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Printed from https://shop.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/4623
Spiritual: September 21, 2011 Issue [#4623]

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Spiritual


 This week: Make a Difference
  Edited by: SophyBells Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

Hi, I'm SophyBells Author Icon ~ your editor for this edition of the Spiritual Newsletter. This week we'll talk about how we can help change the world for the better with our writing, using the example of how some "blogging" moms are making a difference.

The Rev. Scotty McLennan, author of the book "Finding Your Religion," compares humanity's innate need for spiritual searching to climbing a mountain. In his view, we are all endeavoring to climb the same figurative mountain in our search for the divine, we just may take different ways to get there. In other words, there is one "God," but many paths. I honor whatever path or paths you have chosen to climb that mountain in your quest for the Sacred. *Smile*


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Letter from the editor

It Only Takes ONE


Last month I heard a story on NPR's "Morning Edition"  Open in new Window. about the struggle facing parents on the famine-ravaged eastern African continent, particularly in Somalia. I find it particularly heartbreaking how many mothers are leaving behind husbands and other children in Somalia to seek help for the sickest one in Kenya, some walking 10, 20 days, without shelter, without food. Tragically, news stories like this have been much too common in recent months, as we hear over and over about the "Sophie's Choice"-like decisions faced by parents, such as leaving a dying child on the side of the road while they continue their journey to seek help for the healthier ones who may have more of a chance to survive, a choice no parent should ever have to make. But parents are making it, all too often, as they relentlessly pursue help for their starving, ailing children.

A group of ten American moms from around the country, gathered by an international advocacy group called ONE for a trip to Africa, experienced the situation firsthand. "ONE"  Open in new Window. is a grassroots advocacy and campaigning organization that fights extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa, by raising public awareness and pressuring political leaders to support smart and effective policies and programs that are saving lives, helping to put kids in school and improving futures. Cofounded by U2's Bono, ONE is nonpartisan and works closely with African activists and policy makers. "Backed by a movement of more than 2.5 million ONE members, ONE achieves change through advocacy. We hold world leaders to account for the commitments they've made to fight extreme poverty, and we campaign for better development policies, more effective aid and trade reform. We also support greater democracy, accountability and transparency to ensure policies to beat poverty are implemented effectively. ONE is not a grant-making organization and we do not solicit funding from the general public. As we have always said, at ONE, 'we're not asking for your money, we're asking for your voice.'" (from the web site)

The "ONE Moms" traveled to Kenya in July to witness the reality of the situation. Here's part of a story about them from ABC News. By BROOKE LUXENBERG ABC NEWS:

At any other time, San Francisco mom Amy Graff would be thinking about sending her kids to summer camp, keeping them out of the sun, and saving them from the perils of the deep end. But this summer, she's in Kenya, Africa, and her worries are completely different. "All I could think was, 'Please don't be positive. Please don't be positive,'" blogged Amy Graff on Baby Center last week. "As we waited for the results of an HIV test given to two children, ages 3 and 5, I was terrified. I found myself praying ... 'Please, God. Please, God. I know you haven't heard from me in a while, but please, don't let it happen' ... Then second lines ran across the [test] strips. My heart sank."

Graff is one of 10 American mom bloggers who recently traveled to Kenya on a weeklong trip with the ONE campaign to write about the joys and sorrows of mothers who live half a world away in Kenya. They met HIV-positive mothers testing their children for the virus, saw the dramatic difference a malaria vaccine could make in the lives of Kenyan women and children, and met health care workers who bike, or walk, miles to reach their patients. Then, they shared their experiences with their hundreds of thousands of readers back in the U.S. For all the differences, the similarities were what really hit home for many of the American women. As blogger Jyl Pattel wrote, "When I asked a cute African mom what her greatest challenge was, I predicted her answer would be 'Keeping my children alive.' What I heard instead was the same thing I'm concerned with: 'Raising good children.' Women around the world all have challenges. But ultimately, at our core, we have very similar concerns and needs."


Clearly these moms have been forever changed by their week in Africa. One of them blogged that she is still processing what she saw: "I am still processing that so many people are living with HIV. I am still processing that programs that are clearly working are in jeopardy of being cut or severely reduced because of funding. I am still processing that children die senselessly from malaria and tuberculosis and pneumonia. I am still processing and I'm not sure how long it will take before I fully wrap my mind around the trip. I am trying to reconcile with myself how differently we live here in the States and how much we take for granted like an over-abundance of food, stellar health care despite its faults, easy access to the Internet and technology, and plumbing. I also have to wrap my mind around this guilty feeling I am having because I live in a country of abundance while so many others around the world are suffering desperately from the lack of basic needs. I know this guilt is probably a part of the process of returning from Kenya, but it is an emotion I didn't expect. One thing I am not ambivalent about, however, is this: Despite still processing the trip and having feelings of guilt, I do know that the best way to reconcile everything I witnessed on the trip is to continue to use my platforms to give voice to those who need it most. That I don't need to process. That is what I will do." (Jennifer James, http://one.org/blog/2011/08/10/still-processing/) You can read other blog entries on the site as well.

