Wake Up And Dream!

Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for any appointed time: But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it. Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. Habakkuk 2:2-4 NKJV


When we were young, we had dreams.

Most children can tell you with a degree of certainty what it is they want to do when they're adults. Now, this may change, almost with the weather, but they know intuitively that this is not all there is. They have dreams. Once we had dreams. And many of us accomplish them. But, sadly, I believe most of us do not. Many I've noted, are in careers that seem on the surface what they probably wanted to do as kids, or just always wanted to do, but once they matriculate, like children, majors get changed, for whatever reason. So I'll go out on a limb and say  even though successful, very few are living their dream.

We encounter dream killers along the way. Responsibilities come along once we have families, and they are our first priority. Haters come and remind us how old we are, why do you even want to do that, etc. Fear, although self-inflicted, swirls around in our heads and tells us we are not up to the challenge, the sacrifice and the discipline for such an undertaking. All types of things get in the way of us living our individual dream. And sometime, you can get all of this discouragement at the same time. And we buy into it. We push our dreams aside and get back to the business of living. But we always have that nagging inside. What if? I could do it. No I can't. The internal struggle is horrific.

What if Steve Jobs was discouraged?? There'd be nothing Apple in the world. Or Bill Gates? How did we live without Microsoft? Don't forget Larry Paige and Sergey Brin, Google's founders. We'd still be using encyclopedias without them. More recently, Tyler Perry. That man is REALLY living his dream. Studios, back lots, a movie compound? They all started out with only a dream. All had humble beginnings, although I venture to say Jobs and Gates weren't quite as humble as Perry's. They worked their dreams part-time until they could devout all the time they deemed necessary to make it a success. Their successes, I've no doubt have exceeded their wildest dreams.

Personally, I believe God is the giver of dreams. He knows the way, the perfect plan for our lives. He knew it, the bible says, before we were formed in our mother's womb. It's up to us to discover exactly what that is. What sets our souls on fire? I think gifts and dreams go hand in hand many times. We all have them. Sometimes people can go through life never utilizing their gifts or moving toward their dream.

So, as I said, what sets your soul on fire? What is it you enjoy? What idea do you have? Find it, I implore you! Think about it. It doesn't have to start out a big splash. Start small. Employ a vision board. That seems to be the "thing." Put everything you'd like to do toward your dream and as accomplished, tick them off one by one. Do small things that put you in the game. Someone said, "the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Maybe you're an entrepreneur? Maybe a great cook/baker? What is it? Find it and run with it. The only way to activate dreams is doing something. Dreams need hands and feet. No matter how much you want it, or its potential, you must work it. It won't fall out the sky and into your lap. Work it!

Which brings me to one final thought...
Parents, stop trying to get your children to live out your unfulfilled dreams. They have their own. God gave them one just as He did you. If that particular dream has passed, it's not too late to find another. But let them do them. Just like us, they only pass this way once.

You may ask, "Ilia, what's your dream girl?" Voila! This is it. My jump off. My beginning. This is my dream. To write. I've been doing it since elementary school. My mom kept a lot of my writings, but now that she's gone, I don't know what happened to them. I remember a couple of my poems made the church bulletin. I was soooo happy and she was soooo proud. Years later, I just stopped. Until a friend and I had a conversation and a light went on, I remembered I've written speeches for others, wedding toasts, and letters for businesses. Writing sets my soul on fire. There's nothing I'd rather do. All these years I wasted. I'm grabbing the bull by the horn now. I hope, no it's my prayer, that all of you do as well. Don't waste anymore time. Regret is a hard pill to swallow. Do what you can and rely on God to do what you cannot. If you take one step, He'll take ten. He'll open doors, make people receptive and maybe make some of your haters your footstool.

Live your best life. Do what you love. DREAM!!!!

Ninakupenda

Breast Cancer Part 2

In today's blog, the various descriptions of treatments will be noted, but space will not allow delving specifically into each one in this one blog. So again this is very general information.

