We Care February 8, 2010

I had the most interested drive into work this morning. Very interesting, let me tell you.

It was a normal morning. Dark. Cold. Quiet. There is no one on the roads at 6:15am. I usually have a nice relaxing 40 minute drive into work, but not this morning.

“We Care”

What. A. Nightmare. I was driving along Niagara Falls Boulevard. Let me note that this is a four lane highway. Two lanes going one direction, two the other. The speed limit is 45mph and I was peacefully driving along at about 50mph in the far right lane (AKA the slow lane). No one on the road. The sun creeping up. THEN, out of no where a handicap bus comes up beside me. “We Care” were the words across the side of this short white bus. I was quite caught off guard that #1 this bus comes out of nowhere, #2 this bus is going about 55mph is a 45mph zone….and it’s a handicap bus, they should be driving with care. We were driving right next to each for quite a while and it started creeping me out, so I slowed down….because obviously speeding up to get away from it wasn’t working. “We Care” then cut right in front of me then slowed down to about 40mph. Let me note again: WE WERE THE ONLY ONES ON THE ROAD. So, I’m starting to get angry, because I just don’t understand why “We Care” just couldn’t merge into the right lane behind me if it had to make a turn or somthing. I yelled, “What is wrong with you ‘We Care’?” So I merged over into the left lane. There was no way I was going to sit behind this bus. I had a little while to go before I had to get back over into the right lane to make my turn. “We Care” is still going 40mph. It didn’t make a turn or anything. I’m far enough ahead of the bus that I merge back into the right lane. WELL, this must have infuriated “We Care.” “We Care” then merges into the left lane, speeds up to about 65mph and sharply cuts into the right lane in front of me. I’m appalled. I let out a little laugh of astonishment and was thankful that my turn was a few yards away, because this 15 minute ordeal with “We Care” was making me very annoyed.

I would never trust “We Care” to drive around my handicapped loved-ones, because they don’t care. They don’t care.

That is all I have to say about that.

http://www.wecaretrans.com/ “We Care Transportation. Driven To Make A Difference.”

The Cove February 4, 2010

“The Cove” is a film that must be seen by all. I don’t even have words to describe it. There needs to be more activist in the world, such as Ric O’barry and Roger Payne.

“Never depend upon institutions or government to solve any problem. All social movements are founded by, guided by, motivated and seen through by the passion of individuals.” — Margaret Mead

The circle of life. It’s not a one-way connection. The earth has so much to teach us.

http://www.takepart.com/thecove

Hope Extended January 31, 2010

Where do I even begin.

12 January 2010 a horrific earthquake struck Haiti.

“On 28 January the Haitian government gave a confirmed death toll of 170,000, with many more thousands dead in the rubble and outside the capital, and not including unreported bodies buried by relatives. Haitian authorities also estimated that 250,000 people sustained injuries, and as many as one million Haitians were left homeless.”

My mother headed out 26 January with a team of doctors and nurses with a group called, “Hope Extended.” They went to help in any way they could. I’ve been in contact with my mom since she’s been there, and each day opens up to more tragedy, more pain, more injuries, more deaths, more chaos, more confusion, more heartbreak….more stories.

After talking with my mom on the phone earlier today and hearing her just weep from what’s happening. My first response was just anger. Angry that it’s been a few weeks and food is coming into the country, but not getting to the thousands of people, old to young, that are literally starving to death (I’m not being dramatic about this). Angry that the leaders of this world are not really doing anything. Angry that celebrities are raising millions of dollars to “help,” but the help they need is them. Angry that people are coming in with their hair done nicely, taking a few photographs and saying how traumatic it is, then eating the small amount of food available, then leaving….going back to their nice home, running water, food, and family.

I’m not going to lie. I’m still angry about all of this and will be, because that’s just how I am.

But now it’s just brokenness. My heart breaks for these people….and I’m left with tears.

I’ve come to the realization that there’s so much more going on than I realize. I know that God is still good. That there is hope inside each human being.

Rob Bell once wrote:

“Suffering compels us to eliminate the unnecessary, the trivial, the superficial. There is greatness in you. Courage. Desire. Integrity. Virtue. Compassion. Dignity. Loyalty. Love. It’s all in there – somewhere. And sometimes it takes suffering to get at it. It’s in there.”

