Four

I have never...

been happier...

more complete...

felt more loved...

than when i'm with you.

I got through this day

...no one saw through my games...


I need you to know
I'm not through the night
Some days I'm still fighting to walk towards the light
-"Courage" Superchick
 

i still will remain...

Stand in the Rain

Superchick

She never slows down.

She doesn't know why but she knows that when she's all alone, feels like its all coming down

She won't turn around

The shadows are long and she fears if she cries that first tear, the tears will not stop raining down

[CHORUS]

So stand in the rain

Stand your ground

Stand up when it's all crashing down

You stand through the pain

You won't drown

And one day, whats lost can be found

You stand in the rain

She won't make a sound

Alone in this fight with herself and the fears whispering if she stands she'll fall down

She wants to be found

The only way out is through everything she's running from wants to give up and lie down.

[CHORUS X's 3]

I hate running. Anyone who even remotely knows me knows this about me. No Running- that's gonna be my platform when i run for president. ;)

but...

running from that tidal wave of emotion and baggage and problems is sooooooooooo much easier than standing in it. i think i at least want an umbrella. and prolly a hand to hold.

i wish i could find a solution- a "weather-proofing" system.

i've dug a hole for myself, that was the easy part.

now how do i get out?

Give me a minute...

This is for you... Know you're always in my heart, and my prayers...

May today there be peace within. 

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. 

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. 

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.... 

May you be content knowing you are a child of God. 

Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. 

It is there for each and every one of you.

-St. Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower 

American Dream?

“American Dream”

 

All work no play may have made Jack a dull boy

But all work no God has left Jack with a lost soul

But he's moving on full steam

He's chasing the American dream

And he's gonna give his family finer things

 

“Not this time son I've no time to waste

Maybe tomorrow we'll have time to play”

And then he slips into his new BMW

And drives farther and farther and farther away

 

Cause he works all day and tries to sleep at night

He says things will get better;

Better in time

 

[Chorus]

So he works and he builds with his own two hands

And he pours all he has in a castle made with sand

But the wind and the rain are comin' crashing in

Time will tell just how long his kingdom stands

His kingdom stands

 

Well his American Dream is beginning to seem

More and more like a nightmare

With every passing day

"Daddy, can you come to my game?"

"Oh Baby, please don't work late."

Another wasted weekend

And they are slipping away

 

'Cause he works all day and lies awake at night

He tells them things are getting better

Just take a little more time

 

[Chorus]

So he works and he builds with his own two hands

And he pours all he has in a castle made with sand

But the wind and the rain are comin' crashing in

Time will tell just how long his kingdom stands

His kingdom stands

 

He used to say, "Whoever dies with the most toys wins"

But if he loses his soul, what has he gained in the end

I'll take a shack on the rock

Over a castle in the sand

 

Now he works all day and cries alone at night

It's not getting any better

Looks like he's running out of time

 

[Chorus]

'Cause he worked and he built with his own two hands

And he poured all he had in a castle made with sand

But the wind and the rain are coming crashing in

Time will tell just how long his kingdom stands

His kingdom stands

 

All they really wanted was you

All they really wanted was you

All they really wanted was you

How many times have we let our stuff get in the way of our relationships?  With our friends? Our family? Our God?  In the song “American Dream” it tells the story of a man completely wrapped up in his career to the point where he loses sight of what is actually important in life.  He puts everything in second place behind his work, so that he can get more things, to have a “better life”.  The first time I heard this song one line kinda stuck out to me, it’s the first line of the chorus “And he works and he builds with is own two hands”.  I wondered “how this could be bad?”. He wasn’t stealing to better himself. He wasn’t lying about what nice things he had. We’re constantly told by the world to be self sufficient and independent; to have an “each man for himself”, “survival of the fittest” mentality.  But at the end of the day what are we working for? Who are we glorifying? Is it all about me? Or all about God?  Once I thought this all through and heard the song again I heard that line different.  He may not have been stealing money or things to get ahead, but he was stealing time from his family. And He may not have been lying about all the things he had, but he was lying to himself about how to fix it- he thought if only he could get to the “finish line” he’d be happy and could spend time with his family then.  However that line will always be out of reach because it’s not the answer that’s going fix anything.  If we’re always focused on what new toy we can get or what new stuff we can get our hands on, when can we focus on God?  It’s not bad to have nice things, or to want them, but it’s when we get attached to these things that we have problems.  This attachment and dependence on material things can and will prevent us from fully relying on Christ. In Scripture, Christ tells us this:

 Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.  The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand.  The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined."

-Matthew 7: 24– 27 

The chorus of “American Dream” touches on this verse too, and what it’s telling us is if we build our lives on material things, on things of the world, on sand, our lives won’t be secure and when tough times come knocking on the door everything we think we’ve built will come come crashing down.  But if we build our lives on God, and make him our rock we will always have that to fall back on, and will be able to stand up against hard times.

God doesn’t just tell us to do something and hope we can figure it out on our own, he tells us how to do it.  And one way he tells us to live and calls us to do is live with a spirit of charity.  By doing this we can keep ourselves in check and remember that it’s not all about us.  We need to put God first, others second, and ourselves last.  Charity is another word for love, and it’s this kind of love that Christ is talking about when he commands us to love our neighbor.  If you have something that you haven’t touched in the past 6 months, you probably already forgot it’s there, and I’m sure someone else could enjoy having it.  Put those in need before yourself, and give those excess things away.  Itll make you’re life simpler and will bless their life.  Its good all the way around!

