The Beauty of Silence

Saturdays are my Sabbath. I know, I know, Sunday is the Sabbath as far as a Christian is concerned, but for someone like myself Sunday is full of church activities that leave me exhausted by the end of the day. Perhaps this is why I do everything I can to keep Saturday off the schedule. I rarely plan anything other than to sleep in and then enjoy the morning. It keeps me sane and offers clarity.

Saturday mornings are a bit unique in my viewpoint. Most people are sleeping in after a long week of work. Some have stayed up quite late enjoying a myriad of entertainment choices. This means that when I wake up around 7am most Saturdays there is a beautiful sound that hovers over the start of the day: silence. It seems to permeate everything around our little home and gives a person time to really think about life. A good cup of coffee and an hour of silence are one of those blessings  I try not to take for granted.

Perhaps this is something we miss out on in our culture. In attempting to go from one distraction to the next, or filling up our schedules from morning until night (assuming busyness is some kind of godly virtue) we start to miss out on some important aspects of being human. We need time away from distractions so we can actually focus on things that really matter. It's almost as if God gives us silence at the start of our day so we can get our heart and mind in order before we start our daily journey.

So before you wash those dishes, get the laundry started, or even take your shower, it might be best to give thanks to God for giving you this sliver of time that has no agenda and no 'to-do' list. Use it wisely.

From the Ruins

You may recall that back in 2010 a massive earthquake struck the nation of Haiti. Already the most impoverished country in the world, the earthquake devastated the nation and left it in shambles. However the largest casualties in this event were the millions of children left without parents, families, or anywhere that they could call home. Left on the streets to fend for themselves, to beg for what food they could get their hands on, many of these children faced a bleak future in which death was imminent.

From the ruins, from the devastation, arose a glimmer of hope. Started by a pastor in the United States and local Haitians, Alex's House began as a place that offered the hope of a home to the children living on the streets. While food, clothing, shelter, and education is freely given, it is also a place where children are taught how to be disciples of Christ in the hopes that they will one day rise up to be the future leaders of Haiti. Working with other churches in Haiti they are creating a network of orphanages across the country that strive to create a safe place for the kids to live, to give them a family that loves them, and to give them opportunities few in this country could dream of having.

 Hub City Church proudly partners with Alex's House to assist them in this mission. This is our orphanage and these are our children and it is an honor for us to be used by God to give these kids a bright future. If you'd like to learn more about his amazing ministry, or would like to donate financially, please visit the link below. You'll be glad you did.



http://alexshouse-haiti.blogspot.com/