor in America. It is designed to run out before the end of the month...and true to design, that is exactly what happens. My colleague lived on $5 a day, the allotted SNAP subsidy, for a week. One of her reflections were that she didn't realize how often in her own life food is readily available for free - at catered work meetings, or reimbursement for work lunches, etc. This is what sparked my reflection. It led me to the conclusion that I live a subsidized life.

While many criticize those who rely on such safety-net programs as SNAP, the majority do so without appreciating the abundance of their own privilege or acknowledgement of the subsidies they enjoy. I took stock of my current subsidies and here is a short list that I came up with:

• Like those in the story - I am the lucky recipient of many lunches or dinners paid for by my employer or partnering institutions in the course of my work. While it doesn't happen every day, it does happen at least once per month and usually more frequently than that.
• My employer offers mileage reimbursement, which subsidizes the expense of auto fuel for my vehicle. I have a fuel efficient vehicle so the reimbursement rate is generous.
• My employer picks up a portion of my cell phone bill. While there is also an expectation that I use this for work purposes, and I do, that reimbursement amount is a subsidy that I receive, because I would have a cell phone bill with or without the job.
• While there are IRS rules that restrict this and I am always VERY conscious of not appearing to receive favored treatment or to compromise  integrity - I do receive invites to events and meetings that may have an entrance fee for others. That is a subsidy.

These were just the subsidies I encountered in the course of a week, while it was on the forefront of my mind. While I am far from being a millionaire, and do not aspire to such, I do receive generous subsidies that allow me to do other things with my money.

In the past I received even more benefits: a corporate car where I had zero financial obligation and a housing allowance that covered living expenses.

I post this, because I want to maintain a position of gratitude for my good fortune. I do not want to take my blessings for granted. And, I have no place to judge those who rely on assistance for survival when I am benefiting from assistance myself. The source of my aid may not be from the government, but it is a subsidy just the same.

just Sheri, a subsidy recipient

Oprah-nized

The Hubs and I were recently having a conversation about influential people. People who are influential on a grand scale usually have a few things in common - but, of those we could name a common denominator was wealth (mostly earned through expertise in a field). Of the super wealthy and influential people on our list, one stood out above all others. Oprah.

Photo by Alan Light via Creative Commons

We put Oprah in a category by herself because of how she shares her influence. When Oprah promotes someone, they usually become a superstar in their own right - we call this being "Oprah-nized." Here is just a small sampling of Oprah's protege's:

• Suze Orman - used to be a special feature on Oprah's show and now a leading voice in finance and investment
• Dr. Phil - also a guest feature on her talk show, now the star of a long standing talk show of his own
• Dr. Oz - same as above
• Rachel Ray - Oprah helped produce her show and now she is a common household name
• Nate Berkus - a leading name in interior design, also hit it big with an Oprah stamp of approval
• every author chosen for the book club became a best seller

I am sure the list is longer - these were just the folks I could name off the top of my head.

In 2010, Oprah was honored at the Kennedy Center. Chris Rock was one of the presenters. He started his monologue by acknowledging important people in the room, in the balcony sat the two honorees (Oprah and Paul McCartney) and President Barack Obama with his wife Michelle. Chris Rock says, "it's an amazing feeling to look up and see the most powerful person in the world...and right next to her, Barack Obama. He didn't get her a job, she got him a job." It was funny, but true. Oprah's endorsement of Obama helped him win the presidential nomination over other candidates like Hillary Clinton.

I mention this, not to promote Oprah specifically, nor any of her protege's; but to promote a character quality worth replicating. I do not have the level of influence of any of these, but in my sphere of influence - what am I doing to promote others? to set them on a course of success? to invest in their dream? to bring out their unique talents? It is a good way to be and a good thing to do.

just Sheri, wanting to use my influence to benefit others

Naming my fear

Earlier this year I wrote a post on paralyzing fear. Then a few weeks ago I was reading a book that challenged readers to name their fear, in order to overcome it.

I am taking it a step further - I am not only naming my fear, but I am posting it publicly for the whole world to see. Why? Because I refuse to let it have power over me any more.

What am I afraid of? Loss.