"Are you that ONE?"

I'm always in shock and awe when i hear about the things my family can do if and when they apply themselves to really doing something... and really anyone is like that.  If you are determined to do something,whatever that thing may be- you can and will find a way to accomplish it.  

This thought came to me because this night i received an email from my uncle that included an attachment that was a letter from my little cousin.  In this letter, Nate talks about a project he is working on for the science fair at his school, and let me tell you- this is no alka-seltzer volcano project.  For this "Project" he has, "To date [raised] over $80,000.00 [for] the “Project Living Water” project.  I am totally inspired and amazed by my friends, family, students, and school.    This NEED has inspired a well, medical clinic, a school, irrigated land, a herd of goats, 2 fully sponsored orphans to go to school for a whole year, and I don’t feel like I am supposed to stop yet.   Oh, I forgot to mention the team of 12 who are going to Africa with me."  This is a huge thing to take interest in, but to organize it and make it happen is amazing.  Oh, and by the way, he's thirteen, and in the eighth grade. ridiculous.

This past summer i was given the opportunity to help raise money to travel down to mexico to build a home for a family that we adopted.  I was involved with the technicalities of planning, organizing, and executing this mission because i worked in the office, but i was only the assistant. Sharon took care of everything, i just made copies and put stuff in folders, but even that seemed like a lot of work while it was all happening.  I can't even imagine what it would be like to take it upon myself to make something this big happen, and especially at thirteen. 

The one thing that really stuck out for me in this letter was when Nate said,

"I really don’t want that to seem all that amazing because all I did was share the story of these kids with people and they just knew they were supposed to do something about it...... I don't feel like I'm supposed to stop yet."

He may be my lil cousin, but he really is growing into a young man i am very proud to call family.  

If only we could all feel even just a taste of the hunger and persistence for change that i know i felt as i went to mexico, and that i'm sure Nate is feeling right now as he gets ready for this trip, how much better would and could our world be.  Most of us are richer than 90% of the world.  Not just in our little bubble of a country, but the entire world. We can all sacrifice something. And having things isn't a bad thing, but sharing those things is so much more rewarding than keeping them to ourselves.  

Even our time is valuable.  i've come to truly realize this recently because i don't have a lot of it these days.  however, if our time is this valuable to us, imagine how great of an impact it could make if you gave it up for someone else.  Im not saying you need to spend your every waking minute planning a huge fundraiser and trip to a third world country, but sacrifice your time to the important things in life that we often let slide.  Give that time to a grandparent who needs help getting groceries, or your cousin with a lil one who just needs a night away from Dora and Boots.  In that moment you may not realize it, you may be thinking of the hundreds of other ways you could be spending this time, but for whoever you give that time to you probably gave them a hand to lift their spirits, and a smile to make their day. 

Finally in the letter Nate wrote, he closed it with this poem he wrote.  It has a strong unifying message that i think we should all take a minute to reflect on.  "Are you that ONE?"

Power of One............Written for “Project Living Water”

This is a story of one.

One heartbreaking story about children dying because they have no clean water to drink.

One common set of goals for all children: Dignity, Health, Joy, and Love.

One school that challenges its students to think globally, by sharing themselves with the world.

One amazing group of teachers, students, friends, and family… extending their hearts, lending their hands, and saving children’s lives.

One amazing realization, that all these things are part of our life for a reason.

One moment, when we realize that we can make a difference.

One daunting insight, that we are the ones who can help.

This story of One is about you and one important decision you can make to change the world, and making a difference to a child whose life may depend on your help.

The power of one CAN make a difference.  Are you that ONE?

-by Nate Moreno

"'Surrender, surrender', you whisper gently"

In my short nineteen years here on earth there's one thing i have consistently noticed in everything i have ever done.  Usually the really important things in life, the pieces we put together in order to form the whole picture, are not the obvious things.  The most important things i've learned weren't directly told to me. They were alluded to.  Hinted at. Whispered. 

I was never flat out told that faith can change and shape your life so much you won't want to imagine a life without it.  I was shown that. Told examples of how that happened to other people.  But in order to connect the dots for myself, i had to listen to the whisper in the wind telling me to trust and believe.  It's in that stillness and quiet that i have become who i am. In those moments of "hey i never thought about that" or the "ah-ha" moments i recognize something bigger than myself, a higher power, my God. 

This blog, "The Gentle Whisper" is my way of just letting go of, and sharing revelations, thoughts, questions, and moments i've had in those quiet times.    

Surrender by BarlowGirl  

My hands hold safely to my dreams,  Clutching tightly not one has fallen, So many years I've shaped each one- Reflecting my heart, showing who I am, Now you're asking me to show  What I'm holding oh so tightly. Can't open my hands, can't let go. Does it matter? Should I show you? Can't you let me go?   

‘Surrender, surrender’, you whisper gently. You say I will be free, I know, but can't you see? My dreams are me. My dreams are me.   

You say you have a plan for me, And that you want the best for my life. Told me the world had yet to see What you can do with one That's committed to Your call. I know of course what I should do, That I can't hold these dreams forever. If I give them now to You Will You take them away forever? Or can I dream again?