Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Let's take a look together at one of the biggest oversights of our time. We are about to enter the month of October, the month that is deemed "Domestic Violence Awareness Month."

Here's the first thing that enters my mind when I hear that phrase:

What about the other months?

Shall I forget about domestic violence and only worry about it during October? Does awareness month really DO anything? What happens during October that help bring an end to domestic violence? Why October?

Obviously being a little fecitious here, why do we even have an awareness month? Why not an awareness year? It happens every single day all across our wretched domestic violence-plagued nation, and yet we only dedicate one month to being "aware" of it.

Hm.

People always say that holidays like Mother's Day and Father's Day are Hallmark holidays - created to generate money for greeting card companies and such.

Why do we have a Domestic Violence Awareness Month? Is there some sort of greeting card line making money off of domestic violence cards? I think not. I understand that domestic violence is a serious issue and is not to be taken lightly, however, I feel as though this sort of heightened awareness level is almost a detriment to the cause itself. Let's say that in October, since awareness is up, domestic violence actually experiences a recession. How we would measure that I have no idea...but let's just say that it happens. Then, just like other fads of awareness, the awareness would fade and domestic violence rises again. It's a vicious cycle.

Beanie Baby awareness turned into a Beanie Baby fad, which eventually faded and is now a memoir.

Toms, Invisible Children, and the Inspi(red) deal is awareness of AIDS and starvation in Africa. It's now turned into a fashion statement. Does that money really make a difference in Africa? No, it funds more meetings to brainstorm the next T-shirt design.

Not to say that Domestic Violence Awareness month is a fad, persay, but I feel like it's not the best way to fight it. Unfortunately, I'm all talk and no action because I don't have any ideas on how to tackle domestic violence head on.

I apologize if I come off as crass or inconsiderate. I merely think that it's ridiculous and a giant oversight to have an awareness month for something that ruins lives on a daily basis. Sorry for the rant.

In other news, the Hummer truck is the most disgusting car I have ever seen. Someone owns one and parks it at school. I have nothing against the person who owns it, and in fact, I wouldn't mind riding in it should this person ever offer. HOWEVER, I find this to be hideous and a nearly dysfunctional design for a vehicle.

That's all.

Hero #2

As you may recall, my previous hero was Francine Rivers, a dynamic author who is clearly being used by God. If you don't recall that, just scroll down a little bit. :)

Well let's just say that Francine is only one of a few female heroes that I look up to.

This next hero of mine is simply a musical icon. She writes some of the most dynamic worship songs I have ever heard - full of theology and praise, but easy to sing and easy to memorize....so impactful. Not only is she a songwriter but she has an incredible voice - consistent and pure. I knew that she was amazing a couple years ago, but not until recently did I realize that she updates her own website and blog consistently, giving advice to readers and aspiring songwriters as well as sharing what God is doing in her life.


The Lord truly has gifted her with incredible music talent. And an accent. And she wears scarves a lot. Her name is Brooke Fraser.

If you don't know who Brooke is, she is a part of the Hillsong clan - author of Hosanna, Desert Song, Soon, and others. She is just amazing!! Her solo albums have a different style than the Hillsong ones because they are geared toward more personal reflections. I thoroughly enjoy her music and...I wanna be like her when I grow up.

Can I get an amen?

How far is the east from the west?

Do you know? How far is it?

Well that's on my mind because a song that we're doing at school talks about just that - how the Lord forgets about our sins and transgressions, putting them as far as the east is from the west. How far is that? Maybe it's just the mathematician in me that wants to fathom HOW FAR that really is. Like, really. How far is it. But the great thing about God is that it's farther than I could ever imagine. I can't fathom it. Just like I can't fathom eternity, untainted love, immeasurable grace....I can't fathom how far the east is from the west.
That's so cool.

I've been thinking lately, too, about the richness of words, specifically in the text of some of the most precious hymns ever written. Words like:

"When peace, like a river, attendeth my ways; When sorrows like sea billows roll....WHATEVER my lot, Thou hast TAUGHT me to say: It is well, It is well with my soul."

How absolutely precious are those words. So rich, so deep. I love it.

I have other lighter news to share as well, but I'm off to Computer Programming. :)