What Response to Persecution?

I wrote one of the poems in my book almost exactly a year ago.  I was reading an article in a Samaritan's Purse newsletter about a pastor who was in jail for being a Christian.  I wrote the poem from the perspective of the Persecuted Church.  Given everything that's been going on in the Middle East and North Africa right now, it seemed pertinent, so I've posted it below.

When people talk about situations like this, our first thought is usually about money.  If we're aware of the persecution at all (and too often we're not), we don't know how else to respond - we're so far away.

So we ask ourselves, can we donate anything to an organization that's already 'over there' trying to help?  For many of us, the answer is yes, and that's great.  But this should not be our initial response.  Our initial response should be prayer.

Here in America, we tend to ignore prayer.  We don't understand how it works, and we're too lazy to test it.  But prayer is powerful.  Prayer is active.  Prayer is our direct line of communication to God, and when we pray with our hearts set on him, things happen.

We should be praying for the Persecuted Church, in general and in detail when we know of particular issues.  Prayer should not be a fall-back if we're unable to do anything else; it should be the focal point of our response.

Convicted*

We sent out a message,

We asked for your prayers –

Our churches were being burned.

We held our dead elders,

We mourned our dead children,

But from everything we’ve heard,

You didn’t pray for us.

We begged for assistance,

We needed your help –

Our pastors were being jailed.

We gathered in secret,

We whispered in fear,

But from all that we can tell,

You never prayed for us.

We Facebooked and Tweeted,

We emailed and called –

We know the word got out.

We died for a Bible,

We starved for a song,

And yet we had our doubts

That you would pray for us.



*Copyright Rachel Lulich 2014.

Wednesday Apology

So I know I said I'd do a Wednesday Review today, and I really wanted to, but All The Things are due this week and next, so...  Not so much.

My sincerest apologies.

Theoretically, I could pick something I've read or seen or listened to recently, and write a nice little review of it, but I have something specific in mind for my next review, and it's not something I can pull together quickly.  Because it's not a positive review.  And I feel very strongly about it.  So, yeah.  Not going to rush this one.

Hopefully I'll have it for next week.


So!  What did I do so far this week?

Well, I stayed up really, really late on Sunday night, editing a book for Ashberry Lane.  I really enjoyed it, so I just kept going.  Probably should've looked at the time more often.  Just a little more to go, and I realized it was after 2am.  But at that point, you might as well just finish, so I did.

Monday I had class, ran some errands, and actually looked at the heap of research materials I found for my final paper in one of my classes.

Because I stayed up late Sunday night, I also stayed up late Monday night, so I slept in on Tuesday, went to my Copyright class (where we talked about intellectual property issues with nonfiction works).  I ran some errands afterward, and actually looked at the heap of research materials I found for my final paper in my publishing class.  I also played guitar!  And went for a walk.  I overdid both of those a little - my hands and feet didn't like it.

Stupid tendinitis.

Today was pretty good.  Stayed up too late again last night, but I had a good publishing class.  My mock publishing company group is starting to really get organized.  Which is good, because the drafts of All The Things are due next Monday.  After class, I had to visit the registrar real quick, then high-tailed it to the bus stop so I could meet J for lunch at the Bavarian Sausage place in Tigard.  I got to the bus stop.  And realized that in my haste, I had left my thermos full of tea in the computer lab.

*sigh*

I went back and got it, and my bus was just pulling away from the stop when I rounded the corner on my way back.  But that's all right!  The next bus was only about 4 minutes behind it.  Maybe that first one was running late, or the second was early.  Maybe both!  I don't really care.  I was just glad to get on the road.

J and I had a good time chatting over lunch, and I got some nice German-style bread to take home with me.  Bavarian Sausage is a nice little store and deli.  They have pretty much all the German chocolate products you could want, although I didn't get any today.

I went for another long walk today, and my feet are feeling it again.  I also have a blister forming, so I cut some moleskin.  Good thing I'm on campus all day tomorrow and won't have a chance to walk - taking a day or two off seems to be in order.