I have experienced some intense heartache over the years. Once upon a time I did meaningful work that consumed me. I loved my work and invested my whole self in it. I invested deeply in relationships. I was ALL in! Then I had to leave that work and those relationships. It broke my heart.

As if that wasn't tough enough, I had to do it again a couple of years later. Then again a year later, Then again a year after that. By the fourth time, I was already growing apprehensive of investing myself in meaningful work or relationships. But now, it is best categorized as a paralyzing fear.

Sure, I am dissatisfied with my "normal" life - waking each day to go to a job. Coming home to do it all again the next day. But, my fear of being ALL in and having that ripped from me again outweighs my discontent with normal.

Like a heartbroken teenager, I am scared to love again. I am scared to invest myself deeply and then be uprooted (again). I am scared to open myself up to relationships and then have to say good-bye (again), with  no idea when or where we will reunite. My heart is unsure it could love again like that. It is unsure if it would recover from such a fate.

But, when I look back at the relationships I built around the globe and the people and places that still hold a piece of my heart, I am reminded of Tennyson's poem (In Memoriam: 27, 1850): 

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all. 

2 Timothy 1:7 For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline. 

What are you afraid of?

just Sheri, working to overcome fear

culture shock: I am watching my show

The other day my brother called. I was having a lazy day and catching up on a favorite TV series online. He asked if this was a bad time since I was watching my show. I laughed, mostly because the thought of such a thing was absurd to me. TV more important than people? Especially when I can pause it or watch it later online.

Do people really do that? Apparently. My brother said he doesn't take it personally.

In a week, will I even remember what the show, that was so important, was about? Probably not. In a month, will it even matter? Likely no, as the world moved on to more current events. Will the time missed with loved ones due to prioritizing television matter a week, month, or year from now? Absolutely. Relationships are built (or lost) on interpersonal connection.

One of the things that has me shaking my head in wonderment is the way American lives revolve around television. Television is the hearth of the home. Television is the primary source of entertainment. It is as if American's live through watching other people's lives (fiction or near-fiction often called "reality"). When did it become acceptable to disregard real people for those we are likely never to know?

I am sure this view is considered "old-fashioned" by some. Once again I am feeling like the woman that time forgot, as I am often displaced in my culture.

just Sheri, choosing real people over fiction

What is a homemaker?

What do you think of when you hear the word "homemaker?" If you are anything like me, perhaps you have an image like this.

Well, if you know anything about me either in real life or from reading this blog then you would know I don't fit that stereotype very well. Until we lived overseas I didn't cook at all. I have no children. My grandma tried to teach me to sew once - we spent years afterward laughing about the experience and my lack of patience for the process. Instead, I thrive in the wilderness. I love travel. I could live as a nomad the rest of my life and care little about even having a place to call home. My comfort level is somewhat unconventional.

If God were to ask me to go to the ends of the earth. I'd say, "how soon can I leave?"

If God were to say leave it all behind. I'd say, "thank you for freeing me (again) of these shackles."

Why? Because I am comfortable on the adventure, living life on the edge with little to hold me down.

Ironically, God is asking me to be a homemaker. Frankly, I am not even sure what that means and the thought of it scares me a little bit. I have been asking people I trust - what makes a home? I honestly don't know.

I assume it begins with having a stable place to call "home." Then filling it with things that make it feel like a "home." But, I am sure it is more than that. This is where I am stuck. What makes a home?

Can you help?

just Sheri, totally out of my comfort zone

2012 Theme: Perfect Peace

As faithful readers may remember, I don't do New Year's Resolutions; instead, I choose a theme for each year.  The theme for this year was selected some time around Thanksgiving 2011. I knew that in 2012 I would be focusing on Peace. I couldn't have predicted the storms that would come.

I don't mean this kind of peace.

To me, this symbol of peace often represents the intent or desire to have an absence of trouble or conflict. In my mind it is coupled with the saying, "can't we all just get along."

Since that does not seem to be my reality I am looking for a different kind of peace - a greater peace. Peace that is found not the absence of trouble or conflict - but in the midst of such things. This kind of peace is WAY beyond myself, it is the kind of peace I believe only comes from God.

