Behind the Thirst

Ok. I am not a seasoned blogger. In my last posting, I reference cutting our athletic club membership and other financial choices we have been pondering. What I didn't make clear is that some of these choices we have made and other's we are considering for the future. I still go to the athletic club. I still love/hate it. I had this thought that if someone see's me at our small town athletic club, they could think me not very truthful. So I say all this for clarity. What I was driving at in the last post was our hearts. It concerns me that my heart is resistant to giving up the athletic club. I want to observe the posture of my heart so that I am not loving anything or anyone more than Jesus.





I was asking Michael what story I should tell next. He reminded me of a picture of him holding a native baby with coffee colored skin and round cheeks. The village men standing around Michael were looking at him as if he was very odd. It is unusual for men in Uganda to hold babies. The women were giggling behind their hands at this foreign guy and the men were shaking their heads. In their culture, men do not show affection and are not very involved in the lives of their children. To see a big white man holding a baby girl was not how they view the role of a man.
That is sad to me It is a beautiful thing to see a man hold a baby. It is a very strong picture of God to me. A contrast in strength and frailty.





Many people in Kapchorwa are becoming lovers of God. It has been a desire of our church to help them be lovers of each other as well. Marriages are often difficult because men do not know how to express love for their wives and children. Michael's hope in holding that lovely baby girl was to bestow honor on her and all children.





Often when we think of the needs of a third world country, we think of the physical needs. They are desperate. They should be addressed first. But is this where it ends? I have witnessed people in our community going to Uganda to attempt to relieve some of the physical needs. What I love is they keep going back and refuse to ignore the needs that are awoken behind the thirst.





And as I contemplate that last line, I wonder..what needs are awoken behind my thirst? And your thirst? For that matter, do we know what our thirst is? We all have a thirst for Jesus that we strive to satiate with people or things less satisfying. I pray this post will have us considering two things. 1 - What would it look like to peer behind the physical needs of those we seek to love? 2 - What is awoken behind our own thirst?





If you go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR_cLbx you watch a video and about 3 minutes in catch a glimpse of my hubby holding a precious baby girl.

Sorely Athirst

Let him who would know the truth of the Maker, become sorely athirst, and drink of the brook by the way - then lift up his heart -to the Inventor and Mediator of thirst and water, that man might foresee a little of what his soul might find in God.


George MacDonald



Notice the shape of the lakes in the above picture? I love that!

I was told by a friend, that I needed to blog about the stories behind The Well Project. It seemed wise. I'd love to get the word out...to build funds for drilling wells. I didn't actually go to Africa. Michael, (my husband and vocalist on the album) and our friend, Andrew (the lead vocalist and musician) were the ones who were able to live that experience. But the experience that I have been able to live...is watching Michael and Andrew come home changed men. Changed by the people, changed by the country, changed by God.

So here is one small story, relayed by these changed men.

We are priviledged to sponser a little girl named Mercy. Mercy is a spunky thing. You get that feel in her letters and Michael could tell by meeting her that she has an intelligence mixed with a strong dignity. We sponser Mercy so she can go to school. Her family cannot afford to send her to school. Mercy's mom is Christine. The stunning thing about Christine, is that in her poverty, she has begun a non-profit organization, Mercy Ministries, which provides milk to those in her village of Kapchorwa who cannot afford it. Christine and Mercy, along with the rest of their family, live in a hut with a dirt floor. Their clothes are clean but very worn. They have no luxuries. No luxuries. Barely enough to get by on. Yet they have something to offer. They provide milk to those who need it. I know I'm repeating myself. It is because I am truly in awe of such beauty.

In this economy, Michael and I have been talking finances - what can we cut? What luxuries do we afford ourselves that we can do without? There are some that are obvious. No more latte's, no more eating out, or buying clothes that are frivolous. But there are other things that feel like they have strings to my heart. Like, cutting the athletic club membership. Ouch. That hurts. I love that place. (Well, actually it is a love/hate relationship). Or not allowing ourselves to get a babysitter for date nights. These things I give up with a less than gracious heart. And the rub is this - I am only benefitting my family. I am giving up luxuries for food and necessaties so my family will not suffer. I am not like Christine who creates a non - profit for those in her community whose basic needs are not met. I do wonder, however, what do I have to offer? Needs are often physical, but at times it is poverty of heart that afflicts us more.

It may sound like I am beating myself up. I am not. God is not either. Thank goodness. But I am concious of the posture of my heart. As the above quote mentions, I want to become sorely athirst for Jesus. I know that what flows out of a heart athirst for Jesus is beauty like Christine's. I want the strings of my heart cut clean so that I willingly give up anything for Jesus.

O Inventor and Mediator of water that makes men thirst no more, come here into my heart. Flood me with thirst for you and teach me how to lift to you my heart. Let living your justice and being your Mercy be something that pours out me because I am in love with you. Amen.