My Road to Becoming a Voice

Human Sex Trafficking. Just saying those three words kind of makes you shiver a bit, doesn't it?  I kind of remember the first time I heard those words years ago, and I thought "well, that just isn't very pleasant!" and moved on.  Except my heart held onto it... and something started to grow.  

William Wilberforce said, “You may choose to look the other way, but you can never say again that you did not know.” 

There is a lot of truth in that simple statement.  It applies to so much in our lives, even beyond sex trafficking.  But for the sake of this blog, we will apply it to this subject. That knowledge was a seed that planted some place deep in my heart, and then grew into a passion to stand up against such atrocities in this life: to become an Advocate.  There are some things that I can only hate in life, and maybe cannot actively do anything about them.  But this - Humam Sex Trafficking - this I can fight!  I am one of those women who has a hurt in her past, and I know how much that hurt has affected my life.  On a daily basis I am thankful that somehow I was spared from what victims of trafficking have to go through, but I also know how easy it is for a young person to end up trapped.  

What can we do?  We can SPEAK!  We can 

stand against the things that feed this 

horrible thing that we don't really want to talk about.   

Have you ever had a secret?  Something bad or hurtful in your life, and you just didn't think anyone would understand?  Actually you may have even felt people would judge you and think less of you?  Then have you ever had an opportunity that for some reason you just had to share that bad thing with someone -- you just couldn't keep it in any longer, and you weren't really sure why you were even sharing... but then you find that the person you are sharing with has been hurt in a similar way??  And they felt alone.  And you knew exactly how that felt, and you didn't want them to feel that any longer.  Simply by you sharing your story, you made them feel less alone.  THAT is where we can start.  We can share our stories with one another... and we can share them with our kids, friends and others placed in our lives.  We can show through sharing that they are not feeling and experiencing things that are just exclusive to them - but very often we have gone through a very similar thing when we were younger.  We can connect with them and let them know that we understand - and if we haven't gone through something, that we want to understand.  

They are not alone.  They do not have to feel rejected or worthless or misunderstood.  There is someone who will hear them and love them. 

Sadly, I kept many things secret in my life for a very long time.  I let shame and embarrassment and fear of what someone else might think control me, and that keep me in a place of hurt and worthlessness.  Then slowly, God started to put me in different situations where I needed to share my story with someone - I needed to share my hurt.  I had to let go of the worry about what someone else would think of me, and realize that helping someone else avoid hurt I had lived with was MUCH more important than what some other person might think about me.  And then it all made more sense.  We are to fight for each other... God wants us to love one another, to help one another, to be there for one another.  And that means we open up our hearts and stop worrying about what some silly or mean person might think if we show we're actually not in a perfect life.  If everyone opened up to that, imagine how much easier life would be.  But that's not what the enemy wants.  He wants us to be under his control, believing we are worthless - and therefore continue living in our hurt and despair.  

Life on this earth isn't going to get easier.  People are going to get meaner, crimes are going to get harsher and more dangerous.  Criminals are going to get smarter.  Those who want to control others will find more ways to do that - especially when they are making money from that control.  But we can't lose heart, because we are strong too - and we can fight against this.  And one place we can start is by loving each other enough to share our hurts, and let others who are hurting know they do not have to be alone.  

For me, my road to becoming a VOICE in the fight against human sex trafficking began with hurt in my own life.  For some it's the simple injustice again fellow humans that moves them to become a voice.  What will make YOU become a voice?  



**If you live in the Myrtle Beach, SC area - or will be visiting - on April 2nd, 2014 -- please join us for an Awareness Event.  Here is the information, and if you have any questions, please, please send me a message to dk@photobydk.com -- and I promise I will promptly reply.  Also, sharing this information with someone else would be such a gift - and could be the help they need. Thank you! 

www.susannorris.org

  

Emptying my mind in yoga...

Several months ago I made the decision that it was time...FINALLY time to get myself into better shape.  I was about to turn 48 {which I did in early January} and I didn't want to be scrambling when 50 was right around the corner trying to get myself into shape.  So my first step was to finally start going to the fitness center that we had joined a few months earlier {the same one I had found every excuse in the world to not go so far!}  I am an introvert...BUT I like to think I'm a recovering introvert at this point in my life.  I have certainly been pushing myself out of my comfort zone more and more over the past couple years, and this past 8 months has almost seemed like a marathon!  There are times I feel as if I'm on a 12-step plan to recover from my extreme introvertedness.  And honestly, I don't always like all that it entails.

Ok... back to the fitness center.  

In my normal need-to-be-prepared way, I did go for a visit the day before to ask lots of questions, make sure I knew exactly where everything was, pick up a class schedule and even check out the best Exit spots {just in case I couldn't handle it once I got there and needed a quick escape!}  And then it was the day - I was going go DO IT!  Finally!  I put on my cute workout clothes and headed to the fitness center. I chose a Step-Aerobics class, and it kicked my tail.  Seriously, I almost felt like I needed to crawl to my car.  It wasn't actually the step-class itself, it was the last part which I later found out was Pilates.  That particular instructor is also a Pilates Instructor (and a very good one, I might add) and those were some of the exercises she incorporates for cool-down and mat-work at the end of step class.  I could barely do any of the exercises.  Excitedly, it didn't discourage me - but rather, it challenged me!  I don't like being told I can't do something or can't accomplish something - in fact, that's probably the best thing to say to me if someone really wants to push me.  I have been going regularly since.  As it turns out, I transitioned away from the step classes and now primarily enjoy both Yoga and Pilates regularly each week.  

If you've never done either of these, both Yoga and Pilates are focused a lot on breathing; about finding your core and working on that part of yourself, which in turn strengthens your entire body.  {Already I can both feel and see the positive results.}  There are also some instructors, especially with Yoga, who encourage you to clear your mind.  And this is where I am challenged.  Today when I was in Yoga class and we were sitting in position quietly as the class started, meditating on our breathing and on our core, I found scripture flooding my mind. "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it." Josh 1:8... "I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways." Ps 1:2.... "He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30.... "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." John 17:17  Rather than emptying my mind, it was full of the Word of God.  And I found myself praying.  Praying for strength in these days that are sometimes scary or trying or overwhelming... or all of those things combined.  Praying for the love and forgiveness I need in my life to accomplish the things that I am set to accomplish before me.  Praying for clear direction, wisdom, discernment on this journey my life is on.  And as I continued to stretch my body, to breath through the class, to keep my core activated and working, I found my mind was also feeling less stressed.  When we came to the part of class where we were in positions that required balance and strength, I once again found myself praying, and the scriptures continued to flood my mind, and in them there was peace.  “'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Cor 12:9.... "The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped" Ps 28:7.... "The LORD is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him" Ps 18:1.... As the end of class was approaching, and I was facing the knowledge that the real work of my day was about to begin I found my favorite scripture flooding my heart and mind: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God" Heb 12:1-2.   

Maybe this isn't the intention in Yoga for clearing the mind, but for me this works best.  Very often in this life I have been reminded that it's not about me... it is all about Him.  "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Gal 2:20  As I walk through another day of this unbelievable journey God has planned just for me, I pray that my strength always comes from Him, and that I never empty my mind of His empowering Word.