Treatment for breast cancer depends on the stage of the cancer. It may consist of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.
Surgery- mammaplasty, tissue expansion, lymph node dissection, lumpectomy and mastectomy.
Mammaplasty is plastic surgery to increase or reduce the size of a breast, or the reconstruct a breast. Tissue expansion is inserting a balloon under the skin and then gradually expanding it to stretch and grown the skin and surrounding tissue. Lymph node dissection is the removal of a lymph node. Lumpectomy is the surgical removal of a lump(tumor) in the breast. Mastectomy is the surgical removal of sum or all of the breast.
Medical procedures- teletherapy and radiation therapy. Teletherapy is radiation therapy that uses xrays or other high energy beams to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy is the treatment that uses xrays and other high energy rays to kill abnormal cells.    

         
Medications- Estrogen modulator mimics the effects of estrogen on various tissues including the                       breast bone and reproductive organs. Chemotherapy kills cells that are growing or                                 multiplying too quickly. Hormone based chemotherapy treats hormone sensitive cancers.                     Bone health helps strengthen and build bones.

During the course of this disease many doctors will contribute to the treatment before, during and after breast cancer.

A primary care provider will probably receive results (most times through a mammogram) and forward the to an oncologist, which is a cancer physician. There will be a radiation oncologist is many cases. Also, in many cases there may be a surgeon. After the cancer is destroyed, many times a plastic surgeon will be utilized, but that is entirely up to the patient.

Breast Cancer in Men

Most men diagnosed with breast cancer usually have a modified, radical mastectomy. Breast conserving surgery with lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy may be used for some. Therapy given after an operation when cancer cells can no longer be seen is called adjuvant therapy. Even if the doctor removes all the cancer that can be seen at the time of the operation, the patient may be given radiation therapy, chemotherapy or hormone therapy and/or targeted therapy after surgery to try to kill any cancer cells that may be left.

Ladies, PLEASE HAVE THOSE MAMMOGRAMS! It is crucial. And even more so if you have a family history of it. On a personal note, I had one this past Wednesday. Like Nike says, Just Do It! Make the time. As always, the life you save maybe your own!!!

Gents, you need to examine your breasts. Self examination is key for you, because you do not have regularly scheduled mammograms. Go all around your breast in a circular motion until you've checked the entire breast. This is what women do. Nobody has to know. Again, like Nike says, JUST DO IT! The life YOU save maybe your own as well   

Next week, two breast cancer survivors will speak with me on their journey to wellness.
Ruth Wilson and Stephanie Young Johnson have so graciously allowed me and you by extension to see what the road is like and how they got to the other side.

Ninakupenda

When Later Is Too Late

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone.  Hebrews 12:14a NIV

  We all have different personalities, idiosyncracies and upbringing. In a word, we're individuals, each marching to our own beat and trying to get through this world as unscathed as possible. Having different personalities, we will, inevitably, find ourselves at odds with others from time to time. That spouse, parent, child, relative, church member, neighbor or co-worker. On occasion, we will bump heads and cross words will be spoken. This is human. Everyone experiences this, there's no escaping it.

  But how to handle such situations? If you're the type that has to be right all the time, your traverse on this terrestrial ball will be one of constant conflict. Ditto if you're abnormally prideful. On the opposite spectrum, if you're passive, meek, the go along to get along type, eventually, you, too, will have your fill of people riding roughshod over you.

  Again, how to handle such situations? I, personally, if offended will pull someone aside, away from others and tell them they've hurt and or offended me. I have found when dealing with adults, this is most beneficial. Get it all out there. Chances are they didn't even realize the offense. If it's an argument/disagreement, then it's probably best to wait for cooler heads to prevail. Then take the subject up. Sometimes, you have to be the initiator(the more mature person), to open the lines of communication to restore peace. A friend of mine, my longest, since fourth grade, over 50 years prefers to write a letter to whomever offended her. I once was the recipient of one of her loooong letters. lol. She feels that by writing it, it's therapeutic for her, and that she'll get out all she wishes to convey, and they can go from there if the other party is amenable. If not, she let's it go. Now matter how it's accomplished, peace should always be our goal. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9

  Sadly, some may not want to talk it out. You may not even know what transpired, all you know is they are perfectly willing to let a relationship go, because they are not mature enough to deal with your feelings in general and theirs in particular. Sometimes, it can be over some perceived slight, real or imagined, and they have too much pride to sit down and talk about it. I'm of the let's talk it out delegation. I value harmony. Life is too short to be nursing animosity. But, again, we're all individuals. So marriages end, families become estranged, churches become divided and friendships end, when just sitting down could probably have corrected the situation. Perhaps you'll never reach the intimacy that you once shared, but you can still move in and out of the same spaces without awkwardness. In some instances, however, you have to just to Shake the dust. Mark 6:11 as Jesus told the twelve, "And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them.