My guiding scripture is Isaiah 26:3,4:


You [God] keep him [or her] in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you. 
Trust in the Lord forever,

for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.


I don't know if I will achieve perfect peace by year's end, but I am going to give it a go. The worst that can happen is I will be better off tomorrow than I am today. So, I will do my best to maintain focus and trust God - He is my firm foundation and solid rock in the midst of life's storms.


just Sheri, a peace-seeker

In rememberance...

This week my birth dad would have celebrated his 56th birthday. But in January, his children, siblings and friends attended a memorial service to commemorate the end of his life instead.

I spent most of the previous three decades estranged from this man. But, I still remember him with fondness. He never met a stranger - everyone was a friend. He had a LARGE laugh and was often joking. He was passionate about the gold industry; where he built his career. He always wanted to be a father of four...he left behind four children, two boys and two girls - of which I am the oldest. His life dream was to own a Dunkin Donuts franchise. When I was a young girl he attended the training to explore the possibility and the last time I saw him in November he was still talking about this as a life dream. When he found something he really liked, he wanted to share it with everyone he knows.

Death of a loved one is never easy. Death by suicide leaves lives fragmented.

In memory of David Stacy...

This photo was taken while touring the gold mine where he worked.

2011 year in review: joy(ful)

The chosen theme for 2011 was audacious joy. It was primarily "audacious" because at the time of selecting this theme my world was in shambles. Everything was out of whack, off kilter. Uncertainty abounded. We were both unemployed and moving continents for the third time in less than two years. The few things we owned were held in embargo in Africa. We were living in a new place (Virginia), where we were strangers and unfamiliar with our surroundings. The pressure on our relationship was almost more than it could bear. I looked at my circumstances, which were heartbreaking, and in response I chose joy.

Shortly after choosing the theme for 2011 I read a scripture in Habakkuk 3 that summarized my position.

Habakkuk 3:17-18
Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord:
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.


In February, I received a job offer for my current position. Employment was a welcome blessing. Kenyon was blessed with the position he wanted at a hospital in the area beginning in June.

In March, the shipping company found a way around the embargo and our stuff arrived on our doorstep. If you knew the specifics, you would know this was miraculous.

In April, we found an apartment and began to re-establish our lives in a new place. God met our need and then blessed us to overflowing. We were given enough household goods to actually set-up house.

Living in the US is like living a 5-star existence (especially in comparison to our previous locations), but the amount of grumbling and complaining remains a mystery (and frustration) to me. Once again, the Bible provided guidance - joy is NOT determined by circumstances whether they be want or plenty. The comedian  Groucho Marx reminded me that joy is a choice.

I had plenty of days with tears and wallowing. Troubles have not ceased. But, on the days when I chose joy - joy is what defined my day. Joy is a choice. As often as possible, choose joy.

In summary, in the year of audacious joy - God showed up. He showed himself to be faithful - even in my disbelief.

just Sheri, more joyful

full on joy!

I was recently part of a celebration for work. The group I was celebrating with serves those with physical and intellectual disabilities. There was food and games, music and dancing.

I had so much fun dancing with some of the clients. What struck me most though, is the honesty in their emotions. No pretense, just experiencing the moment. A full embrace of excitement and enthusiasm. Full on joy.

I want to experience life like that. Full on.

just Sheri, embracing the moment

just read: Humilitas

Back in September I posted about the author of Humilitas, John Dickson.

Since then I have read through some of my stack and packed this book in my carry-on to China. I finished it while on the trip. I enjoyed the authors approach to humility. Reading this book gave me a lesson in ancient history and latin vocabulary, while challenging me to build better character qualities - a VERY unique (and intriguing) combination!

I cannot possibly summarize the book in one blog post, so I will instead focus on one chapter.  John applied the virtue of humility to leadership in a number of aspects, but the one I will focus on is persuasion. Persuasion is a tool leaders use to influence circumstances or events. John argues that "the humble are frequently more persuasive and inspiring than the arrogant."

According to John, the fundamentals of leadership are: 1. ability, 2. example and 3. persuasion. Then he says:

"... persuasion is the leader's ability to articulate and argue a position in a way that motivates others in the team to move in the new direction. A leader with example but with no ability to persuade others will be well loved but unable to lift people beyond the circumstances they can see around them. Persuasion is key."

