Actual Real People

You need to see this: Syrian Refugees’ Most Important Things- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21939840

You really need to see it. It’s just ten images of Syrian refugees with their most important thing.

For those of you who dismissed the link the first time here is it again: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21939840

It reminded me that behind the headlines of body counts and outside of the politics of interference from the west are Real People. 

Actual real people - mind, body and soul. 

Real people who have had their lives violently interrupted and ripped apart.

Real mothers and fathers who worry about the futures of their children.

Real school children whose education has been stopped.

Real business owners who have left behind their livelihoods.

Real children who fight and argue with their siblings.

Real people who get ill and tired and scared.

Real people who had roots in the family, friends, neighbours and community they love o so dearly but had to leave behind.

Real people with hopes for the future clouded by the worries of today.

Real people who hope that change is coming. 

Real people.

Not just ‘Syrians,’ a group of people ‘other’ than us. Real people.

Change a few circumstances and it could have been us, forced to leave behind everything we know for life in a refugee camp.

There are thousands of these real people. Thousands of men, women and children. Thousands of mothers, wives, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, cousins and daughters. Thousands of fathers, husbands, grandfathers, uncles, brothers, cousins and sons.

When confronted with something so big and with such a high human cost I often get overwhelmed by not knowing the best way to respond. I have learned to do two things: 

1. Pray. Even though it often doesn't seem like much prayer takes the problem to the throne of God - there is nothing more powerful.

2. Support the people paying the cost - usually through an organisation that know what they're doing.

3. If the global scale seems outta reach then find out if you can do something on a local scale.  

Reach out your hand. The least we can do is try and support these real people: /http://www.tearfund.org/en/news/press_releases/dec_launches_syria_crisis_appeal/

Pray. Petition. Seek Peace.

Dream Like A Child

I must confess – I LOVE TED talks. I've lost many an hour watching inspiring talks given by some amazing people. I came across this one the other day:

Interesting ideas right? I want to focus on one point she made early on - "Kids can be full of inspiring aspirations and hopeful thinking... Kids don't think of the limitations of how hard it can be..."


So what’s your child-like idea? What would you create if you didn’t see limitations and had an ocean of optimism?

Me?

I would run a community centre, right in the heart of a community that doesn’t have much going for it. It would be a place that everyone goes to. A place of belonging, learning, acceptance and inspiration. A place for the very very young, the very very old and everyone in-between.

We would run English classes, healthy living classes, art classes, reading groups, youth groups, mother and baby groups, sports groups, mentoring programmes, debt counselling, a Foodbank, a drop-in centre, computer classes, dance classes, homework help classes, tutoring groups, cooking groups, a giant kids play area, a giant cafe for the grownups, a studio for all the kids into music, a skate park for all the kids into skating, a community garden and vegetable plots. A maybe, just maybe we’d have a climbing wall, gym and swimming pool. We'd have a team of social workers, mentors, counsellors and youth workers.

It would be a place of joy and community and love.

Now all I need to do is write a list of what needs to be to achieve it and start crossing things off – simple.

So while I don’t encourage being childish (unless you’re a child) I do encourage dreaming the big dreams of children and then seeing how you can make them happen.

What would your child-like idea look like?

P.S. Am I the only one intimidated by this girl?