Ten moms living halfway around the world from their new African mom friends are using their voices to speak for those who need it the most. In this case their voices are shared via written word in blog form, words which reach thousands of people, words which may bring help and change as they shed light into the darkest corners of our world. Their trip and subsequent blogging remind me of how powerful our voices can be, and in particular when we lift our voices via the written word. As spiritual writers, we can and do use our voices (words) for good, impacting others in positive ways. Whether it's poetic words of comfort, a story or essay offering a different perspective, or a blog entry about something we care about, we can and do use our writing as a tool to help other people and make the world a better place.

So your challenge for today is to DO SOMETHING with your writing to help make a difference in the world. Perhaps you might blog about an issue you care passionately about, or bring up an issue that needs more attention and compassion devoted to it. Or maybe you'll write a poem reflecting on the suffering of another. Whatever it is - write it, and then share it with me for next month's newsletter. Use your voice, your written words, to help create awareness and even possibly positive change in the world. Make a difference!

Until next time, SophyBells Author Icon


Editor's Picks

Below you'll find a few items about "changing the world," as well as several recent spiritual items from around the site. Please let the folks know if you read their piece by leaving a thoughtful comment or review.

 Change the World Open in new Window. (E)
This is about a journey in knowing the self in an attempt to know others, and the world.
#1783720 by flic Author IconMail Icon

 Make a Difference Open in new Window. (E)
One more smile might be all it takes to turn a person's world around for the good.
#1610854 by Kenzie Author IconMail Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1811659 by Not Available.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1811645 by Not Available.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1811594 by Not Available.

 A Coffee Moment Open in new Window. (E)
When the world around you seems cold, a warm cup of coffee for the soul is in order.
#1811110 by K.J. Tracy Author IconMail Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1807507 by Not Available.

 
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Word from Writing.Com

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Ask & Answer

Here are some comments from my last Spiritual Newsletter on Facing our Fears, "Spiritual Newsletter (August 24, 2011)Open in new Window.:

From Lesley Scott Author Icon
This newsletter made me stop and think of my irrational fears, mostly about what my mother would disapprove of. She isn't impress with me for joining WDC and doesn't want to read any of my work.

I did agree that there are many paths to God. I hope I am on a long path before I meet God! What bothers me the most is people having irrational fears." I have my share, learned from my parents. I am overcoming these fears the older I get. They are only human, just like me.

You did a supurb Newsletter! I will use it for motivation and keeping my silly fears at bay!
Keep on Writing,
Lesdonks!


Thanks for your kind words, glad you found the newsletter so helpful.

*Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY* *Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY* *Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY* *Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY* *Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY*

From M.Harris Author Icon
 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1804877 by Not Available.


Thanks for sharing this!

*Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY* *Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY* *Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY* *Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY* *Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY*

From sarahreed
My greatest fear is failing. The fear gets so strong sometimes that I can even start. I've come to realize that this fear has caused me to fail because I don't even try. I defeat myself before I get going. So now, when the fear grips me, I remember that I by not doing anything, I've failed. Only by doing, can I succeed. And every attempt is a success because I've done it. Even when I make mistakes or the outcomes isn't what I wanted, I succeeded and thus defeated my fear.


I think many can related to the fear of failure - I know I can. Thank you for this wise perspective, and reminding us that success lies in giving things a try, and that failure is subjective.

*Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY* *Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY* *Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY* *Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY* *Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY*

From Musicdrummer01 Author Icon
Hi. As a musician, I'm always have songs in my head. While reading this article on fear, two songs came to mind. "Hello Fear" http://youtu.be/rHf6b8LUYCw and "I Smile" http://youtu.be/Z8SPwT3nQZ8 both by Kirk Franklin.


Thanks for sharing these lovely tunes.

*Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY* *Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY* *Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY* *Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY* *Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY*

From jhanz
Fear is difficult to describe in scientific terms due to the subjective nature of the experience of fear. Dependent upon the experiencer's past encounter with threatening, fearful, and or anxious situations generally will determine what she/he may describe as a fearful, fearful, or anxious event. People respond differently to threatening situations. The type of threat that is perceived by the individual and the learned social responses to fearful situations could effect how an individual responds to a given threat.


Thank you for adding this interesting perspective.

*Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY* *Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY* *Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY* *Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY* *Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY*

From njames51 Author Icon
 The Journey Of Fear Open in new Window. (E)
Fear, and my spiritual resources helping me through times of fear.
#1807265 by njames51 Author IconMail Icon


Thanks for sharing!

*Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY* *Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY* *Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY* *Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY* *Leaf* *LeafBr* *LeafG* *LeafO* *LeafR* *LeafY*

Please keep your comments and suggestions coming, they are greatly appreciated!


SophyBells Author Icon

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