Good People of Chicago

Yesterday I had the good fortune of being introduced to some truly amazing people, Joel and Mo Krogman, artists and social justice advocates working with high risk teens in the inner-city of Chicago. They have a wonderful story that truly inspires me. Mo is a painter, www.mobellapaints.etsy.com and had some of her work at the Willow Creek Chicago Good Friday Experience which we all walked through together. The experience was a combination of sites, sounds, smells and tastes expressed through artistic interpretation and personal reflection. It was as powerful experience as you allowed it to be; reflecting on the Christ's journey those final hours leading up to His crucifixion. Joel and Mo work with a ministry called Breakthrough (http://www.breakthrough.org/) that has invested in the lives of men and women of all ages in the West Chicago area, providing programs for children, teens as well as adults looking for shelter, food, work and help with overcoming addiction. I have such great respect for those who have dedicated their lives to the service of humanity, especially those segments of humanity found on the margins. The other interesting part of Joel and Mo's story is that Joel is a filmmaker and is helping teens tell their story. If you want to see more of Joel's work go to: http://vimeo.com/interruptedmedia

Life Basics from Interrupted Media on Vimeo.

Why Trust? Connected in Community

It is true that we tend to trust people who share our values and beliefs. Today a friend of mine, +Gabe Strom, recommended that I watch a Ted Talk by Simon Sinek entitled "First Why and Then Trust". It reminded me of a conversation that I had with a friend of mine recently who, in an honest moment told me that he didn’t want to die alone. What has happened to our society that people die alone? What’s worse than that is that people live alone with no sense of community, connection or belonging. One of my best friends has two siblings. They are both married with children and they are worlds apart in terms of being connected to their community. One participated on a service learning team and came home with vision to help her neighbors, connect with them and invest in their lives. She and her husband never have to worry about finding a baby sitter, getting rides from here to there, getting help around the house or finding someone to watch their pets. They are a part of a connected community. Her other sibling however is what I would call disconnected from his community. He has to pay someone to do everything and I would say that this is more representative of our isolationist society than the former example. Why is it so hard for us to create human contact, trust and interdependence? How would you describe your life? Are you connected and in community with people you love and trust or are you disconnected, living isolated and independent from those around you? Why? Please let me know below in the comments area.

Makeni, Sierra Leone, Africa with Women of Hope

Polio Conquered thru Cooking - Sierra Leone

I watched in wonder as this beautiful woman began preparing a meal for her family and I. Her son helped her bring out all of the cook-ware and set it up under a tree. She and her son had just returned from town on her three wheeled hand propelled cart (a victim of Polio) where she had purchased fresh fish and vegetables. Mankaprie sat down and began peeling potatoes, then she handed me a wood carved mortar and pestle. She tossed in some red and yellow hot peppers and motioned for me to crush them with a big wooden stick (the pestle).

Once I finished crushing the peppers she asked me if I knew how to dice onions. I motioned to her to show me how it should be done and I took over once I understood what was expected. I didn't have a cutting board so I carefully and finely sliced the egg-sized onion. Only one of the onions completely flew out of my hand from squeezing it so tightly. This gave the crowd of children that had gathered around something to laugh about.

It felt like a very sacred time for me; an opportunity to share in the preparation and the fellowship of a meal. The skill of this woman in preparing this meal was in such sharp contrast to her ability to move from place to place. She was in her element and she allowed me to join her there. It was truly a privilege beyond words and an experience I hope that I will remain with me for a long time.

Have you ever met someone that came alive or was even "transformed" once they were in their element? Were you able to join them in this new energy and even feel energized yourself? Some people are threatened by or misunderstand the things that are a source of life for others. What can we do to nurture people to be more connected with the things that energize them?