John goes on to explain that according to ancient philosophers, Aristotle in particular, the character of the speaker is the most effective tool. Beyond intellect. Beyond emotional appeal. Character, or ethos, influences. Why? Aristotle says, "We believe good-hearted people to a greater extent and more quickly than we do others on all subjects in general and completely in cases where there is not exact knowledge but room for doubt."

John concludes the chapter by saying, "When people trust us, they tend to believe what we say, and few are considered more trustworthy than those who choose to use their power for the good of others above themselves." A strong argument in favor of humility.

Want to be great? Choose to be a servant. That is the stance of a world-changer! Listening to others. Thinking of their needs above your own. "Humility is the noble choice to forgo your status, deploy your resources or use your influence for the good of others before yourself." Tough to do, but worth the effort.

just Sheri, seeing the value of ethos and trying to establish it in my heart

possessed by possessions

Anything you cannot relinquish when it has outlived its usefulness possesses you, and in this materialistic age a great many of us are possessed by our possessions. ~ Peace Pilgrim

I was afforded the opportunity to learn a valuable lesson. What's that? The freedom of liquidating all possessions in order to follow a dream.

Purging our possessions to move overseas was an exhausting process. I remember during one of the many sessions of going through "stuff," I was listening to Pandora when a song by Erykah Badu began to play. It is titled "bag lady." It is about letting go of emotional baggage, but it was VERY relevant to my circumstance at the time. Her message - let the bags go, pack lightly, don't let those bags hold you down. It was a revelation - purging = freedom.

At the end of the process, we were free - more free than I had been in my entire adult life. Free to go anywhere and do anything. Go. We did.

Now we are back. We are again accumulating stuff, though nothing near previous levels.

I have had a number of conversations with people since returning. Conversations about their dreams. I hear so many say, they cannot follow their dreams because of the stuff they possess..."I can't do that because I would have to sell the house"..."I can't go there because we have too much stuff"..."that isn't a possibility for me because I couldn't part with..." On and on and on. The stuff has a hold on their heart and is dictating their life.

Sometimes, in the quiet of the morning I look at our apartment. It is comfortable. I look at the stuff and I ask myself, "could I leave it all behind again?"

I pray the answer will remain "yes" all the days of my life. I don't want stuff to grab hold of my heart (and subsequently my life) the way it had in the past. I don't want to be possessed by my possessions.

This is not a post of condemnation, but one of reflection.

Could you leave your possessions to follow a dream, or is the stuff holding you back from pursuing such a life?

just Sheri, a sojourner at heart

life without television?

Television has proved that people will look at anything rather than each other.  

~ Ann Landers (1918-2002)

Some may think that in our modern world it is impossible to live without a television.  Most homes in western civilization have not one, but many televisions.

For many years I lived without a television. I wasn't trying to make a social statement. Circumstances in my life had led to a place where there was no TV in my home and I just hadn't felt an urge to change that. In fact, I kind of liked not having one. I felt as if I had gained hours in my day...more time for rest or to do things that mattered.  I felt soooo productive!

My dad came for a visit (when I was single and living in Kansas City) and decided this was a necessity I could not do without any longer, so he graciously bought me a TV. He would have paid for any TV my heart desired. Large flat screens were (and are) all the rage. I chose a 23". I liked it better because it didn't seem to dominate the room. I unpacked the TV, but it required a cable connection and I never quite got around to doing that. So, a few more years passed where a TV was set up in my home, but only operated when watching movies. After Kenyon and I got married, he moved in to my place. We got cable and I didn't like the results.

Once the TV was hooked up to some programming. Gone were the nightly dinners at the dining table. Gone was conversation over dinner. Time seemed to get away from me. I spent less time on things that mattered.

We have now returned to the States.  The TV my dad bought those years ago was stored in my friends home while we were overseas. Once we moved in, it stayed in the box for months. It is now set up for video watching, but can't run any programming as we missed the free adapter phase of the digital implementation and don't have any paid programming set-up.

