Dreaming of Silver Roses

 

           

 

            A number of years ago, I was part of group who went through World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine. A number of teens and a handful of adults grouped together to fast for 30 Hours to raise awareness and money for fighting hunger around the world. It is still one of my fondest memories. Abbey was a baby and Mathew was a toddler, so I couldn’t participate in all the activities like the others, but I could fast and pray. (http://www.30hourfamine.org/portal/pages/donor/index.html)

             During the 30 Hour Famine for World Vision that I participated in, we as a group were prepped for mood swings, tension, possible aggression, weariness, or even hyper activity in some of the kids. We had games and community service projects planned, did research about the countries we hoped would receive our help, did a community canned food drive and more. We had to keep the kids awake and moving a bit the entire time.

            I read this from Mr. Abrams website about the Gabriel Method for weight loss:

              Mr. Abrams discovered that human biology is hard-wired for two basic types of stress responses, corresponding to the two major life-threats that confronted our Australopithecine ancestors: attack and starvation.

             The classic fight or flight (FoF) response has been studied exhaustively in stress research. A sudden onset/rapid release response to imminent physical danger, FoF is essential for animal survival, an instinctual mechanism we share with the entire vertebrate kingdom. FoF has very distinctive physiological and biochemical features, primarily a strong cortisol surge, rapid insulin release and speedy glucose metabolism.

             But imminent physical threat is only one type of stress. The other major stressor for all animal life is starvation. Humankind, like other animals, has evolved a distinct physiology for survival during food shortage.(http://www.gabrielmethod.com/documents/holistic_primary_care_article.pdf)

             Abram’s article was discussing actual physical hunger. I’ve personally sense other kinds of famines. Hunger hurts. Hunger drives.

             When the famine time for us was over at 30 Hours we made a pot of plain pinto beans and plain white rice to break the fast much like we’d expect those in some of the third world countries would have based on research we’d read. It was amazing to listen to some of the teens talk about the taste and how good it was to eat the rice and beans. They drank water.

             Although it’s cliché’ many students and some of the adults said over and over again that you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. You really don’t know what you have until you’ve been without it for a prolonged amount of time and suddenly it’s reintroduced to you. There’s a new value to whatever was lost. A new respect for what was found to be so precious. There is also a sense of community built in the midst of loss and in serving together.

              One of the downsides to unprepared fasting (or in serving with a group and then going back to whatever is normal for your life- as a missionary or military person) is found in the tendency to gorge afterwards. You find that you have to fight the urge to hyper stock whatever it is you are either missing or suddenly have reintroduced. Some of our teens decided to go eat at a buffet style restaurant after! NOT a great idea. Some friends of mine and I have experienced the need after an intimate service time- like building houses for Habitat for Humanity, or working with children in Mexico at community after school clubs, or the summers I spent in small towns assisting ministers or youth workers, or I have heard tales about time spent over seas by many friends – to really feel exhausted, depressed, and utterly alone. You were surrounded by similarly focused and like minded people doing something specific that would have purposeful long reaching effects… then crash. You’re doing dishes and homework and life went on without you there as it went on without others where you were. It’s a grieving process to deal with introducing yourself to what was your “norm” and finding the miraculous in the every day common place (for you) life again. It’s hard then when the opportunity arises to experience something similar not to go over the top and gorge on it. Ask a starving man to go easy on a home cooked you give him and you’ll see.

             I found that I often didn’t see my regular every day world the same way. Being driven to find higher purpose any way, it was really a struggle for me to remain non-judgmental about the ignorance of others who haven’t experienced the same thing. It was hard to remember that they had never been deprived of what it was that I now valued differently. They had never seen what I had seen. Because of my life and these experiences, my values are a bit more third culture kid (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Culture_Kids) and global nomad-ish.

             There is a different sort of famine I have realized I was experiencing. Recently, I’ve been watching a show and reading along side a group of women on what to me is a very special forum-the BPD. They are a group made up of individuals who are from all over the globe. I get so giddy just hearing about their lives and their world views. I rave like a nut about how interesting, cool, unique, and beautiful they are to me. Some respond well. Others are embarrassed because I can be a loud fangirl. But I see such a higher purpose in listening and learning from them.

             I have seen the globe in bits through their eyes. Culture, politics, art, music, love, life, and religion all in such infinite diversity shared in one spot. It’s amazing.  I’ve seen what moves them. I’ve seen what they are passionate about. And I admit I’m such a child at heart that I am sincerely in awe of things they see every day or think all the time. But when something is novel or remarkable to me, I feel it like a seven year old at Christmas. And these women move me. They make me curious. They teach me. They make me hungry to see and know more. They make me value what I have more. They make me think about what I believe. They make me work to find just the right words to communicate what I am saying better. They make me want at times to fight beside them or protect them where I think I can. They make me proud to be their friend.

              So, I do stand in awe of who they are- collectively and as individuals. I stand in awe of who they are every day as they move and breathe and have their being on the same ole city streets for them, but on a whole new world for me. I love to cheer their accomplishments and victories. Some are doing things I always dreamt of and some so much more!  I think some of the reason it struck me so profoundly goes back to the same reason the teens I worked with loved those pintos and rice – You don’t always recognize what you’re missing in your life until it’s gone and when you do really eyes wide open see it, you sense and value it more. I am grateful for the fellowship and community.

Filed under: hobby, life, purpose, relating well, relationships, wonder on October 18th, 2009