  The most saddest part of all, after no meeting of the minds, dust has been shaken, you've both gone on with your lives, you still have love for them, and as the Rev Dr. Kenneth W. Arrington Sr. is known to say, "She's gone on to give an account of her stewardship."  They've passed on. Then you start to feel some type of way. Could I have done more? Should I have had a third party witness, my asking them to sit and talk about whatever is was, again, real or perceived that occurred to end the relationship? All this second guessing is a miserable thing. I've experienced this just recently, and have been flooded with emotions, until yesterday. It occurred to me, I reached out on two occasions to try to get it right. They were not receptive. I did all I could to try to rectify the situation. I turned it over to God years ago, and I decided that their death was not going to destroy the peace I had with the situation. You see, all we can do is what God would have us to do, and I tried that. Twice. Some people you just have to love from afar, but when the address becomes heaven, it shakes you, if only momentarily.

  Being a very direct person, I still advocate for working it out. For being receptive. The bible says life is but a a vapor. Why be immersed in drama and ill will when peace is an option? Full disclosure, I've had run ins with people, and I've been wrong sometimes, and have had to humble myself and apologize, and I've been the injured party as well, and I still seek peace. In both situations, I talk with people. I thrive on harmony. Acrimony, stress and meanness, can affect your health and of course, your mental well being. Stress when you hit a certain age can wreak havoc and leave the door open for a reduced immune system that leaves you suspetible for situations you really don't want to put your body, nor your mind through.

  Now I know, there are probably some, who would rather nurse hurt feelings, relive ugly situations because, quite frankly, some people thrive on drama. It's like the air they breathe. I saw a meme  awhile back that said something to the effect of "some people won't like you because your spirit upsets their demons." That's a blog for another day. But that's not how God wants us to live. I will not live that way for my peace and well being, and by stopping up His glory and His favor for me.

 Iyanla Van Zant says it best, "beloved, live in peace and not in pieces."

 Rest in the arms of Jesus girl.

Ninakupenda
Kupendana    

Breast Cancer Part 1

  In observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October, I will be sharing some knowledge I've recently obtained about this dreaded, yet treatable disease. In subsequent blogs, I will be interviewing two women that have both fought this battle and come out on the other side. Hallelujah. My sheros.

  According to Medical News Today, Breast cancer is the most common invasive cancer in women and the 2nd leading cause of death in women after lung cancer. Advances in screening and treatment for breast cancer have improved survival rates dramatically since 1989. According to the American Cancer Society, there are more than 3.1M survivors in the U.S.. The chance of any woman dying from breast cancer is around 1 in 38(2%). Death rates have been decreasing since 1989 as well.

  Awareness of the symptoms and need for screening are important ways to reducing the risk. In rare cases, men can develop breast cancer as well.

Symptoms: The first symptom of breast cancer usually appear as an area of thickened tissue in the breast or a lump in the breast or armpit.

• Other symptoms include
• Pain in the armpits or breast that does not change with the menstrual cycle.
• Pitting or redness of the skin of the breast, similar to the surface of an orange
• A rash around or on one of the nipples 
• Discharge from a nipple, possibly containing blood
• Sunken or inverted nipple
• Change in size or shape of breast
• Peeling, flaking or scaling of the skin on the breast or nipple.

  Most breast lumps are not cancerous. However women should visit a doctor for an examination if they notice a lump in the breast.

  A doctor stages cancer according to the size of the tumor and whether it has spread to lymph nodes or other parts of the body. There are different ways of staging breast cancer. One popular way is 0-4.

• Stage 0  Known as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), the cells are limited to within the ducts and have not invaded surrounding tissues
• Stage 1  At this stage the tumor measures up to two centimeters. across.  It has not affected any lymph nodes, or there are small groups of cancer cells in the lymph nodes.
• Stage 2  Tumor is 2cm across, and it has started to spread to nearby nodes, or is 2-5 cm across and has not spread to the lymph nodes.
•  Stage 3 Tumor is up to 5 cm across, and has spread to several lymph nodes or the tumor is larger than 5cm and has spread to a few lymph nodes.
• Stage 4  The cancer has spread to distant organs, most often the bones, liver, brain or lungs.

