for those in transition...

In August I heard a spunky Australian speak about human trafficking. Last week I listened to a sermon she gave to a crowd recently on the power of place...and getting momentum back. You can listen to the message here.

In case I haven't mentioned it enough, we are in transition. Still without a place of our own. Still without our stuff as it is in embargo in Africa. Still without jobs (and the steady income that accompanies these). Still trying to figure out what to do with the rest of our lives. But, we know one thing...we are where we are supposed to be.

So, Christine Caine said what I needed to hear.

"Sometimes you have to go where you don't want to be (the wilderness) to end up where he (God) wants you to be...there is always more going on than what you see, more than just the circumstances. Sometimes the best way to get back in momentum is just turning up day after day."

Then she talks about the power of place specifically.

"Many Christians have sacrificed their destiny because they were pursuing a position, rather than embracing the place God has for them...when God is ready, he will come to find you. Are you still in place or have you abdicated your place?...God comes to retrieve us from our place, if we moved we miss that blessing."

Her instructions.

"Get in place if you are not in place. Embrace your place if you are in place."

just Sheri, trying to embrace my place

careless words

Words. 

I like words. I think they hold power. I believe they can define reality. Words can inspire or depress individuals. Words carry weight in relationships. Words matter.

It is estimated that we use 5,000 words per day. That's a lot. We can't possibly be aware of every one of those words...certainly some must slip. Certainly from time to time we get careless with our words. I know I do.

I tell you, on the day of judgement people will give an account for every careless word they speak... Matthew 12:36


OUCH!!!


Since reading this a few months ago, I can't stop thinking about it. I am accountable for every careless word I speak. There have been many.


Does it count if I said it about someone to a friend and it's just between us? What if I typed it in an email, would that count? Yes and yes.


I've tried to be more careful with my words.


Just Sheri, careless sometimes

shrimp and grits: tasty?

I was offered shrimp and grits the other night while visiting girlfriends in North Carolina. I have never tried it because that combination doesn't sound appealing. Maybe I'd like it...maybe?

Have you tried shrimp and grits? Do you recommend the dish?

Just Sheri, curious (sort of)

women and girls

A few weeks ago I posted about my job search strategy = volunteerism.

Today, I want to tell you about a project I am working on as a volunteer. A local community foundation started a fund with a focus on issues that face women and girls. They are asking 1,000 women to donate to the cause and the money raised will go back to fund projects for women and girls advancement.

It has been scientifically proven that investing in a girl is a good investment. Here is what the statistics say:

• A girl with seven years of education (yes, just seven years): marries 4 years later and has 2.2 fewer children (often shown as indexes for poverty reduction) the populations HIV rate goes down and malnutrition decreases 43%.
• If 10% more girls go to secondary school, the countries economy grows 3%.
• When an educated girl earns more income, she reinvests 90% of it in her family - compared to 35% for a boy.

To learn more about the project, watch the video below:

My contribution is to research the status of health and wellness for women and girls in the Rappahannock River Region.

Just Sheri, community volunteer and health researcher

who am I?

Man, know thyself. ~ Socrates

Who am I? Who are you?

Through my adult life I have been defined by many things:

My career. My job title. My place of residence. My possessions. My associations. My dreams.

These are ephemeral definitions. I am learning that...the hard way. All these things have been stripped away, bit-by-bit.

My career. 

My chosen career path requires an ability to travel and current circumstances do not allow this privilege. 

My job title.

I am unemployed. One of the first questions people ask when meeting them is, "what do you do?" I don't have a job, thus I have no job title to identify with.

My place of residence.

I currently live in the basement bedroom of a friends home, in a city I would not have predicted I would reside. I find it difficult to answer questions about "home." I don't feel that I have one. I haven't had one for years and don't know if that will change.

My possessions.

I sold the majority of what I owned to lighten the load when moving overseas. When returning to America we liquidated again and are the proud owners of a few pieces of furniture (not enough to furnish a one bedroom apartment) and a few household goods (which are still in Africa in embargo). 

My associations.

My relationships are limited in our new city. I have no professional network here. The majority of my friends and family are elsewhere. In our new circumstances, I often feel very much dis-associated with other people or places.

My dreams.

In my old job I was living the professional dream, but I quit my job and am struggling to know what's next in that arena. The personal dream of being a mother is outside of my control and remains elusive.

When these things are stripped away...career, job title, place of residence, possessions, associations, dreams...who am I? That is what I am asking myself these days.

Without these things - who are you?

Just Sheri, (apparently) experiencing an identity crisis