Author: Teresa Norman

Married to the love of my life and my partner in everything for almost 42 years, proud mother of three amazing adults, grandmother of some high energy little angels. Grateful child of God.

Fishers of men…

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I’m really glad Jesus hung out with fishermen and chose them on purpose(especially since I’m married to one).  Fishing is not necessarily a real cerebral kind of thing-not  theologically complex, and nowdays not always even politically correct.  However, it’s a very real, tangible, practical and ” in this world while still being part of the other one” kind of thing. 

Fishermen spend a LOT of time and energy (and money) and care getting their nets ready.  Certain kinds of nets fish best in certain waters for certain kinds/sizes of fish….nowdays there’s lots of rules to all this Jesus and the guys probably didn’t have to deal with:)  For the past several months we’ve had a garage full of cork line (corks spaced on a line every so many inches), weed line (I think it helps keep weeds from getting in the net?), lead line (holds the net down so the fish can swim into it and get stuck) and several piles of net.  All of this had to be hung (put together) into the appropriate configuration.   A lot of work and several days later it is now loaded into the holds on the boat. 

Why so much work on the net?  It’s all about how fish look at it.  Is it the right color to go with the water they’re in?  Does it ripple right in the water so it’s not conspicuous-does it seem like it naturally belongs there?  The net is really important ’cause it’s a tool to catch the fish, and fishing is definitely about the fish-not the fisherman. 

But as I was watching the final stages of this operation, I thought about Jesus calling some fishermen to be “fishers of men” and follow Him.  And I thought about how if the net doesn’t look “natural” in the water, fish run away from it.  Nobody likes to think of themselves as a fish someone is trying to catch, but some of the evangelism schemes I grew up hearing sure seemed like nets I would have (did!) run from. Lots of hype, pressure, glitz etc.  Nowdays we’re more politically correct and sensitive, but I guess I’m coming to the thought that God knows what fish are made of.  He knows what we are made of, and it’s OK to reach people in ways that are natural-not contrived. 

There are people in my life that I deeply want to see know God’s love.   I don’t know how God makes that happen.  But I think I see some parallels: the need for boyancy (corks), depth (lead line), keeping the weeds out of my life (weed line),  and hanging in the water in a way that is natural-not contrived.  You can learn a lot from fishermen. 

Standing here beside the ocean

Staring at the sea

Wondering how the God who made all this

Could still choose me

And yet, I hear your voice, Lord,

Even as in days of old

Promising a harvest-

More than my net can hold.

 “Cast your net into the water

Put your trust in Me.

Diverse fish in diverse places-

Trust Me and you’ll see.

It ain’t over yet, My child.

The best is still to come.

As I always have,

I still hang out with fishermen.”

 (From a dream, 8/3/01)

If We Are His Body…..

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It surprised me to see all the theological chatter when I tried to look up this poem.  In my simple way, I hadn’t seen this famous poem as being all that complicated.  Rather, I saw it as somewhat awe-inspiring and humbling that God would trust us with being “laborers together with Him” in the world….

 Christ Has No Body

“Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which He looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which He blesses all the world….”

 Some of the theological chatter said it was blasphemy-that it implied that Christ didn’t ascend to heaven in a transformed body…..bla bla bla.  In my humble opinion, I don’t think the author was trying to yank someone’s chain.  I think she/he/they (there’s some debate on authorship) was trying to make a significant, complex, mind-boggling mystery real, tangible and practical to those of us without MDvs. 

A friend’s blog posed the question recently, “What are you praying for?”  I guess I am praying to recognize Christ in the many ways He shows up- not just in the Bible, or in church, but at work, in the grocery store, on the street, on the docks, at friend’s houses, in the people I meet each day.  I am praying to reflect to those He connects me with that their lives have value because He made them with a purpose and has plans for their good!  I am praying to learn to live out my faith in ways that reflect the miracle that God uses broken human beings to help make grace real.  I am praying that I will learn to be part of the solution and not the problem in the lives of those I am called to love….As I seek to be present in the moment with some friends facing difficult transitions, I pray above anything, “God, teach me to love.”

Nobel Prize Winner On Trial

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The trial of Aung San Suu Kyi  continues.  She is accused of harboring a man who broke into her home and refused to leave.  For this “crime” she could receive up to five years in prison.  Coincidentally, this would get her out of the illegal governement’s way while the sham election takes place in 2010.  Coincidence, or part of the government’s plan?