I feel no desire to change our circumstance in regard to television.  We follow our favorite shows online - CSI and Amazing Race.  I get the news through an app on my phone or online.  Sometimes in the evening we will watch a movie rented from Red Box or the local library.

Without a TV in the home, I read more. I get outside. We converse more. We find other, more productive ways to spend our time.

Life without a TV was a product of circumstance before.  I think it is going to become a lifestyle choice.

just Sheri, a journalism major (and American) with no working television

updates

I haven't done a great job of writing regularly since moving...so, I will dedicate this post to general updates.

Unemployment Rates
Back in December when Kenyon and I were both unemployed and looking for work, I wrote a post called "Unemployment Rates: reality check." I still believe the unemployment rate is under reported - meaning it is larger than the current 9% estimate. Why? Because, there are many who have just given up looking for work or have been unemployed so long they no longer qualify for unemployment benefits. That does not even count the number of individuals who are under-employed. However, since that post both Kenyon and I have secured good jobs. I began mine in February and he started his in July. I am the grants director for a local health foundation and Kenyon is working on the nursing staff of a nearby hospital. We are blessed to have these opportunities.

Of the five adults at the dinner party the night of my "reality check" blog post - two remain unemployed. Granted, they live in a different part of the U.S., but both hold higher level degrees and certifications (CPA and law), both have a wealth of experience. It symbolizes that the effects of the recession are still being felt by many families.

Setting Routines
In April, I wrote about my efforts to establish routines. In that time I have made exercise and cooking a regular part of my life. Kenyon and I rarely eat out and most of our meals are made from fresh fruits and vegetables. I am also exercising 2-4 times per week. We don't have a gym membership, so I find ways to incorporate fitness in my life through being outside or using the exercise videos that have traveled with me around the globe. The result, I have lost about 6 pounds since that post and I have no idea how many inches. But, I feel better physically...and that was the ultimate goal. I hope to keep it up and continue to reap the rewards.

Finding a Church
In May, I posted about our efforts to find a church home. I am pleased to report that the internet strategy worked. We have been attending the church for a few weeks consecutively and are starting to get to know folks who attend. We've participated in community dinners and other outreach events. We also recently attended their newcomers meeting. Having a church home does make a new place feel more welcoming and friendly.

Well, that's all folks...what have you been doing lately?

just Sheri, apparently too busy to write regularly

Quotable Quotes: Liberty

"There are those who will say the liberation of humanity, the freedom of man and mind is nothing but a dream. They are right. It is the American Dream." ~ Archibald MacLeish, American Poet, 1892-1982 On this, the 4th of July, a day dedicated to celebrating our freedom - I wonder if we have lost sight of the dream? This day means more than just time off work, grilling out, and watching fireworks. It stands for something powerful - freedom. Freedom is granted in varying degrees around the globe. The one common thread is that the poorest, weakest, and most vulnerable are most often denied the virtues of freedom. Instead, these are enslaved, oppressed, or cast out. This confinement of liberty and restriction of freedom isn't someone else's problem. It is happening here, in America. We are establishing or undermining the virtues of these ideals with the policies we endorse...and especially those that become law. "I would rather belong to a poor nation that was free than to a rich nation that had ceased to be in love with liberty." ~ Woodrow T. Wilson, 28th President of the United States just Sheri,  contemplating the reason for celebration

Who am I? Concluded.

I am currently reading a book titled "The Cost of Discipleship" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

 In case you are not familiar with his story; Bonhoeffer was a pastor who willingly chose to reside in Nazi occupied Germany because he believed that was the place he was called and he desired to make a difference - to shine light in a dark corner of the world. This decision ultimately cost him his life. He died in a concentration camp not long before prisoners were freed. He was an avid writer and I am attempting to learn from him - a man who exhibited such faith and character in the face of evil.

This book has been recommended to me MANY times over the years. When I told my brother I was reading it, he said I am surprised it is only now making it to your reading list. Perhaps I was not ready for its message before now? Perhaps.