I think the message that I want to get across is to me, is to the people who are not directly effected by this disaster. Do you understand the immense power inside of you? The power of choice. That we can make a difference. Wether you are like my mom and go right to the place of need and give give give all that inside of you, or you’re a student, have a career, a family. Whatever it may be. Don’t deny that you can help, that you can make a difference in lives. We need each other. Haiti needs you, your family needs you, the stranger down the road needs you.

When events like this happen, I don’t want them to be a thought that comes in and leaves. I want it to change me. I want it to soften my heart. I don’t want to be passive and unaware. This is the world. This is humans. This is what’s going on.

I think through this all, we can find hope.
Find hope in Haiti.
Find hope in people.
And I pray that you would be able to be “Hope Extended” where you are in life.

Please continue to pray for the Haitians and for the relief teams there. They need them.

Father Time January 21, 2010

I am currently in the middle of reading 5 different books. And I have a 6th one sitting on the shelf along with a long list of books I want to read.
Dear Father Time, how come you walk so darn fast? You’re an old man and need to slow down for me so I can read! Pleeeaasse!

Creative Process January 20, 2010

I think this is beautifully brilliant.

January 7, 2010

I love the feeling of realizing that you love someone so much that your heart hurts.

I love God a whole lot today.

Today I started to learn how to channel my passion to love someone in a way that would help people and help them find God and find who they are…and help me too. I think it will be a great journey.

Sir Peter…you are par excellence. December 31, 2009

Ladies and Gents,

I received some pretty remarkable news yesterday that set off the fireworks inside of my heart and brain. Everyone has a classic adventure that they love. Wether it be “Wizard of Oz”, “Swiss Family Robinson”…”The Chronicles of Narnia”…etc. And with that, it is ALWAYS good news to hear that the adventure and magic will be continuing. In this particular case it’s “The Lord of the Rings” !!!!!!!!!

“The Hobbit” of course!

Sir Peter Jackson (he was Knighted yesterday) will be setting out to film a two-part prequel to one of his greatest masterpieces, “The Lord of the Rings.”…along side Guillermo del Toro as the Director. Filming with start in early 2010 and will naturally be in New Zealand.

“The Hobbit Part 1″ Will be hitting the big screens in 2011…Part 2 in 2012.

Contagious Joy December 17, 2009

Contagious Joy…I love it! Have you ever met someone who has that? Gosh, it’s incredible. The other night I went to a Christmas party at the Pastor’s house of the church my parents have been attending. Unfortunately I cannot attend, because I work Sundays…but they ended up having this party on a night I could make it. I’m so glad I could! Never have I wanted so badly wanted to be a part of a church family as I did that night…and I was a part of it, which was so awesome! It’s just so different from the other churches I have been to. The atmosphere of the house was of JOY! It was so happy! Everyone was smiling and laughing and honestly caring about each other. Never have I felt so welcomed and accepted…..not judged and condemned.

It got me thinking. So often churches are all about repentance and mourning our sins…pretty much just taking a whip and whipping ourselves in the back everyday, every hour….for everything we do wrong. How awful! Who would want to do that!? Now don’t get me wrong…there is a time for repentance….and truly being sad about sin. But God has forgiven us!! He doesn’t want us to dwell on that! Gosh, that’s just what the devil wants! The Bible says, “The joy of the Lord is our strength.” That makes all the difference. So that night it got me thinking about how many people just miss out on that joy….because they’re so focused on the “do’s and don’ts.” It’s sooooo sad! Because that contagious joy is sooo good and full of LIFE! And there is SO much to be joyful about!

So may you find that joy…because it’s life giving and just makes life so much better

© Kayla Krajna

“You did not bear the shame, you resisted…sacrificing your life for freedom, justice and honor.” December 15, 2009

“Many small people, who in many small places, do many small things, can alter the face of the world.” The East Side Gallery is an international memorial for freedom. It is a 1.3km long section of the Berlin Wall. It’s so humbling.

Words of Wisdom November 15, 2009

No one likes ulterior motives, so none should possess them. Honesty is a priceless gem.