The illegal government (which makes having an uninvited, unreported overnight house guest a crime and commits crimes against humanity, not fearing any reaction stronger than more words from Asean or the UN), has allowed some diplomats and some journalists (without cameras) to be present for the moment.

Aung San Suu Kyi and more than 2100 other political prisoners remain inprisoned for crimes such as trying to help those who suffered from the devastation of Cyclone Nargis, or participating in protests against the regime that has used raped, murder, forced relocation, and forced labor against them for decades.

Nobel Prize Winner Taken to Prison

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Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested and taken to prison because an uninvited American swam across a lake and stayed at her house, refusing to leave.  Coincidence?  Or set up by the Burmese government– an excuse to extend her illegal detention, which was set to expire?  The Nobel Prize winner, who has spent more than 11 of the last 19 years under house arrest, has been taken to Insein prison to await trial.  (see details).

Burma Campaign UK has a letter writing link set up…please speak out.  She is the victim, not the criminal.  She could spend the rest of her life in prison because of this incident.  Please ask the UN to send high level envoys to request her release and that of other political prisoners.  She has already spent 13 years and 202 days in detention and committed no crime.  Her detention has been declared illegal under international law.  As she has said before, “Please use your freedom to speak for ours.”

Legacy (poetic & personal)

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Legacy

There’s a little girl in a country church
Watching Daddy today
Wondering why he lifts his hands
And tears fall as he prays….
She’s still too young to understand
How her Daddy’s heart does break
As he’s praying for the wisdom
He knows raising her will take…..

Father God, he’s asking you
For wisdom from above
To write a living legacy
In the heart of the ones he loves….
Let his life, his words, his prayers
Show them how much their Maker cares
And teach them they are precious in your sight.
Help them to walk in your light.

The little girl is older now
With children of her own.
Life hasn’t always been easy
But there’s something she’s always known….
She knows there’s a God in heaven
Who has a plan for good
For her and for her children,
Just like Daddy prayed she would…..
 
Now Father God, she’s asking you
For wisdom from above
To write a living legacy
In the heart of the ones she loves….
Let her life, her words, her prayers
Show them how much their Maker cares
And teach them they are precious in your sight.
Help them to walk in your light…

**************************************************************

Any other accomplishment, goal, task, project or pleasure isn’t gonna mean much if I blow it on passing on God’s hope to those I love.  My prayer probably every day for the last six years in particular (since moving to Seattle) has been, “God, teach me how to make time for people,” but even while praying that, I keep taking on more tasks, which take more time, which mean less available opportunity to build relationships….

I love doing practical things and would much rather act than just have a meeting and further discussion.  But sometimes I’m way over the edge on how many practical things I think I can take on. 

Right now I’m reevaluating a lot of things (tasks/projects/committments)and trying to mindfully, intentionally learn invest in the things that are really important (people!).  Grateful, in the words of Philippians 1:6 that “He who began a good work in my life will carry it on to completion….” I’m definitely a work in process (and not always enjoying the process!)

While the generals prosper…..

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While oil revenue goes up and you build a brand new capital, you plunder your nation and send the people deeper and deeper into poverty; health care is neglected, rebuilding after the cyclone is a shell game, and education gets next to nothing…only the generals get rich……this commentary in Mizzima news explains the shell game of the Burmese generals and international aid….so FULL of contradictions!

Raising Funds for Food

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Mae Ra Mo Bible SchoolIt’s harder to ignore a news story or a set of uncomfortable facts when it’s about people you’ve met in places you’ve been.  It becomes personal, not theoretical.  When I asked Steve (World Aid director) today, what would be the best use of any funds raised through a joint benefit some friends from the Quest Life Together Group are sponsoring May 9th, he had an answer ready.  “There are 100 Bible School students at Mae Ra Moe camp who need money for food.  Rations have been cut again through Thai Burma Border Consortium due to lack of funds.  What would it take to feed them?  

truetodeath

The bare minimum:
1 person per 30 days:
1 tin of rice  400 baht,
 salt, fish paste, lentils 400 baht =  Total 800 baht
(present exchange rate = 34.87 to the $) = $22.94 per person per month                  

That’s not much, if you have it.  If you don’t, it’s a lot.

Mother Theresa said, “If you can’t feed everyone, feed one.” 