In the introductory section there is a summary of Bonhoeffer's life and the inclusion of some of his poetry. One poem is titled "Who Am I?" I know this question well. I have been asking it repeatedly in recent months; here, here, here and here. Bonhoeffers circumstance is different than my own, but the conclusion is the same:

"Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine.  Whoever I am, Thou knowest, O God, I am thine!"

just Sheri, a child of God

found: my first student

I recently received a list of potential students from the Literacy Volunteers of America. Some were born and raised in the U.S., a few had even graduated from high school. Some were from other parts of the globe. I had mentioned before that my personal preference was a woman from another place.

I read the list and responded to the coordinator that there were two I was interested in tutoring. One was a young woman from Southeast Asia, Vietnam specifically. She works at a nail salon in town. The second was a mother from West Africa, Sierra Leone. Her goal was to improve her English skills so she could help her children with their homework.

The coordinator suggested I work with the young woman from Vietnam. I am excited about the opportunity. When I read her bio it made me realize how often I interact with people in similar circumstances, but don't think about their plight. Those at the grocery store stocking shelves or collecting carts. Those at restaurants cleaning tables and dishes. Those at nail salons who have given me a pedicure. I haven't met my student, yet, but she has already taught me something - to open my eyes to the struggles of those I interact with every day.

just Sheri, looking at the world with new perspective

Livin' the good life

Today's post is simply an acknowledgement of my blessings. I am so grateful that in the midst of a bad economy and high unemployment - Kenyon and I have both secured good jobs. Last week Kenyon started a nursing related job at a local hospital (a different system than the one I work for). At orientation HR told the new hires that there were thousands of individuals who applied for the positions they now held. What a blessing!

We have a roof over our heads...and it provides us with more than just the necessity of shelter. It includes luxuries like air conditioning that cools every room, a washer AND dryer for clothes, a mechanical dishwasher and an extra bedroom. In addition to all of that, the apartment complex has a swimming pool and tennis courts. These all may be common items in America, but it has been a while since I lived here and as a result of my experiences in other parts of the globe I no longer take these gifts for granted. What a blessing!

My life is full of lot of other luxuries too...a nice car to drive, a smart phone, and an abundance of options or opportunities. This is the good life and I don't want to get to a place (again) where I take these blessings for granted.

just Sheri, grateful to God for my blessings

looking for a church?

When you are looking for a church - what do you look for? What elements are essential to make it feel like "home?"

We are new to this community. In the last decade+ finding a church has not been as difficult. When moving to the midwest, church invites abounded. One of those invites led to a church home.

Recommendations from that church home in Topeka led to a church home in Kansas City. That was "home" for nearly a decade.

When moving to North Carolina, again church invitations abounded. One of those invitations led to a church home. This was the same story in Cambodia, as well as in Mozambique.

One might think it more difficult to find a Christian church to attend in an all Buddhist country, but apparently I am having a harder time in my homeland.

At the MLK event in Fredericksburg, there were multiple churches represented. We visited a few of them and found one we really like, but now that we have moved more than 30 miles away that seems too far to drive and really be involved. We have done this for the last few weeks, but then I came to the conclusion that it isn't enough to just show up. If I were content to sit and listen Sunday to Sunday and not really get involved it might be okay. But, that is not what I want. So, we are in the hunt for a church home in our new city - without an invitation or recommendation. Simply deciding where to go is tougher than imagined.

I have done an internet search. I acknowledge there is only so much one can glean from the internet, but I couldn't come up with another option and it did provide enough information to short list which ones to visit. This process had me asking, what am I looking for in a church?

Here is the basic criteria:

1. Teach the Bible (usually found on the "About Us" page)
2. Have an ethnically diverse community, and that is best demonstrated by a diverse staff
3. Have outreach programs to the community that are aimed at the poor and under served (more important to me than vast ministries serving church members exclusively)

These are the elements that the church I am looking for will possess, this is  the description I believe God has given for his desire of the church on earth.

On the surface this seems like a simple criteria. I assure you, it is NOT. I have found a dozen churches that meet two, but not all three. I have found only one in the city we live in that demonstrates all three through the information on their website.

We will visit a couple of times and hope for the best. If it doesn't work out? I am not sure what our next strategy will be for finding a church home in our new city.

Suggestions are welcome.

just Sheri, searching for a church