What Are You Up To?

I wish I were more disciplined to blog more often. I try to blog at least once a week, but it doesn't always happen. Life happens instead—work projects, fun times, granddaughter activities, church stuff, writers conferences, sleep, doctors' appointments, executor responsibilities, bill paying and budgets. You know the drill.

I'd love to blog more. I know a lot of great charities out there, but I certainly don't know them all. So here's my proposition: If you're involved in a compassion or justice organization, if you volunteer or give or petition or pray, send me an e-mail or comment below. I would love to either write about you or allow you to write a guest blog if you're up for it. And for some of you that I know are involved in cool stuff, I may contact you directly.

If I can't be more disciplined, at least maybe I can delegate. Let the guest bloggers arise!

What's That All About Anyway?

I've been blogging since 2005, and until this year my blog appeared on my website (where you can still access the archives). Maybe you are a newer reader, and you wonder why I called this blog I'm No Superstar. As I wrote my first day on the blog, I chose the title I'm No Superstar because it's true.

I've never been a superstar. I'm good at lots of things, but I am not great at anything, not a superstar. (It was a rude realization for the woman who used to have a poster on her wall that said, "To be good is not enough when you dream of being great.") And maybe you aren't a superstar either. But that's okay. I want us to be whom God made us to be and do the things God called us to do. I want us to discover together how we can make a difference in our world just as average people.

I spent time ten days ago at a writers conference, in a track on compassion, justice and advocacy writing. It was amazing to meet John Perkins, hear Tony Campolo, and interact with people who are on the front lines, leading the justice movement. But honestly, I am not there. I am a foot soldier, and sometimes a reluctant one at that, or really a supply line person. I believe my place is to support those who are in the trenches, whether financially or as a volunteer. 

It's taken me a lot of years to get to the place where I am (mostly) comfortable with being the person God created me to be and doing the work he has given me (including being a rural pastor's wife). I want to allow God to challenge me, I don't want to get lazy or too comfortable, so I read things on compassion and justice, look for opportunities I can be a part of and/or share with others through this blog.

I hope you find it encouraging, especially if you don't consider yourself a superstar either. Help us out; let us know what your favorite justice and compassion ministry is, so the rest of us can check it out. Maybe it’s a place we can shine.

No Care for You

"I'm sorry, we won't be able to see Ashlee anymore." Those aren't the words you want to hear from your child's (or in this case grandchild's) doctor. We're running into a little problem with Ashlee's insurance from Tennessee not translating to Pennsylvania.

I panicked a bit (okay, I had a meltdown on the phone with Les), but God had a sense of humor. Within hours of my call, Joy (our daughter and Ashlee's mom) got a copy of a form that had already been filed asking that the insurance be transferred. So I am hopeful it will be all straightened out soon and we won't be without a doctor for long.

But lack of medical care is a daily reality for millions of people around the world. On my last post I mentioned Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). The organization deploys medical personnel to 60 countries to help those in crisis situations. Child sponsorship organizations like Compassion International and World Vision provide medical care as part of their community programs. World Medical Mission (a division of Samaritan's Purse) sends doctors, dentists and other medical personnel to assist in mission hospitals that need help. 

How can you help others get the care they need? First pray for quality medical care in areas across the globe. (One great way to do this is to pray specifically for countries you read or hear about in the news.) Consider sponsoring a child in another country. Offer to drive people in need of medical services through your church or area social services organization. Encourage parents to sign their uninsured children up for CHIP insurance in their state (here's the PA website; if you are in another state, simply google CHIP and the state name). If you have medical skills, take a short-term trip to volunteer your time. If you have no medical skills, donate to help others go. 

And remember, there but for the grace of God go you and I. So be thankful for the medical care (and insurance) you and your family have. 

Starved for Attention

One of the biggest adjustments to having a 10 year old in the house has been the constant need for attention. I know my husband thinks I talk a lot, but Ashlee makes me seem like a recluse. She wants you to be listening to her whenever you are in the same house, and even if you're not able (or, let's face it, willing) to listen right then, she is busy talking or singing or simply making mouth noises. I'm someone who rarely turns on a radio or a TV, so the constant noise is taking some getting used to!

Kids elsewhere in the world are starved for attention in a different way. Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has created a global campaign called Starved for Attention to call attention to the 195 million children around the world who suffer the effects of malnutrition.

Visit the website, view some of the videos from around the world. Like the one from Bangladesh where mothers think malnutrition is simply a normal part of everyday life. Or read the one from the U.S. that talks first about our WIC program and then about the mush we export as food aid around the world—mush we would never feed our children.

Then sign the petition on the website asking world leaders to ensure that these children are getting fed and fed food that helps them grow well, food filled with nutrition.

Ashlee watched a couple of the videos with me, and even she would have to admit that she is never starved for attention when it comes to getting proper nutrition. We are the fortunate ones. Speak up for those who truly are starving and need our attention.

Owning the Pond

As I prepare for vacation, I am trying to organize my work, figuring out what I have to take along, supplying clients with hotel addresses for FedEx, and generally feeling bummed that I have to worry about work on my vacation. Ah, the joys of owning your own business.

But there are obvious benefits. I can work in my jammies. I set my own hours (though they may be longer than I like when I have a big project). I establish my own prices and get to keep all the profits. I know my own worth. It definitely makes up for the vacation-juggling issues.

I was reminded of that while reading John Perkins' book Beyond Charity: The Call to Christian Community Development. In it he reminds us of the old "give a man a fish/teach a man to fish" principle. And how obviously the teaching is better. But then he says it's not enough. Now, he says, we need "to ask the question: 'Who owns the pond?'"

It's a good question and one that has led to the rise of—and success of—microfinance in fighting poverty. When you own your own business, you're more committed to it. You work hard. You invest in your skills and your business. You treat your customers right because you know you'll lose them if you don't and that affects your bottom line. You're proud of what you accomplish.

Helping people run their own businesses can enable them to rise out of poverty, but it also provides them with dignity and allows them to serve as a role model for others. Many charities working in poverty relief allow you to fund a microloan for as little as $25. Kiva and World Vision allow you to pick the project you want to fund. World Vision provides updates on what your entrepreneur is doing. Kiva allows you to receive your money back when the loan is repaid (or you can reinvest it). Both allow you to give gift certificates so others can choose whose project to fund.

If you have a favorite microfinance site, please include it in the comments section so others know their options. Help others lift themselves out of poverty and enjoy the fruits of their own labors. They're still a long way from having a vacation to worry about.