Twists and Turns

My heart has been on quite a journey today. Things have slowed down to a manageable pace at work, so I'm finally catching up on a few projects. One of those projects was to review some new materials we've collected for our lending library on the topic of human trafficking. I watched two videos by Shared Hope International. One was a documentary on Demand called simply, DEMAND. The line I remember best and I'll paraphrase here - "There are lots of good things we can and should do to end human trafficking. But sex trafficking would stop if one thing happened, and that's if men stopped buying sex." The more I learn about the crime of human trafficking, the more I'm convinced that we need to stop the demand. That's the only way we're going to end modern day slavery once and for all. And for that, we have to wake up to the reality and talk about it.

I then watched a shorter training video on domestic minor sex trafficking that was absolutely heart breaking. Both videos are well made but heavy, just as the topic is heavy. There's a condensed version of DEMAND which is shorter and less graphic but just as powerful. You can both on the Shared Hope website.

After work I went to the opening of a new house at the Jubilee Women's Center. Jubilee was started 25 years ago by 3 Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. Jubilee provides safe, affordable and long-term transitional housing for women in Seattle. Jubilee also provides case management, life skills and technology training. Referrals come to Jubilee from homeless shelters, domestic violence programs, social service agencies, hospitals, churches, and the Community Crisis Line. Many of the women have been victims of domestic violence. Odds are, some have been victims of trafficking over the course of their life. They are all working and rebuilding their lives---Jubilee gives them a safe base from which to do this. The new house they've opened has seven additional rooms. It was built with the help of some everyday folks who wanted to help these women as they build their lives anew. I'm glad I went to the opening, both to support Jubilee which is one of our sponsored ministries, and to thank all of the people who had a hand in the creation of this new house.

I also spent the day in part (in my heart at least) with a friend who lost her job and another friend who lost her cat to a long illness. As I said at the beginning of this post, my heart was on a journey today.

When I came home tonight, it was still daylight outside. The flowers are still blooming here at St. Mary-on-the-lake, and I'm beginning to feel like I live in the midst of a botanical garden. I decided to take advantage of my surroundings and walked the labryinth. On my journey through the twists and turns of this walking meditation, I held the stories of the women in the videos, the stories of the women at Jubilee, the stories of the men and women working to help women and men live lives of hope and freedom, the stories of my friends who have lost jobs or loved ones or beloved animals. I breathed in the pain and sorrow, I breathed out hope and love.

Life has its twists and turns to be sure. But what a gift that we have each other on the journey. What a gift that our hearts are heavy with sorrow, inspiring us to work for justice, inspiring us to reach out and be the face of God for each other. We twist and turn together on this journey called life. Really, I think, that's what it means to be Church. The Body of Christ. Together.

Those are my deep thoughts for this heart filled day.

Peace