Causes

  After puberty a women's breast consist of fat connective tissue and thousands of lobules. These are tiny tubes, or ducts, and carry the milk toward the nipple. Cancer causes the cells to multiply uncontrollably. They do not die at the usual point in their life cycle.  This excessive cell growth causes cancer because the tumors uses nutrients and energy and deprives the cells around it.

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  Breast cancer usually starts in the inner lining of the milk ducts or the lobules that supply them with  milk. From there, it can spread to other parts of the body.

  We've seen the 'Real Men Wear Pink Too' shirts, right? Well they should, because male breast cancer is a thing. A very real thing. Actor Richard Roundtree is a survivor. Matthew Knowles, father to both Beyonce and Solange has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. Male breast cancer is a relatively rare cancer, but one doctors often diagnose in the later stages. Knowing how to recognize the signs can help a person of both sexes get early treatment.

• Males breast cancer accounts for fewer than 1% of all cancer diagnoses worldwide. A man's lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is about 1:833 according to the ACS.  The outlook for male breast cancer is excellent if diagnosis occurs in the early stages. However, early diagnosis is not always possible. One factor is delay in lack of awareness. While women know how to look out for changes that could indicate breast cancer. There is far less awareness among men which means they are less likely to seek help in the early stages. Breast cancer affects men differently, as they have a small amount of breast tissue in comparison with females. This can make it easier to detect small lumps, but it also means that the cancer has less room to grow within the breast, As a result, it may spread more quickly to nearby tissues. 

  For these and other reasons, around 40% of men with breast cancer receive a diagnosis in stage 3 or 4, when the disease has already spread to other parts of the body. As a result, overall survival rates are lower for men than for women.

Symptoms for men slightly differ

•   A lump in one breast with is usually painless
•   Nipple retraction, ulceration and discharge
•   Skin puckering or dimpling on the breast
•  Redness or scaling of the skin on the breast or nipple
•  If cancer spreads, swelling in the lymph glands, in or near the underarm area, breast or bone pain.

  The prognosis for breast cancer in men is similar to that in women. According the ACS, the chances of surviving 5 years or more after diagnosis are, on average

• 96% when cancer affects only the breast tissue at diagnosis
• 83% when it affects nearby areas as well as the breast
• 23% when it has spread to other parts of the body.

  For this reason, it is essential to seek help as soon as a person notices changes. Early stage breast cancer responds well to treatment. Diagnostic methods and treatments have improved in the last few years, and so chances of living for at least 5 years after diagnosis are probably higher than above figures for people currently receiving a diagnosis.  

Next Friday, treatments.

Get those mammograms ladies. The life you save may be your own.

Ninakupenda

   

  

Come back Sunday for When Later Is Too Late.  

One And Done or PUSH?

Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, uttered or unexpressed, the motion of a hidden fire, that trembles in the breast. Prayer is the burden of a sigh, the falling of a tear, the upward glancing of an eye, when none but God is near. Prayer is the simplest form of speech, that infant lips can try. Prayer, the sublimest strains that reach, the Majesty on high. Prayer is the Christian's vital breath, the Christian's native air. His watchword at the gates of depth, He enters heav'n with prayer. Prayer is the contrite sinners voice, Returning from his ways. While angels in their songs rejoice, And cry, "Behold! He prays!" Nor prayer is made on earth alone, the Holy Spirit pleads. And Jesus at the Father's throne, for sinners intercedes. O thou by whom we come to God, the Life, the Truth, the Way. The path of prayer thyself hast trod. Lord, teach us how to pray.  By Sally DeFord    

  My beloved pastor says the first sentence of this song every Sunday before altar call. I look forward to it. It signals to me, that even though I can pray anywhere, it's now time to talk to the Ancient of Days in His house. I get a warmth all over. And then I spill my guts. And I get straight to the point. You know what I mean, right, you churchgoers? At that time even if my world is crumbling, I experience for that short moment, the peace that passeth all understanding. Phil 4:7 

  Prayer is deeply personal. It's a conversation had with the One who knew you before you were formed in your mother's womb. Corporate prayer, while not as personal, renders wonderful results when the congregants are on one accord.

