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Kingdom Come

I haven't wanted to read anything this month.  I've been exhausted with a husband out-of-town for 10 days, a four-year old that has begun lashing out in anger whenever he doesn't get his way, my cold that hasn't gone away for over a week, and nursing a burn I gave myself while pouring myself boiling-hot coffee.  My normal outlet for peace is usually to find a good spot to curl up and read a good book.  For some reason, I haven't even wanted to do this.  (Probably because I feel like I should be reading some of my good parenting books, but I don't want to think about parenting when I'm taking a "break" from parenting when the kids are in bed).

First-World Problems....  The "argh! I can't do what I like because I have two living wonderful children who need me to help them.  And pity me - I have a mess in my house right now - you know, that structure with four sturdy walls and a roof that keeps us safe from the weather and other dangers. And of course it's messy with dirty dishes from the hot meal that we had for dinner so our bellies won't go hungry tonight, and the living room is cluttered from the amazing toys my blessed kids get to play with instead of digging around in a landfill for food or things they can sell for money."

We are so blessed.

I'm tired.  But my tiredness comes from dealing with squabbles, making meals, homeschooling my kids, managing my house, and getting over my (relatively minor) sickness.  And yet, my stomach is full.  In a few moments, I'll be retiring to my queen-sized comfortable bed next to my loving husband who provides for our family.  I'm not going to sleep on a cold mat wondering when my next meal will be and working endlessly for a few dollars a day, if that.

Yet, so many people are that desperate.

I'm not sure how much longer I can do this.  Sometimes I think my life is hard, and then I realize how completely wrong I am.  There are people being killed just because of their ethnicity in places all over the world.  They never know if they or their loved ones will live another day.  They are forced out of their homes and unable to return.

I can't sit by idly.  I need to do something.

 I'm not sure what that is yet, but I don't think it can be from my lovely home in Seattle.

Phil and I watched a documentary tonight on the plight of the Karen people in Burma.  These people were promised their own land at the end of WWII, but that never happened.  As a result, the Burmese have been trying to kill them off saying that someday the only place you'll ever see a Karen in Burma is in a museum.  They have committed terrible atrocities to these people.  Many Karen have fled to Thailand and many others are internally displaced.  These people have nothing.  Nothing.  And yet they fight on for their freedom and hope for a future.

Watch the video.  Pray for these people.  Be willing to be emotionally vulnerable to the marginalized.  And then pray again.

Lord, may your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.
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