Usually when I sit down to write I have an idea of a post that I want to get out. That isn't the case today. Today I am just writing because I challenged myself to write every day in 2018. I have been doing it. Somehow, someway, I am making it. Journaling. Writing a quick post for work. Writing a longer than usual post on social media. I have written everyday in 2018. Nothing has made it to the blog though. My goal in writing everyday is that I want to be a writer. I am a writer. I have to do the thing that I want to do! Part of wanting to be a writer for me is my thoughts, ideas, and experiences getting out to other people. The work of fighting for justice in our world is hard, long work. I want to share these things to encourage other people doing this long, hard work that it's not just you. There are so many of us out here doing this work day in and day out. Getting discouraged. Wondering why we chose this work. I could be making more money. I could be sleeping more. I could be less stressed. I could take more vacations. I could turn my work phone off at night. I could carry less worry around with me. I could lose and gain a lot of things by not doing this long, hard work of seeking justice. In that though I would also lose and gain other things. I could lose purpose and meaning. I would lose the amazing opportunity to instill hope in the girls I serve. I would lose the inspiration that I gain from the girls I work with. I am tired. I am worn out. Somedays I am weary. But I will not lose hope. There is hope each day in the small things. Even when things are hard, when it is hard to give these girls grace, the small things carry me through.
Awhile back as I rode in the car with a client I asked what music she wanted to listen to. Instead of the rap that they usually want to listen to usually (no offense to rap, I am INTO IT a lot of days right along with my passengers...usually sneaking in some introductions for them to my favorite 90s rap/r&b) she said "I have been into more calming, classical, piano stuff lately". I introduced her to Explosions in the Sky. She is just starting college so we talked about how this is the music I listened to while studying when I was in college. This also lead to talking about why she thinks her taste in music has changed. She said being in her new stage of life, she feels like life is more quiet and manageable, not unlike the music she has enjoyed listening to lately. These small moments, that seemingly have nothing to do with sex trafficking or justice, are the moments that keep me going in this long, hard work.
What are the moments that keep you going in this long, hard work?
Awhile back as I rode in the car with a client I asked what music she wanted to listen to. Instead of the rap that they usually want to listen to usually (no offense to rap, I am INTO IT a lot of days right along with my passengers...usually sneaking in some introductions for them to my favorite 90s rap/r&b) she said "I have been into more calming, classical, piano stuff lately". I introduced her to Explosions in the Sky. She is just starting college so we talked about how this is the music I listened to while studying when I was in college. This also lead to talking about why she thinks her taste in music has changed. She said being in her new stage of life, she feels like life is more quiet and manageable, not unlike the music she has enjoyed listening to lately. These small moments, that seemingly have nothing to do with sex trafficking or justice, are the moments that keep me going in this long, hard work.
What are the moments that keep you going in this long, hard work?