Walk Into Life

Follow a river to a road, or a road to a river. Fall asleep where the sky meets the earth. Find the light under a tree. Dream, so that the world continues to change. Laugh, so that when it changes, you do not stumble. Cry, because you will, even if you try not to. Forgive, because you too have fallen short. Believe, because faith gives birth to tomorrow. Defend the strong, for they are those perceived as weak. Speak, but watch your tongue, it can brighten or darken your world. Smile, because it will make the moment better. Watch, because you will see. Listen, because you were meant to learn. Teach, because there is something only you know. Pray, because there is something you do not know. Celebrate, because blessings come to open hearts. Love, because you are loved. Share, because nothing is solely yours. Follow a river to a road, or a road to a river. Look up, see the sky, remember you are both great and small, genius and fool, beauty and imperfection. Close your eyes, say thank you. Open your eyes, put one foot in front of the other and move forward into life.

Complexities of Love

Sometimes the fireflies come out at night and we catch a glimpse of who we used to be. We remember a time before love changed us, when magic could be captured in a jar and we were responsible only for ourselves. Nostalgic, we run around in the dark, childishly chasing a mystery. We laugh and stumble until tiny wings flutter between our aging palms. Then we peek inside our hands and strangely, we see ourselves there, struggling to be free. Instantly remorseful, we release our captive into the night sky. We turn back to our richly layered lives, never to unlearn the complexities of loving and being loved in return.

Love, in all its forms, is life's greatest gift. Romantic love is more than the chemistry and excitement generated between two people. When we truly love another and enter into marriage, our spouse's imperfections and struggles become our own. We vow to become one and put their needs before our fleeting desires. As God loves us, we learn to love our spouse. This is a challenge, it takes work and sacrifice, but it is the most beautiful thing in the world, not to be taken for granted.

"Women hold up half the sky."
Mao Tse Tung

If you are a woman, I recommend you read “Half the Sky” by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn. The book will change the way you look at your life. Pulitzer Prize winners Kristof and Wudunn expose human rights violations against women throughout the developing world. The stories are harsh but true.
Everyday:
Women and girls are kidnapped; then thrown violently into the sex trade where they are beaten and drugged into submission.
Women die unecessarily in childbirth or suffer life altering injuries due to insufficient medical care.
Women are beaten to death or set on fire for disobeying the men or matriachs in their lives.
Women are gang raped in the streets and then shunned by their families for being unclean, often leading them to commit suicide.
These are just some of the injustices girls as young as three endure. Worse yet, such acts aren’t even considered criminal. Forced prostitution, rape, domestic violence and honor killings are seen as part of the culture.
After reading "Half the Sky," I will never again look at my life the same way. American women, do not take your freedoms for granted. Women around the world need our help.
Please read the book. If some of the stories are to difficult to take, read what you can. The authors urge readers to get involved and help in some small way. Education is the pathway to change.

Go to www.halftheskymovement.org