Life is chaotic and full of challenges, or at least that is what it seems like to me today and most days. Life is also rich and full of joy and love, but still chaotic. At any moment I find myself caring for my mother who is dependent on me for the basics of life, or at another moment I'm snake hunting with my grandson, or greeting guests at the door at Linwood House, or cleaning a bathroom, or planning a trip to Eastern Europe, or inviting people to participate in the Art Show, or the next Journey... or I'm trying to write and the phone is ringing! It seems like I am running around in circles, and I probably am because that is life, or at least that is my life at the moment.
I pause in that circle and think about how blessed I am; not because life is easy and everything is going smoothly but because I am part of a Circle of Grace, a circle of people who care, love, and generously give to one another and others amidst the challenges. The phrase that runs through my mind is “what goes around comes around”. I picture people running around the circle with me and with Linwood House Ministries, giving, receiving, loving and being loved, sharing the ups and downs of life, and supporting one another amidst the chaos.
For the last nine years we have been hosting the Journey, a 3 day retreat for women from the Downtown Eastside. We have invited many women to come and enjoy this experience, both women we have befriended and women who come to us through other ministries. Together we have built relationships that help the women of the DTES as they struggle with life’s demands. Sometimes it has been challenging and a struggle to finance, but somehow we have persevered and done it and managed financially. A couple of weeks ago we were discouraged looking at our limited bank balance, questioning how we were going to continue the work we are passionate about, when a group of pastors came to Linwood for a retreat and asked how they could pray for us. I shared our financial need with them and they prayed. The next morning I got a call from a partner ministry in the DTES. They said they had been praying as a leadership team that morning and God had put it on their hearts to give us a generous donation. They said, “You have blessed the women of the DTES and our leaders for the last several years and we want to bless you with this gift.” The phrase comes to mind again, “what goes around comes around”. I am grateful for ministries who are partners and part of the Circle of Grace. I am grateful for you who are part of this circle and pray, give and care.
In less than a week a team of 8 women will leave for Eastern Europe. Our Global Circle of Grace will grow once again as we meet women who are marginalized and vulnerable to exploitation and trafficking. We will learn from one another, share stories and creatively share the heart of God with women, and stand together against the trafficking of women in our world. Please see Emma's post about the trip see how you can help support the ever growing Circles of Grace.
Remember, “What goes around comes around.”
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