  Prayer can be had anytime, anyplace. While cleaning the house, riding to work, showering, washing the car, at your desk, in the store, anywhere. We can pray anywhere because God's everywhere. That should be a comforting thought. But how do we pray? Do you pray about something one time, and leave it with Him, knowing He knew before you even formed the words, and was just waiting for it to flow out your mouth. You know, from your mouth to God's ears. Or do you petition Him constantly about the issue on your heart. Maybe you're a PUSH prayer, Pray Until Something Happens? Do you wonder which way is best? Are you conflicted sometimes? I am.

  Sometimes you have the faith(confidence) and you can rest in knowing that He heard you and is working on your petition as soon as you got it out your mouth. My mom was like that. "Pray and leave it there", she'd instruct me. Her thought was God wasn't hard of hearing. And the elders had great faith. They were one and done. However, sometimes something presses in so close that you can hardly breathe. You can't even form a prayer. There are days when all you can say is "help me Lord", so much it becomes a mantra. Like I shared, I was really conflicted about this. How to pray Jesus Himself gave us a blueprint, when one of the disciples asked Him, LORD teach us to pray. Luke 11:1 I didn't want to badger the Lord, but I needed to keep sending them up. It made me feel better. Brought peace in the moment. Life comes at you FAST! It comes at our loved ones FAST!  Many times you feel like you have to bombard heaven. We are instructed to pray without ceasing. So do that! Keep praying. Keep knocking. Because I'm a witness, He'll answer. Some times even SUDDENLY! That's the most thrilling. You barely get it out your mouth, and it's handled! Some times it takes a minute to get your desired result. Hang on. He's no doubt working it out, doing what He does, being busy being God. There are also times when your petition doesn't come to fruition, and in those times we must accept that what we wanted was not His plan for us. We have to settle it in our hearts that something better is on the horizon.

  Sometimes prayer isn't words. It's tears. It's humming. Silent words that only He can hear flowing from an overburdened heart. There will be times that so much is going on at once we don't even know what to pray for. Romans 8:26-27 addresses this. In the same way, the spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God. That's great news. When you don't know what to pray, enlist the Holy Spirit to take over for you. I personally do this frequently. I want my prayers to line up with God's will, and the Holy Spirit knows.

  So pray, pray and pray some more. Or if you're the one and done, rest in His promises. Have faith to know that it will be, and if it doesn't come to be, know that He knows best and something is coming to wonderful that will probably knock your socks off. I think our praying must, for lack of a better term, match the situation. This way, you'll get the amount of peace you need. Big prayers or small, God can handle them ALL! But we must remember, no matter how trying the situation, that we must first believe He'll answer us. That He's coming. God honors faith above all else. Faith is a hard thing sometimes when you're going through, for most of us, I think. We believe but we doubt. We believe one minute and doubt the next when we're not seeing what we wish soon enough. I speak from experience. So hold on. Tight. When doubt comes, like Jesus said, tell it Peace be still!

  A few of you contacted me after my very first blog. You shared and I want you to know I'm praying for you. Some of you have suffered great loss. Some just discouraged with how life is going at our age. Some have relational issues. If no one else is praying for you, I am. I thank God for all of you who take the time to read my blogs. I pray that you're blessed and highly favored. I pray your vision holds up so you can read, read and read some more. Lol. I pray that family members get right. Jobs are obtained. Bills are paid. Good health returns.  I pray when all this good comes to pass, that you'll look up and thank God from whom all blessings flow. Let's all keep praying in faith. God's got it. It'll be alright. It will! Be encouraged.

What a friend we have in Jesus. All our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry. Everything to God in prayer. Oh what peace we often forfeit. Oh what needless paid we bear. All because we do not carry. Everything to God in prayer. Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged. Take it to the Lord in prayer.

  Thank you Rev Dr. John E. Jackson Sr, for helping me clear away my confusion. Please join us for a word you'll never forget, at Trinity United Church of Christ Gary 1276 W 20th Ave. Gary IN.


Ninakupenda

The Crime That Circles The Globe 3

  The office to Monitor & Combat Trafficking in Persons agency of the United States Department of State says that modern slavery, the trafficking in persons for the use of recruiting, harboring, transporting , providing or obtaining a person for compelled labor or sex acts, through force or coercion.

