Sweet Temptations

Sweet, sweet, it tasted so sweet not bitter as everyone had thought. No one suspected that something like that could stir such desire. Now all thought was bent on desire, captivating them; they forgot their purpose. This…this was all the mind could think of; unbeknownst to them it had taken hold of first their minds and now their hearts.

Slowly a pin point of light shone before her eyes, the glow quickened her heart, stirred deep within her and reminded her of a far away thought. A thought that seemed far away but important somehow. Quietly she looked through unseeing eyes; softly she started to remember…what was it she is trying to remember? Exposed, she suddenly felt so exposed wandering through this fog filled, gloomy land, where were they? How did she forget, but forget what?

Struggling to see although her eyes were open, she strained looking before her to catch a glimpse of the source of the light. Maybe, maybe it would bring back the memory that was fighting it’s way through this consuming desire.  Inside she could literally feel the war taking place in her very soul. The overwhelming sweet taste was dimly satisfying, almost quenching her thirst inching it’s way through every fiber of her being and then the reminder of the light would pierce her heart. Trembling as the internal battle raged on, she strained to see more.  A sudden burst of light shot through the fog that had built up around her and the others. A gentle whisper of purpose resonated within, quietly peace found its way to seep back into her heart. The sweetness of desire fought to stay in control but the memory of a greater purpose flooded before her with a radiance as a peace like a river flowed and washed over her. Strength from the depths of her being stormed out awakening the fierce virtue of her purpose allowing her eyes now to see beyond the fog and dreariness to the light shining so brilliantly before her. Oh how had she forgotten so quickly the wonders of the peace, purpose, and strength of her soul? She cried out with authority, ‘Bitter, bitter is the desire, though sweet it may be, we have forgotten our purpose. Look, see before you the light of peace, of strength which takes us on to our destiny.’

How easy it is to get caught up in whatever distraction our lives may face, leading us away from our purpose and destiny. God’s word is living and active, sharper than a two-edged sword - piercing through the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts. Our lives are laid bare before our Maker, nothing hidden and we are accountable.

We forget these, maybe because a desire becomes as we assume more than we can handle or the pressures of life weigh and drag us down. Whatever it may be remember that God is always and forever more than enough for us. He gives us only what we can handle and grace to overcome. In Hebrews it says, we can go with confidence to God, He knows and identifies with our life, what we go through, our temptations and He enables us to overcome, to live our life with a greater purpose and a destiny we cannot even imagine!

*Read Hebrews 4

Creations

As my first post was quite intense and was actually a piece I wrote awhile ago as an op-ed for a class on maternal and child health in developing nations - and the need there is to either create simple steps for change. I thought I might write about something less on the fervently impassioned side of 'healthonomics' and more about life; new life. This year my sister and two of my cousins- both on my mother's side- are all expecting their firstborns! Well one of my cousins'  Ruby and her husband had their little baby girl Jasmine in July and tomorrow, yes tomorrrow my other cousin John and his wife Rita will be having their little baby boy Aiden! In my excitement I thought I would use my creativity to make little crochet hats and things for the little ones and also start some paintings which need some further polishing up and more than just the background I've completed! Creativity- just another part of us complexly and wholly individualistic.

With these new beginnings come a great adventure, seeing little lives grow and learn day by day and step by step. It reminds me that every detail of our life is designed, every character, strength, gift, talent, need, desire, purpose, and plan are all imprinted right there inside of us. A genome of a different measure. Details entwined into our very being before we were even formed in our mothers womb. I know it's hard to imagine that these intricate, intimate features were all part of a workmanship created by God; but for me it gives me peace, strength, and courage to face whatever this world may produce. Knowing that you were not left without the right materials to grow, learn and accomplish your purpose- is comforting.

Below are some of my own creations of art.

Hope

The striking and starving numbers engulf the refugee camps. All around are fragments of what once was, the destruction of not merely homes and buildings, but the fragility of humanity as they wander blindly with eyes wide open looking for help. Conflict and upheaval are a continual cycle to the lives of South Asians. Afghanistan’s war that has spanned 25 years, Nepal’s Maoist uprisings, the incessant civil war in Sri Lanka, and continuous feuds between Pakistan and India have created a myriad of difficulties in the lives of people in this region. Not to mention the Tsunami that washed away lives of thousands, leaving millions homeless and earthquakes in Pakistan that has left people to this day still living in tent shelters. There is a fundamental importance for this region to elevate their health care priorities for mothers, young girls, and children in these refugee and relief camps.

These are women and children, their husbands and fathers lost in wars and torn away by floods, tsunamis, and earthquakes. Their own children even kidnapped as child soldiers, which has been evident in Sri Lanka. The refugee and relief camps that now have become their homes hold their already fragile lives in an uneven balance of life and death. More than 500,000 women each year in developing countries lose their lives to preventable complications of pregnancy and childbirth. These women face high fertility, poor nutritional status, and lack of basic health services. Compounding these problems is the fact that the women and children are now in a state of uncertainty, living in refugee camps.

In these developing countries, the statistics are high in infant mortality; 7.1 million infants worldwide die each year with about half dying during the neonatal period. There is a critical significance of proper maternal and child health care during pregnancy, delivery, and child survival. There is also a definite inadequacy of health care for mothers and children in refugee situations in these poorly resourced countries. In these refugee camp settings, the primary goal of emergency aid is to provide the basic services of shelter, nutrition, water, sanitation, and protection. Although vital, there is a need to address mortality and morbidity that occur due to acute medical, obstetric, surgical problems or chronic diseases that need specialists. A distressing reality is that hospitals and proper health care is not anywhere in immediate vicinity of these refugee camps. Undermining the effectiveness of the emergency primary care as most often, the sickest patients are unable to receive sufficient treatment.

An integration of home based primary and hospital care, alongside maternal and child health in these settings is essential. In recent months, Sri Lanka has seen a dramatic increase in violence leaving thousands running for their lives to makeshift camps barely out of the war zones. Lives filled with constant fear and dread, aid workers are at a constant shortage, mothers waiting in lines to see a physician, in blazing heat and limited sanitation facilities. Maternal and child health is critical to development thereby organization and deployment of proper health care for refugee camps is in dire need. Governments, non-governmental organizations, and healthcare workers across the board need to increase access and resources of maternal and child health amongst refugee and relief camps. Statistics show 34% of child deaths occur in South Asia; a region which has two-thirds the global burden of malnutrition, and holds an estimated half of all maternal deaths worldwide. Annual maternal mortality ratios range from 23/100,000 in Sri Lanka to 529/100,000 in Nepal. A few of the main causes for maternal mortality are hemorrhage, obstructed labor, and infectious diseases. A correlation is apparent between maternal health and neonatal mortality and the wellbeing of children. Health care for mothers and children is dangerously unsatisfactory in most refugee camps.

These nameless uniformed masses of men, women, and children, destitute and clothed in tatters wander aimlessly through the camps. A woman walks by, in her arms she holds her small infant, by her side a frightened child peeps from behind the folds of her skirts. They carry what they hurriedly gathered from their now war torn villages running for their lives from the natural disasters that have destructed their humble surroundings.

How can we create hope from this despair? By stepping up our goals for a higher standard, an effective approach, a cohesive and common vision to build up a strong and efficient healthcare provision for women and children. Let humanity not get lost in warring sects, politics, lack and inefficiency.