Sometimes we forget how important our lives are. How every breath matters. How every thought impacts those around us, contributing to the good or the suffering of others.
Right now, we are facing a major humanitarian crisis that is affecting millions of people. It's easy to get overwhelmed when we think about this politically or try to understand the horrible violence or ideologies such as ISIS. The reality is many things; war, gross violations of human rights, drownings (as people try to flee to safety), children dying, too many lives being destroyed, fear, corruption and so on. What is the root of this? How can we possibly make sense of any of this? I think as people, our vision is limited, our understanding inadequate, and our beliefs so closely tied to our own experiences.
Yet the one thing that binds us all, the one thing I can continuously bring my mind to is our shared humanity, to ubuntu; the reality that we all belong to one another. We are all one body, and in my own belief, created in the image of God. A God that is love, a God that is abundant, a God that is redeeming, a God that is forgiving, a God that restores, renews and always sees the full picture. A God that loves each of us the same and gives to all who seek. A love that is not based on what we do or don’t do, a love that is beyond our performance, our mistakes, our achievements, a love that is mightier than life itself, a love that created all of life. Ultimately this is where I rest and find hope.
Whether or not you find your hope in this source of love, I think we can all agree that we are all human; we all have heartbeats, we all bleed the same color, we all laugh, we all cry, we all have dreams, we all have families, we are all kin.
Right now, we are facing a major humanitarian crisis that is affecting millions of people. It's easy to get overwhelmed when we think about this politically or try to understand the horrible violence or ideologies such as ISIS. The reality is many things; war, gross violations of human rights, drownings (as people try to flee to safety), children dying, too many lives being destroyed, fear, corruption and so on. What is the root of this? How can we possibly make sense of any of this? I think as people, our vision is limited, our understanding inadequate, and our beliefs so closely tied to our own experiences.
Yet the one thing that binds us all, the one thing I can continuously bring my mind to is our shared humanity, to ubuntu; the reality that we all belong to one another. We are all one body, and in my own belief, created in the image of God. A God that is love, a God that is abundant, a God that is redeeming, a God that is forgiving, a God that restores, renews and always sees the full picture. A God that loves each of us the same and gives to all who seek. A love that is not based on what we do or don’t do, a love that is beyond our performance, our mistakes, our achievements, a love that is mightier than life itself, a love that created all of life. Ultimately this is where I rest and find hope.
Whether or not you find your hope in this source of love, I think we can all agree that we are all human; we all have heartbeats, we all bleed the same color, we all laugh, we all cry, we all have dreams, we all have families, we are all kin.
If we focus on this, can we experience more love, more compassion? Less fear, less weight? Can we imagine the people fleeing Syria as our own family? Can we imagine walking hundreds of miles in the shoes of a refugee? Can we image the woman on TV as our own mother, or sister, the child as our own?
If you can imagine this, it doesn’t mean you are responsible to fix these problems. It doesn’t mean you have to go there and tangibly show this love, although it might.
If you can imagine this, it doesn’t mean you are responsible to fix these problems. It doesn’t mean you have to go there and tangibly show this love, although it might.
 | Your prayers and your thoughts are powerful, they are needed and so important. Change the way you think and you’ll change the way you see, which will change the way you act. Love is needed now and always. If we can just focus on the humanity of what is going on in our world and fill our hearts and minds with love that is enough. |
The support and encouragement Brian and I have received from so many these last two weeks over our decision to go to Greece and serve has been like a gentle wave of hope washing over us; reminding us of the good in humanity, reminding us that so many people do care and are willing to contribute to this crisis; some financially, some with encouragement and prayers. Don’t feel pressure by the enormity of the world’s problems, just choose love, moment by moment; love for yourself, love for your family, your neighbor, love for the entire world.
The more you choose love the more you will experience love and slowly slowly (as they say here in Thailand) the world will be filled with gentle waves of love, healing and washing over all.
The more you choose love the more you will experience love and slowly slowly (as they say here in Thailand) the world will be filled with gentle waves of love, healing and washing over all.
| If you want to learn more about our response to this Refugee Crisis or help make it possible for us to volunteer there you can check out the short video below and our campaign here. Alongside this campaign Brian has released a 4 track EP, ‘Spirit Song’ that he recorded here in Thailand. The songs were gifts and I believe they have the capacity to heal, comfort and inspire. You can download it for free here and if you’d like to leave a tip it will go towards our service in Greece at the Refugee Camps. |  |
May we all experience more peace, more light, more unity, more love in this year to come.
With everlasting hope,
Brian and Katie Ernst
With everlasting hope,
Brian and Katie Ernst
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