  Most causes that contribute to this heinous activity are: most often poverty, lack of education, economic freedom, the rule of law and poor societal structure. All of these can create an environment that fosters the acceptance and propagation of slavery. Of course, this is most prevalent in impoverished nations with vulnerable minority communities, although it does exist in developed countries. Tens of thousands toil in slave like conditions in various industries, such as mining, farming and factories, producing goods for domestic consumption or to export to more prosperous nations. Be cause of these factors, slavery continues and will continue to expand, unfettered by international efforts to stop it. The sweat shops making the Nikes everyone loves.

  In older forms of slavery, slave owners spent more on procuring slaves. The cost of keeping them healthy was considered a better investment than having to replace the slave. In modern times, slaves are easier to get at a lower price, so replacing them when exploiters run into problems becomes easier. Modern slaves can be quite profitable and corrupt governments tacitly allow it, despite being outlawed by international treaties, such as the "Supplemental Convention on the Abolition of Slaves, and local laws. American slaves were sold in 1809 around the equivalent of 40K. Today, slaves can be bought for 90K.

  The civil war in Libya in 2014 and the breakdown of law and order have rendered migrants enslaved being sold in open slave markets. That's five years ago! Mauritania has a long history of slavery. Chattel slavery was formally made  illegal in the country, but the laws are not enforced. It is estimated that around 90K(2%) of the populations are slaves. In addition, forced marriage and child prostitution are not criminalized.

  Debt bondage, sadly, is still a thing and can be passed down to descendants like chattel slavery. This occurs when people give themselves into slavery as a security against a loan, or when they inherit a debt from a relative. The cycle begins when people take extreme loans under the condition they will work off the debt. What the debtor does not understand that the loan is designed that it's never satisfied and it's passes on sometimes for generations. Most times people have work far beyond the amount they owe. This practice is most common in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.  In India, the Bonded Labor System Abolition Act sees convictions rarely and the fine is a whopping $2.00!

  Another form is forced migrant slavery. People may be enticed to migrate for work. After they arrive, their documents are seized and they are forced to work under the threat of violence to them or their families. Undocumented immigrants may also be taken advantage of, and without legal residency, they have no legal recourse. This is found here in the U.S., Europe and the middle east. In the U.K, Vietnamese are trafficked to work in cannabis farms, and when there's a raid, they're shipped off to prison,

  Last, but not least, is prison labor. In China, the prison system holds millions and they are subjected to forced and unpaid labor. Millions have died under the extreme circumstances in Chinese prisons. Also, the Chinese have labor camps, imprisoning hundreds of thousands or Muslims and other minority groups

  Even though the 13th amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, Texas, Georgia, Alabama and Arkansas prisoners are not paid at all for their labor. Federal prison industries paid inmates 0.90c per hour. Many times work is forced and refusal is punished by confinement. Prison labor industry makes over 1B USD per year, selling products that inmates make while inmates are paid very little or nothing at all. California inmates fight wildfire for $1.00 per hour and save the state 100M per year.

  In conclusion, Human Trafficking is not only illegal, it's a travesty and a sin against the Creator. How people can choose to own another human being, as you would a pet is beyond comprehension. This is capitalism at it's most ugly and extreme. But with everything, if you see something that looks wrong, call it in. Below are some warning signs:

Appearing malnourished
Showing signs of physical injuries and abuse
Avoiding eye contact, social interaction and authority figures/law enforcement
Seeming to adhere to scripted or rehearsed responses in social interaction.
Lacking official documents
Appearing destitute/lacking personal belongings
Working excessively long hours
*Living at place of employment
Checking into hotels/motels with older males, and referring to those males as boyfriend or "daddy" which is often street slang for pimp
Poor physical/dental health
Untreated STDs
Small children serving in a family restaurant
Security measures that appear to keep people inside and establishment.
Not allowing people to venture out in public alone, or speak for themselves.

*This transpired in Gary at Luigi's pizza early 2000s. A fire revealed that lots of men were living in a makeshift apartment in the basement of the pizza house. Several men were rounded up and none had proper identification. Goggle it. I'm sure it's still going on today in northwest Indiana. Gary, Hammond and especially East Chicago I've no doubt have people suffering the unconscionable for a
better life.

Let's all be mindful of our surroundings. Drill in into your children like never before. Again, try not to be fearful, but rather aware. The life you save may be your own.

