Reflections on Ash Wednesday: Teach us to sit still
“Teach us to care and not to care
Teach us to sit still.” ~T.S. Eliot, Ash Wednesday
by Aly Lewis
I am a recovering perfectionist, or so I’d like to think. More often than not, I’m recovering from the ramifications of perfectionism instead of overcoming perfectionism itself. Most of the time, I’m recovering from a bruised ego and a worn out soul.
At the risk of sounding like one those ridiculous job interview farces where the candidate arrogantly clucks out weaknesses that no one in their right mind would call weaknesses, “I try too hard. I care too much,” (eye roll please) the truth is, I try too hard and I care too much. About the wrong things.
I try too hard in the wrong things. I care too much about the wrong things.
The Majestic Plastic Bag
by Becky Rosaler
I spotted one on the shoulder of the freeway yesterday! It made me wonder, “Will this Majestic Plastic Bag complete its journey and make its way ‘home’ to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?” What is this Majestic Plastic Bag that I speak of? Watch this 4-minute mockumentary that Heal the Bay created to learn more about the not-so-elusive creature.
Fatalism Kills
by Scott Sabin
Years ago, as a young naval officer, I heard a story from a friend of mine who had been assigned to train sailors from a foreign navy that was buying an older US warship.
This crew suffered from a fatalism that was crippling. According to his story, the ship was fitted out with the latest firefighting and damage control equipment. However, as the ship was being transferred to its new homeport, a fire broke out and the new crew, believing the fire was God’s will, abandoned ship rather than fight the fire. The handful of US trainers successfully fought the fire and then maneuvered the ship to pick up the new crew in their lifeboats. Later, the transfer completed, another fire broke out and this time without the US trainers on board, the new crew let the ship burn.
I don’t know if this story is true or not, but to me it illustrates how fatalism can be deadly.
Join the Conversation
Share your love with someone special today with one of
Plant With Purpose’s life changing gifts:
Cupid’s Creeping Up On Us
Are you prepared?
Tired of the cheesy chocolates and fleeting flowers?
Want to branch out beyond the canned cards and candy hearts?
This Valentine’s Day, give that special someone a gift with a whole lot of heart. Plant With Purpose’s Life-Changing Gifts provide lasting and lovable ways to show you care.
For the grant cycle, and beyond!
By Aly Lewis, Staff Writer and Grants Specialist
Last night I had the privilege of enjoying mouthwatering Mexican food with a fellow grant writer. We’re an elusive, behind the scenes bunch, so I don’t meet other grant writers often.
My new friend writes grants for an Indian reservation in Idaho. We talked budgets, we talked program management, we talked deciphering tax exempt language, and we talked the down and dirty double-spaced-times-new-roman-formatting requirements.
Now before you leave the page in sheer boredom, I’ll get to the good stuff.
Join us in prayer this Friday!
As you may or may not know, the entire Plant With Purpose family (I’m talking from San Diego to Santo Domingo to Mount Kilimanjaro) commits time the first Friday of every month to pray for the transformational work God has called us to participate in.
We pray other days too, of course, but the first Friday of the month is a day set apart for prayer, reflection, and adoration—together in spirit though distant in geography.
We invite you to join us tomorrow as we lift up the following prayers and praises for each country where we work. And if you’d like to be kept in the loop, sign up HERE to receive the prayer letter update each month straight to your Inbox.
God, we ask that you would hear our prayers:
Strength like a Sycamore Tree
by Becky Rosaler
But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7-8
California’s varying terrain creates an assortment of ecosystems full of native plants. Right behind the Plant With Purpose office in San Diego, you can find a small tributary of our local watershed that supports a riparian ecosystem.
Plant With Purpose Welcomes a Fresh Face with a Big Heart
Please join in welcoming Plant With Purpose’s newest staff member, Becky Rosaler. As the new Marketing and Events Coordinator, she will play an integral role in executing Plant With Purpose’s marketing campaigns and PR efforts as well as planning our annual Planting Hope Gala!
You’re in for a treat today as she shares a bit of the incredible journey that has brought her to partner with Plant With Purpose.
What’s Your Purpose?
by Aly Lewis
Recently I was posed the question, Why are you here?
Not why-do-people-exist or what-is-the-meaning-of-life, but why am I HERE at this juncture in my life. At this computer at this desk with these coworkers at this job to do these tasks.
One answer is this:
