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 You've never understood me(between Eli and Eli)
Beneath my feet, the servant earth awaits dismissing. This tiring journey has led me to sit in judgment. Transgressing all I have learned or taught, I spread my wings, sheltering a hidden earth that still dwells in my mind.
You and your Jesus. You love, need, cherish, honor and kill Him. It never crossed your mind to understand Him. Add another mystery to your list of stars, planets, waves and life.
What a beautiful mark you inscribe on your tongue. What are you after? His crucifixion? What good is it to you if it only leads to His resurrection? That's for him--but what about your resurrection?
Baby bottle madness--He's done it for you. But do you really think He needs it? Wishing one day, maybe never, you'll be able to eat on your own. You need the resurrection.
-for you call Him by name and not by person
-for you ask His hand to shelter you and you run home
-for you cry out His name and not His words
-for you ask Him to die for you and return you alive
-eating food produced by the death of others.
And what about Jesus Jones, Jesus Smith and Jesus Swartz? Need they also die before you recognize them? Or don't they count? They are wrong. They will always be the wrong Jesus for you.
But keep chanting, "Praise the Lord," "Jesus is Lord," "I found Jesus," it's really neat, it's really cute. But just try explaining your chanting to that black man who is plowed under your parents’ field. Or explain it to the hungry child's mother, whose breast is barren from burnt wheat crops. Or explain it to the father, who needs one more drink to drench the fire flared by his bills. Explain it to someone, and ask them to trade in their life for a "new one with Christ." Tell them not to risk suffering with a knife and fork. They may cut themselves. Besides, your Jesus will stick a bottle in their mouth, no need to suffer or be curcified. Jesus will do it for you.
No, I can't say you've learned the order correctly.
A resurrection can only follow a crucifixion.
No, you've never understood me.
Hovsep H. Movsesian, 1976
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Time is moving soooo quickly. I have been reeling since the 9/5/08 In His Shoes event, hoping to find a time that I can just sit down and gather my thoughts about that beautiful evening! Here is it the 15th of the month already and if I don't sit down and do this now, it's not going to get done....at least by me. So here I am.
On September 5th, we had an AMAZING program! The venue was Barnsdall Park Gallery, and if you were able to attend, I'm sure you'll agree that not only did we have perfect weather, but everything went according to plan. In typical In His Shoes style, we were like a well-oiled machine as our volunteers worked together to make the evening run smoothly.
The event started out with a beautifully catered reception in the outdoor grassy lawn of the gallery's theater. Participants were able to see the unveiling of artist Gregory Beylerian's large-scale, 8'x8' photo/art which has been a year in the making. Gregory photographed some 200 people in the stance of forgiveness -- on 7/7/07 at the IHS Forgiveness Forum, we created 7's with our bodies...one palm up, one palm down, arms outstretched. The artist collaged these photos together and they were superimposed in the cosmos in a spiral of love. If you had a chance to view this art piece close up, the clarity was amazing, the colors were beautiful...and the concept, out of this world (literally).
We also had a chance to see what life is like for those displaced Darfuri's as we went into the tents that are used as shelter in the relocations camps in Chad (or those lucky enough to have a tent), The tents were assembled on the lawn and filled with photographs, facts, and faces about the Darfur Genocide and how we can get involved.
Shortly before 8:00 p.m. participants began filing into the theater. Fr. Vazken welcomed everyone. The stage background was the spiral and made a beautiful statement of love. Fr. Vazken introduced Gor Mkhitarian, musician/songwriter who debuted his new song from his upcoming spiritual album. Beautiful and inspirational! We also were able to watch his music video that was filmed during our 7X77 event last year! Gor's album of sacred music is a first for the Armenian church community. We are all really looking forward to its release.
This year, In His Shoes honored Gabriel Stauring as the Man of the Year. This award is given to someone who embodies the principles of In His Shoes, putting themselves in the shoes of others that are suffering. Gabriel Stauring is just that person. He has made many trips to Darfur and to Chad and spent time with the Darfuri people. He is an advocate and an educator, spreading the word about the injustices that are going on. He is responsible for Camp Darfur - an interactive experience that brings refugee life to Americans so they can experience first hand the life of a Darfuri refugee.
Fr. Vazken invited Gabriel to the stage. You would think that someone this impressive would be all about telling us of his works. But just the opposite was true. He briefly thanked us for coming and shared the spotlight with others in his Stop Genocide Now organization. We heard for 4-5 speakers -- all of whom had traveled to Chad to bring hope to the refugees and awareness of the situation to us. We watched videos of the children there -- their beautiful smiles and bright eyes. We saw the hopelessness in the faces of the mothers and fathers there. And we learned how we can make a difference in raising awareness in others.
After the speakers had finished, Fr. Vazken awareded Gabriel with a beautiful hand-painted icon of Christ, and a monetary grant of $5,000 to enable Gabriel and his crew to continue their very important work.
As a member of In His Shoes, I have to say that I was so very proud to be part of this event and this important ministry. The world is a better place because of people like Gabriel Stauring. I was so happy that we, a small group of Armenians, honored someone so humble, so brave and so heroic as Gabriel Stauring!
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| Today, the Save Darfur Coalition is launching a nationwide "Be a Voice for Darfur" campaign. The goal is to collect 1 Million signed postcards to deliver to our next president. Both presidential candidates, John McCain and Barack Obama, have pledged "unstinting resolve" in pursuing an end to the Darfur genocide. Now it is up to each and every one of us to let the next president know that they must stand by their pledge and make Darfur a priority. Please take just one minute to sign this postcard. We cannot in good conscience let this atrocity continue. I hope you'll join me by adding your voice right now!
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SaveDarfur.org has a post called "Faith Outreach" that's worth checking out... Please watch this 20 minute documentary film. There IS something you can do! Our faith community is having an event to honor exemplary work in Darfur and bring more attention to the crisis unfolding. Please visit our website for details: InHisShoes.org
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