September 2024 - Outside the bubble

The days fly by. Sometimes I forget what has happened in the last month. Days blend together. Interactions with others come and go. Just trying to keep going on the perpetual treadmill, careful to walk straight and keep the pace. 

I find myself most stressed when I don't surrender everything to God. God, you can have these hours of my life, but not those hours. I'll sacrifice this part of my life, but not that part.

The past few weeks, I feel unworthy to stress about the little things, because I've encountered so many that have been going through way worse. The two hurricanes that came through Florida caused schools in Jacksonville to close on two separate occasions, disrupting the routine and apparently making me parent nonstop; there were people who lost their lives, homes, livelihoods in those storms.

I saw a friend crying in church whose friend had died that morning.

I know someone whose sibling got convicted for something that will ruin the next chapter of his life.

I saw an older thin man late at night by the church looking on the street for any scraps of food or change.

I'm grateful that I get to work at a place that has been a safe bubble for so many over the years. However, I'm not oblivious to the pain and hurt that can easily be found in the corners of our community. I'm reminded that my "routine", however used to it I've become, is probably doing more than appears on the surface.

In September, we partnered with the Center for Children's Rights and had a mental health day at the garden for the community. My guess it that we probably had between 30-40 people.

At 252, kids enjoyed themselves making slime, painting hexagonal stones for our garden path, making it look just a little more inviting to walk amongst the plants.

BLOCK's monthly theme of "Who I Am?" allowed students to be creative with making Open Court flyers by themselves, which we'll utilize throughout the year. They also took a strengths finders test and painted self-portraits.

Getting the students to know who they are in God's eyes and how they can impact their community is the hope I have for their future, because I see God's heart in that. I believe God wants them to see how their redeemed lives can be used for his glory.

Please pray for me not to ignore what's outside the bubble, to be present where I'm supposed to be present. Please pray that God would show me his heart once again for his people who often get ignored that are right in front of me.