There’s a lot of hurt in our world, and with all the negativity, deception, and pain vowing for our attention, it can feel like the world is literally falling around us. There’s hate, violence, and nasty words online, in the media, and in our streets…It’s true…The hurt is real, but we DO have the capacity […]

Considering this is the time of year we planned to be in Haiti, I’ve been reflecting a lot recently on our last two visits…and since this would have been the first story you would’ve received upon our return, I’m sharing those reflections with you! (Based on the number of times this topic comes up, I think it’s really important too – I hope this helps you!)

Upon returning last year I was asked something of the sort, “How do you deal with the emotions of seeing poverty firsthand and then coming back to the comfortable life we have here in America?”

Essentially, this question is getting at the topic of guilt, and it’s actually something that comes up quite frequently in my discussions with others. On the surface, it seems reasonable and quite easy to feel guilty for living a life different than those of many others around the world. It’s something I’ve wrestled with myself for years, however, I’ve learned there’s freedom in going deeper with that feeling – going past guilt and on into a deeper understanding of poverty.

That was fast. The world has suddenly shifted, and we don’t yet know what the outlook will be in our lives…As we’ve watched this global health crisis unfold, we’ve seen a temporary shift in vulnerability to encompass the whole world. Suddenly, we’ve all become vulnerable (or is it that our vulnerability has become exposed?), and it’s been heart-wrenching to watch the number of ways an invisible enemy like a virus can affect all of humanity.

We’re seeing families here at home move from being financially stable to filing for unemployment basically overnight. Businesses are applying for loans to stay afloat, restaurants are closing, our elderly family members are suddenly at-risk, and so much more…It brings me to tears just thinking about the magnitude of it all. And as I watch our own country and other developed nations struggle, I can’t help but turn my gaze, for a moment, toward all the different at-risk populations, people, and countries with vulnerabilities that pre-existed what we’re battling now.

If we, who are relatively healthy and well cared for, struggle to help ourselves amidst all of this, how can nations or populations already living in the margins survive such a crisis? It’s a question I can’t get out of my head, because the answer could be devastating.

Where is Lovelight stories headed in 2020?…It’s the first of many questions I’m hearing from all of you! Luckily, I’m ready to answer that question – with a lot of enthusiasm too, because of the potential I see in Lovelight stories in the coming years! While sharing my long-term vision is something I know you’ve asked for (and is a deep desire of mine too), it’s one that will come in the next few months. This is the first story of a series uncovering the story within Lovelight stories…one I’m uncovering for myself in a deeper way, and sharing with you as clarity continues to surface. So, in true Lovelight stories fashion, this is a journey we truly ARE taking together, and I’m so grateful you’ve continued to join me. We’re just getting started, and I CANNOT WAIT for what we’ll do together!