And that's about it!

Except that I've been slowly reading through C. S. Lewis's Poems on the commute, and some of them are just so excellent.  So far, I especially like or am intrigued by A Confession, Donkey's Delight, The Country of the Blind, On Being Human, The Late Passenger, An Expostulation, On a Vulgar Error, The Future or Forestry, On the Atomic Bomb, On a Theme From Nicolas of Cusa, The Salamander, Pattern, Reason, To Andrew Marvell, Wormwood, Divine Justice, and Eden's Courtesy.  That's where I left off - Eden's Courtesy is the last poem I read in the book today on my way home.  Really glad I bought this book.

Mine has different cover art...

Looking Ahead

It's crunch time in college right now - just a couple of weeks left in the term, everything that can possibly be due is coming due.  I'm also trying to work on a couple of writing projects on the side.

So what does this mean?  It means I may not be blogging quite as often as I have in the past.  You've already seen a little of this, as I have occasionally missed a Friday, a Saturday, or both.  I WILL be doing a Wednesday Review this week, and I think I'll do another From the Vaults this weekend, but beyond that, I can make no promises.

I'm almost done with a post for my other blog, which will give you a nice visual depiction of the process of publishing a poetry book, from start (handwritten poem drafts) to finish (actual hard-copy book available for purchase!!).

Speaking of which....  Buy my book!


On a totally unrelated note, leafless trees are awesome looking, especially against a sunset sky.

Beach Trip

Well, Mom and I ran away to the coast yesterday afternoon.  We've both been tired and not feeling great, and we thought the 'sea air' might do us some good.  ;)  We headed for Proposal Rock on the central coast, stopping on the way for a snack of roasted filberts with bacon and rosemary at Red Hills Market.

We arrived, threw our stuff into our room, and hit the beach.  Here in Neskowin, Oregon, the Proposal Rock Inn is located between two creeks which join forces once they reach the sandy beach.  We're in a creek-side room with an ocean view. Proposal Rock is right there, and there's a nice wide stretch of sandy beach to walk along in both directions and look for sand dollars and other shells.  We scampered along as the tide was going out, even taking off our shoes and rolling up our jeans to go test the waters.

The weather's remarkably nice for the Oregon coast in February.  Sunny, blue skies, not terribly windy (for the coast), and not freezing!

This morning we got up and went walking on the beach again; the tide was out and starting to come in.  I managed to get too close to the little incoming waves and got my shoes and socks and jeans all wet, but whatever - it's all part of the experience.  They'll dry.

The little store here at the Inn has some great-looking freshly backed goodies, including some fantastic maple bars - I had one for breakfast.  Best-looking (and tasting) maple bars I've had in a very long time.

After our walk this morning, we made a proper breakfast (Mom made a fritatta), and proceeded to paint.  Mom's working on some water color beach scenes, and I started an acrylic on a small canvass.  I've got the base layers of sky, Proposal Rock, the creek and the sandy beach down.  Once they dry, I'll start building in detail and more colors.  So much fun!


Anyway, I don't know what else we'll be doing today.  Probably take a drive at some point, and go back on the beach later.  And at some point, I'll practice the guitar I brought with me!


Renaissance on the Coast.

Renaissance Girl

So, I'm feeling pretty artistic these days.

I'm taking classes on book publishing and theater.  I've been reading a lot - middle grade children's books as usual, but also sophisticated literary stuff like The Faerie Queene.  I got some new acrylic painting supplies and have plans to use them.  I've gone to a couple of writing conferences, and will be going to another at the end of the month.  I'm freelance editing.  I blog.  I got a guitar and am taking lessons.  I've written some new poems and am working on a YA book.  I finally published my poetry book.  I'm listening to the radio on my way downtown.  And just today, I had a tour of the rare book room at Powell's, which blew my mind.

I'm basically my own personal Renaissance.