Blinded by the Light

The light is bright when you look into it and when the light goes out everything looks the same. 

People are much like lights. We don't often look into them. But..when you do look into them, when you really peer into the soul of another human being they burn bright. Its that light that allows each of us to live. The light provides an introspective view of what lies within our own soul. What lies within each of us is given a chance to illuminate but it must first be shined upon. It is that vulnerability that changes the world. When we shut out the light, when we stop looking into people we are blinded by likeness. Likeness kills creativity its shuts out the people that we truly are, unique and vibrant. Avoiding the light does not make you stronger but it simply shuts you off to the unique glow that each of us share. Don't be afraid of the light be afraid of everything that looks the same. Think twice before you avoid the light, think twice before you shut off the light, and always challenge yourself to peer into the light.

Let's Get Real

You continue to be someone you are not. Constantly trying to put on this costume that allows you to be a certain way to those around you and maybe even those you claim to be close to. You do it by default, and now its become something so normal that you have lost who you really are. The mirror reflects a skeleton, a skeleton of the man you used to be. You have starved the real you, becoming an anorexic to reality. Wake up! Start feeding yourself with your unmasked self. Strip off the costume that holds you captive to reality and life. Im talking about being true to who you are, being honest with yourself and those around you, im saying LET'S GET REAL!

The Start of Something Started

Invisible Children (IC) is a beautiful organization and I have found myself believing more and more in what we do. I have always been a huge supporter of IC and let it be known that the integrity of Invisible Children is far above reproach. A few days ago my Ugandan teammates arrived with open arms and humble gratitude. The wonderful Monica and Irene, my Ugandan teammates, have a long history with the conflict in Central Africa. Monica at only 21  years of age has never known a life without war. She is one of 7 siblings and has lost her parents to the LRA. Irene is 33 and a prime example of the potential of the Ugandan people. She is a mentor and an educator and currently working on a book of Ugandan folklore. These lady's after only 2 days have confirmed my reasons for being here. Monica was asked at the air port what she was most excited for on tour. You might expect this little petite African girl, that doesnt look a day over 15, who has never really been outside of the Gulu area till now to mention something to the effect of seeing America. Instead, Monica began to say that she was most excited to  tell  the people that have supported her school and helped her people thank you. After only knowing her for about 30 minute I knew that I was here for the right reasons. Monica has been given the chance to grow to be an educated woman and is excited to return to her country to further that education in university by studying history and religious studies. This is truly going to be a journey. One filled with life and growth. Thankfully for me, this journey has already begun.

Kahlil Gibran on Love

When love beckons to you, follow him, Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.
And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams
as the north wind lays waste the garden.

For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.

Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.
He threshes you to make you naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant;
And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast.

All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life's heart.

But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure,
Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing-floor,
Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.
Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love.

When you love you should not say, "God is in my heart," but rather, "I am in the heart of God."
And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

New Place, New Life

Moving on and moving up! Literally. It was a week ago today that I left Haiti and headed up to I.N.D.I.A.N.A. and it only took 4 days before I moved on. Flying has become a common thing in my life and I have become quite good at it. None the less now I am in California, San Diego to be exact. I have joined the movement, the INVISIBLE CHILDREN movement and am currently in my training as a roadie. Life is basically a whirlwind of new adventures and life's confusions. i have so much to think about now. I am done with college meaning life and the world dangle at my finger tips with anticipation looming all around. But it’s not that easy... and I feel as if every day presents a new idea to my mind making for seemingly endless possibilities or just overwhelming numbers of thoughts that cannot escape from the inner cortexes of my brain. Dreams are important but reality is now and presents its self with other challenges. Every day my mind expands and every day I come closer to the realities of tomorrow. Until then I give you this<--------------

Eyes Wide Open

The city of Port-au-Prince has not been the same since. The devastating earthquake in January has ravished the city reeking havoc all through the streets which can still be seen today. It was not only the streets and buildings that shook, fell, and piled up. As we know hundreds of thousands of brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, friends, and foes shook, fell, and piled up. Almost every one you talk to or even pass in the street has lost someone on that January evening and, or in the days to follow. Today I head stories of two mothers who have passed on leaving behind memories and sorrow. and as I walked down the streets, past the Palace, and through the largest tent city in Port-au-Prince and tried to take it all in I realized that I can’t even come close to comprehending the magnitude of all that has happened here. If the fact that Hundreds of thousands of people have died is not enough and the rubble filled streets and homes is not enough and the thousands of people in tents is not enough then you are faced with the many many people that you pass by that are missing limbs forced to face the affects of 30 seconds of shaking every single day. Hundreds of thousands of people died and hundreds of thousands of people are scarred. It’s a harsh reality that slapped me in the face today.

Taking It All In

Now that my original plans have completely fallen through I am basically making it up as I go. There are a couple ways you can look at this. You can be miserable and think of it as a bad thing or you can view it as an opportunity for new things. As most of you who know me could probably guess, or at least I hope you guessed, I am looking at it as an opportunity for new things. I write to you from Port-au-Prince Haiti in a beautiful home of an affluent Haitian family. Let me tell you a little bit about the last few days. Most of my days have started at 5:00 am with breakfast and work starting at 5:30. The work consists of making water filters. The water filters are made out of cement they are formed and filled with 3 layers gravel, big sand, and then fine sand. There is about 3 inches of water that sits above that at all times which creates the bacteria to kill the viruses and microbes. It is a really great thing for this country. Water is not really hard to find but clean water is not common so this puts clean water in people’s homes. The filters cost 50 us dollars to make this origination sells them for 40 Haitian dollars which is about 5 us dollars. This organization employs only Haitians to make the filters this gives them a job which is scarce in Haiti. Thursday and Friday I was able to go on deliveries. This means I went around to different communities and into peoples homes delivering filters and helping installing them. It’s a humbling experience to enter into a Haitian’s home. Most are very small with cement or dirt floors, one bed, a dinner table, and maybe a few nick nacks. Mostly they have the bare essentials. The children are always curious and sometimes scared of the white guy or blonk that is walking around or in their home. People are awesome here and if given the chance will teach you all they can.

Food, what can I say about the food? Well, first I really like the food it is very good. I have eaten quite a bit of real authentic Haitian food since I have been here. Rice comes with just about every meal and beans are usually quick to follow. Sometimes meat is put with the rice and beans and one of the foods I just tried the other day was with rice and beans and on top they put cooked spinach. Its not like any spinach that I have tried in the states its much different and if you can get past the look and the place that it was cooked it tastes good. One of my favorite foods is fried pork pieces. They are crispy, a little spice and a good flavor. Definitely a favorite.

So, now I have left Clean Water For Haiti and I am in Port-au-Prince for the week. I came here with a lady I met at Clean Water for Haiti who is from Kentucky. She spent a year here back in 2004 teaching at a school and will be here for another 5 weeks. She presented me with the opportunity to join her to experience the culture in Port-au-Prince and if all goes well another city in the north. While I am in Port-au-Prince I will be visiting the school that she taught at as well as experiencing different unique parts of the city. This is an awesome opportunity that I am excited to be able to take part in. Thank you for your support and I will continue to keep you updated on my life.

Peace and Love!