Full to Overflowing

Hi, I'm Tiffany.  I used to write posts for this blog. I'm just a little bit busy. This is not the only neglected relationship or responsibility of mine. It stands in line with other things suffering.

This is actually a very rich time in my life right now.  My head is spinning with all I have to do, but also with sheer amazement at the meaningful things I get to be involved in at the moment. It gets difficult when I have to choose one great thing over another great thing going on simultaneously.

We hosted girls from Uganda again last week.  It was a beautiful experience, just as it was last time.  My kids shined.  I can't really explain that, except to say that sometimes I find myself in awe when the depth of their character shows itself.  I felt guilty, however.  Other families were able to drop everything and really show their guests a great time (like we did last spring).  We are in a season where we are so busy I almost said we couldn't host.  We loved every minute of our time with them, but I found myself hoping they didn't feel as if they got a raw deal getting assigned to us.  You don't have to tell me this was a dumb way for me to feel.  But I did feel that way.

My boss actually let me off Thursday night so that I could be a part of the pre-concert meal my teen missions group (another wonderful thing I get to be a part of - I was so proud of our team that night!) was putting on for the choir, and I was able to enjoy the performance and say good-bye to the girls we hosted.  I knew, however, that I was missing a powerful meeting at work.  Just like I knew I was missing good time with the girls when I was doing powerful things at work.  I found out it was an unbelievably productive meeting that night.  One of my pet projects laced throughout my work in Syracuse has been addressing the ineptitude of the bus system.  Two representatives from Centro came to the Coalition meeting (yeah, I haven't told you about the fabulous work Visions For Change does on a macro level yet...) and really listened to concerns.

I was tempted to be upset that I missed ... but I was really glad I went to the Ugandan choir's performance.  And then it hit me.  Do you know how lucky you are, girl, to be a part of so many amazing things?  It doesn't matter if I missed the meeting - it happened.  It's something that is important to me.  And I will be able to continue to be a part of that discussion and that change.

I have always, always wanted to really do something about poverty.  All kinds.  Lately I've been able to be a part of witnessing byTavi catch like wildfire in Syracuse, and was part of an event that raised over $2,000 for those women.  I've seen the winds of change blowing in Syracuse and agencies working together like never before to remove barriers to families struggling to climb out of poverty.  I've seen change in individual's lives who I work with.  I've watched people throw themselves into caring for AIDS orphans across the ocean. My own children are in the thick of this too, throwing their own punches at poverty and discrimination.

Blows. Me. Away. I know what it means to have my heart be overflowing.