Red Thread

So I meant to write this post close to two weeks ago, however, with a glitch in 'Blogger' I lost everything I wrote before I had a chance to post it. I felt defeated after this and decided to ignore my blog for awhile in rebellion of technology.

But I'm back, and so is my motivation to write!

Everyday when I walk into my office, I pull the blinds up, start my computer, unlock my file cabinet and my desk drawers, and turn my light on. I make sure I don't have any voice mails or faxes waiting and find myself often looking up at my bulletin board. This board has many documents, contact lists, phone numbers and misc. information about conducting a phased interview and what the typical detection periods for drugs of abuse in urine from the time of abuse look like. There are also many pictures of friends, my childhood, family, places I've been and the quote you see in the image to the left.

I'm not the most sentimental person in the world and don't find a lot of value in inspirational quotes, notes, or trinkets. Not to say that I don't appreciate or value these things when they are genuine gifts from others. Actually I really value them. I just find that the 'genuine' part is often times missing.

This quote is a little different and for some reason I find great meaning in it, especially with my line of work, spiritual beliefs and future goals. Is is a simple statement and a sort-of personal anthem, I guess.

A few weeks ago now, due to the aforementioned snafu, I read an article at Relevant Magazine online that you can find here ------> http://http//www.relevantmagazine.com/life/current-events/features/25062-finding-forgiveness-in-south-sudan (sorry I don't know the fancy way to connect a link). In this article, author, Roseann Dennery who is a relief worker for Samaritans Purse, talks about her experience in South Sudan and finding forgiveness.

Dennery introduces an interesting concept that I hadn't heard of when she said, "The red thread of destiny, how it is sometimes referred to, is a concept referring to a continuum of fate, a weaving of events happening as they were meant to be. It is a theme that runs through a shared human experience. Thin and continuous it came through, tying together stories of hope and hardship, each unique yet spoken with subtle traces of forgiveness and forgetting."

This idea, that there is this red thread of destiny which connects one person to another, originated in Eastern Asia, and is used in Chinese and Japanese legend. This concept reminds me of the quote hanging within arms length reach of where I spend 40 hours of my week. Minor Myers Jr. says, "Go into the world and do well" which I interpret as worldly things. Do well, get a good job, marry a good man, be successful, do well. Then he says, "But more importantly, go into the world and do good."

Do good. I interpret that as less tangible, more eternal things. Make a difference, to love others in words and actions, much like Minor Myers Jr. was said to have lived his life. Through the lens with which I look at life, to do good, means to do things for the Kingdom good.

Francis of Assisi is well quoted in saying, "It is of no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching." I love that saying because in order to do good I often times have to remind myself it isn't my actions that are the most important, it is my intention. Is my heart in the right place or in good condition? If it is, then I think there is an outpouring of my heart to others. Personally, I must also remind myself that it isn't about me. It just isn't. I can't do anything apart from God. For more thoughts or insight on this I encourage you to read Romans 8 here ------> http://http//www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8&version=ESV

I do think there is a red thread that connects us all in some magical way. Except I don't think it is magic, it is God. I want my walking to be my preaching. In essence put my money where my mouth is, or insert any other cliche idiom here that you wish.

I'm learning that my personal life and beliefs aren't necessarily so far off from my work, my field or my goals. That in working with abuse victims, struggling parents, physical and sexual offenders, law enforcement and child welfare; there is always room for that red thread, for grace to enter.