Ninakupenda

Hop Off That Treadmill

Not that I speak in respect of want; for I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content.  Phil 4:11 KJV

  Trying to make a dollar out of fifteen cents. Counting the nickels, sitting on the dimes, and picking up every penny. Striving, constantly striving for more. For some, it's a never ending battle. Always trying to upgrade, get more, do better, running around like a hamster on it's little treadmill.

  Think of children. Want drives them absolutely mad at Christmastime. The anticipation gnaws at them until sleep is almost impossible. They've made their little lists and cannot wait, literally cannot wait to rip through the gifts to see the objects of their affection. But in a couple of days... you know how it goes. Disinterest. On to something else. On this you can depend. So this mindset starts in childhood.

  I had five apartments in four years. Always upgrading. My mom used to call me her gypsy daughter. Each apartment was always better than the last for my son and me, until I got tired of moving. My cousin Tyrone, God rest his soul, and others got tired of moving me. Decided to seek permanence. I decided to get off the treadmill and buy.  Being the hamster can be exhausting. Many of us succumb to the hamster complex. Can't stop buying, especially those addicted to trying to keep up with others on their own treadmill.

 Nicer car, bigger house or apartment, designer labels, jobs to careers, vacations stateside to worldwide, wives to trophies(lol), always on the quest to get more, thinking, once I obtain such and such, do such and such, see such and such, I'll be content. But sadly, it's a never ending battle.

  Then there's technology. The latest phone, tv, or gadget. iPhone has a new version of their phone yearly and the other companies aren't far behind. The iPhone 11 I'm certain will perform the same tasks as the XR, but by golly you must have it. Televisions are much of the same, a few months after you purchase yours, here comes one with a new wrinkle. And as for gadgets, Alexa has been challenged by Google home. Which to get? There's always something new.  

  In addition to all that, we're aging. A number of us are nearing retirement. So we simply must beef up the 401K, the Roth, our savings and anything else to get us to the promised land in retirement. Again, there's ALWAYS SOMETHING! You're probably thinking, this is all about the under 40 crowd, huh, boomers? Well I know a couple of 50s plus still on that treadmill, one a little older than your truly and one pushing 70, not allowing themselves the rest from many decades of labor that they deserve, but constantly trying to acquire more and more and more. What they still doesn't get is that with their advancing age, they're just setting themselves up for more health issues than they currently have, and their kids will be back here, enjoying all the fruits of their labor, all because they couldn't bring themselves to stop the quest to keep acquiring more and learn to finally be content. I might add, they're all men. This is not an indictment on working. Some really love the work they do, and it's not done in the furtherance of getting more stuff.

  But, the question is, high long did the "high" of the new last. Until it's first thousand miles, or after a move when everything was in its place, after you wore something a couple of times, after a few paychecks with the increased income, when you've visited every place you're interested in seeing, or when the trophy wife started nagging or getting a little long in the tooth? The highs from things never last. EVER. There's a place inside us all that seeks contentment. Freedom from constantly trying to obtain things that lose their value once we bring them home.

  Now, don't get me wrong, if you've outgrown your space, or if you're riding around in a death trap, you should seriously consider upgrading. Not necessarily from a one bedroom apartment to a five bedroom house, or a Chevy Cavalier to a Cadillac Escalade. But what you can handle, within budget, not taking into thought others suggestions or making purchases to keep up with others. DO YOU!

 Again, the question is how to get off that treadmill?

  I think, in my humble, we must break free of the desire to want everything we see, because we feel we're entitled, have worked hard for it, everyone else has it, or just as parents used to tell us, because. There is only one who can fill the deep longing in our hearts that push us to try to satisfy the longing with material things. Matthew 6:19-20 says Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasurers in heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. Constant wanting and obtaining is simply trying to fill a void we aren't capable of filling, unless we fill it with the Lord. Only He can fill the constant yearning. I believe He implanted within us this need to need Him. To desire Him. Nothing else satisfies. We run around like chickens with our heads cut off. Always on the lookout for something new and improved. I suggest being on the lookout for Someone tried and true, the Author and Finisher of our faith. If we do this, we'll look around and see we're off the treadmill. Chilling. Filled with gratitude for those gifts we already possess. And at last CONTENT.

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