(Pictures were from a trip to that camp in 2003 where we got to attend a Bible School graduation at Ma Rae Mo.  Many of the graduating students were going back into Burma to bring hope and encouragement to their people).

Domestic Violence Escape Plan

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Domestic violence kills people. The following link to a  Domestic Violence Escape Plan  is frighteningly real.  The rules of logic or civilized behavior do not  apply when someone is battering and abusing the people they should be caring for.  It’s hard to decide the “rules of engagement” for this kind of domestic terrorisim.  Someonetimes retreat is the most reasonable option, but retreat to a safe place. 

Yesterday I watched friends deal with an ongoing domestic violence situation.  They had helped a woman and her  kids get to a safe place, and for that service, her husband was threatening to kill them.  I was struck by the similarities between a pastor (shepherd) and a soldier….both on watch, facing risk while protecting their people from those who come to destroy.  As a kid who grew up where violence and abuse of different kinds were commonplace, I was/am moved beyond words to see church leaders like my friends who will stand up, stand in the gap, and say, “No.  Not on my watch, ” instead of taking the easy way out, blaming the victim, or pretending it will all “work out.”    

While abuse degrades, humiliates and makes people unaware of the power and choices they have to affect the outcomes of their lives, care like this, empowers, instructs, encourages and shepherds people.  Some of the most powerful words in English are “I have a choice.”  Those being abused have a choice to get help (hard choice, but God given), abusers have a choice to stop (in that moment before they choose to hurt people they are supposed to love and care for, there is time to stop….it is always a choice)…..the only ones with no choice are the kids, if no one will stand against in the gap for them.

Pastor Deanza did a really good post on some of the statistics on domestic violence….and Dani Moss has a good site with an extensive amount of resources for those trying to find their way  through these issues from a faith perspective.

Rape as A Weapon of War (video)

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Responding to rape in Congo….. this five minute video clip shows how women are helping each other.  Another video clip by CNN, tells more.  

Heal Africa is working to help rebuild lives and communities.  Harper McConnell, US Development Director of Heal Africa, has written a three part series on the response to rape in DR Congo.  (click here)

Article on response to rape in Chin area of Burma…(click here)

Roll Call of Angels

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I love angels….not the cute little cherub type  guys with white wings or harps, but the real life practical kind who do all kinds of creative things to help refugees get resettled in our lovely metropolitan area:

Minhee: the “taking dinner to a refugee who’s not feeling well” angel

Kate:  the “tutoring girls, bringing friends, mentoring and networking like crazy, be back in June, helping a single dad, going to Goodwill to help organize a household for the newly arrived” angel

Mona & Rosie: the “cell phone translation, we speak your language (literally) and can help you communicate with others what’s going on in this new world called America and bring groceries and teach you where to shop and check on other issues, mentoring a family” angels

Jenny: the “set up getting girls in school, interact with and arrange ESL classes, take father to emergency medical appointments, get furniture that fits a really small apartment (loft beds are great!), check in with the family regularly” angel

Steve: the “translation by cell phone covering three different languages” angel

Dale: the “arranging tutoring schedule for all three family members” angel

Chad & Melinda: the “let me give you some books of bus passes” angels

My husband: the “you are welcome  in my heart and my home, I will include you in my life,  help connect you to a community of people, and take you on some adventures whenever I get a chance” angel

Eunice: the “doing creative expression projects with the girls and giving Dad a break” angel

Ginny: the “welcome to my house, let’s play soccer, balloon volleyball in the living room, treat you like a little sister, above and beyond expectations” angel

Janelle: the “take you to the aquarium with some friends to hold starfish and see Seattle” angel

Tina & Linda: the “Sunday School in your language, translation by cell-phone, welcome to America, we were new once too” angels

This list is not finished…will work on it some more later, but just some examples of creative ways normal average people can help welcome strangers, pick up where the job of resettlement agencies end, and sometimes entertain angels unaware….

World Water Day

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World Water Day is today, this year highlighting transboundary water, the places in the world where ownership of water rights and the need for access to clean water can mean the difference between life and death for you and your kids.  Check it out.  According to the Irrawaddy, drinking water is still a crisis in the delta area where Cyclone Nargis devastated parts of Burma a year ago.  One of the organizations  working in creative ways in Southeast Asia is Thirst Aid.