Mark and I slept in through church today (my fault - I'm the one who gets us up on Sundays). I was so sad to see the clock say 10:00 when I finally stopped snoozing, but that was reality. So I got up, played with Bandit for a while, washed my face, made coffee...the usual weekend routine.
(Speaking of Bandit, here he is enjoying the sunshine with crazy hair:)
Anyway, back to my conviction.
I'm not convicted about sleeping through church (although I'm not happy that it happened). I'm convicted because I'm sitting here, warm in my apartment, watching I Love Lucy, typing happily on my computer.
And all the while, there are young children who are scared, alone, starving, being kidnapped, raped, drugged, and forced to work against their will. There are more slaves at this very moment than there have ever been in history.
The facts are sickening. There are millions of children, teenagers, and women who are being forced to have sex with perverted men who are willing to pay for it, right now at this second. Many are being forced to have sex over 20 times a day. They can't escape, or their families will die.
The reality is that my sweet puppy is safer than millions of children are. So much is wrong with this picture. I know I shouldn't feel guilty for being fed, warm, and loved. I'm trying not to. Guilt doesn't accomplish much.
But conviction does.
Right now, Mark and I don't really have much extra money. But one day we will, and you can bet your bottom penny that stopping human trafficking is at the top of my list of things to fund.
Not only to fund, but to give my time to. And really, my life.
Because it's not right for a child's innocence to be taken away. It makes my heart, mind, and stomach sick to no end.
I'm glad for this, though, because I have no doubt that Jesus feels the same way.
("For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me" (Matthew 25:35-36). This passage is nice and neat in my mind, but it's not at all. Jesus is talking about the starving, naked, diseased. Those who are dying of thirst, who are being molested, who are poor through no fault or choice of their own. SLAVES. People who have no rights. And we are called to visit, clothe, heal, look after, rescue.)
Jesus is the only one who can give us the strength and knowledge to help. I know that I have no power apart from the Holy Spirit. So for now, I pray, and I will continue to. Every single day, as many times as I can. These children and teenagers and women deserve better.
I will stay informed, and I will inform others. We live in the age of technology and social media...to claim that I didn't know is ignorant. So inform yourself, and take action. I don't think for a second that God will accept the excuse that we were simply "unaware." How much more selfish can we be?
Educate yourself, and get the word out. It just as easily could be happening to you.
Check out the videos and info at these sites (it's worth your time):
Think it's not in your backyard? Think again.
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