DARE YA:

This summer Mason was going through my things and found my IPod Nano and asked, “What is this?” I think it’s been a good 11 years since I listened to the music and podcasts are on it. I charged it up and looked through the playlists and came across this song. This song used to motivate me as I did youth ministry, mission trips, social work and social justice.

I have ALWAYS been drawn to social justice; I just didn’t know the term for it as a kid. I guess a better way to say it is, I have always been CALLED to help others. I started to second guess myself last summer that I was right about this CALLING but now there is no denying it.

I have been in social work for almost 16 years now. I spent the majority of my adult life working in youth ministry either as a volunteer or in a paid position. I have done mission trips. I slept outside in boxes with my youth group, on a snowy night, to help an organization raise awareness and money for homelessness. (Probably never doing that again!) I have been a part of counting the homeless in our community. I had no idea that was even a thing. I have had dinner at the homeless shelters my clients were living in. I have sat on the streets and talked with homeless. I have knelt in front of a homeless lady to help her put on the new shoes we gave her and felt the scar from the bullet she took to the back of her leg. I have heard awful stories of child abuse and wonder why those “parents” are not in prison. I have seen grief in the midst of tragedy. I have befriended drug dealers because I know they will “have my back” while I’m in my client’s home. I gained respect so nobody would mess with my car or myself. One of them would call me “Crazy Amy.” I have worked with kids who have been trafficked right here in our community. Yes…it happens here!

All of that is why I needed a break. I could tell you more things I have seen but I think it would be too much. I talked recently about the “cup” that Jesus referred to in the Garden of Gethsemane. In that cup Jesus saw all the evil (sin) from past, present and future and He took it ALL on Himself on the cross. I’ve only seen a glimpse of what He saw in that cup and it’s hard to see. I can’t imagine the enormity of what He took on.

This summer I started feeling the nudge to move forward, again, with helping survivors of human trafficking. Sound of Freedom came out and no, I have not watched it and don’t plan on it. Once you have worked in the world I have, you don’t want to go out and watch it on the big screen or at home. Then I met someone who is passionate about helping survivors. Things like this happened several times this summer until I finally said, “OK! What do you want me to do?”

That’s when I remembered I got certified about 13 years ago to help survivors of human trafficking. It appears God is restoring that passion to help them so I will be working on getting my name out there as someone who is able to counsel survivors. I will be taking a short course just to learn some new ways to help but I am ready to MOVE FORWARD with it.

Taking a step back for a year or so was the best decision I could have made. It gave me time to rest and refocus. Sometimes it was forced! Now, I am ready to take another step forward into my CALLING. Slowly.

This blog is now going to be about BIBLICAL social justice. Ways we can all help no matter where we are in life. Living like we don’t have a seashell collection to worry about. Motivation to make yourself uncomfortable. Learn about issues in our world. I’m excited to have this passion back after so many years!

Stay tuned because there is ONE more thing coming….

~Dare Ya to Move……