Priorities & Emergencies

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That meme makes me laugh, and a saying I find myself repeating over and over for some reason is, "it's funny because it's true." 

Anyway, I wanted to talk about Priorties and Emergencies. How are they different, and how are they the same? 

I've noticed that mine might seem just a little extreme to most people. Why is this? Sometimes I question myself, are my Priorties right? Should I lower a standard of what an emergency is? Or should I keep it right where it's at? 

Dispatching is somewhere I've learned what prioritizing is. All day long in the 911 world, the phone rings and rings. Sometimes you barely even have time to go to the restroom in a 12 hour shift. It's a hard thing helping everyone that has an "emergency" in a huge city. Especially one with a high crime rate. 

You see, sometimes people call 911 and it's really not an emergency. They'll call 911 because their neighbors left out their trash cans a day too long on the curb, or because someone parked in front of their house when really it's a public street and there's no law that's broken. 

Once you fix the garbage can issue, and explain politely to please call the non emergency line instead because garbage cans aren't a life or death issue- the phone rings again. This time, it's a mother who's baby isn't breathing and is bright blue. Or it's a child who found their father with their eyes closed on the ground, and their chest isn't moving anymore. 

The garbage can people, and the medical issue people called the same number. 911. 

I hope these examples help the world (mainly my peers) understand the difference between an emergency and a non emergency. Yes, I get it- people live in different realities and maybe their emergencies seem different than others. But please world, if you send me an "URGENT" text, Facebook message, or voicemail.... Urging me to get back to you ASAP...please make sure it really is urgent. Let's redefine and get back to realizing what an emergency really is. My phone is filled with them daily of people in crisis, and I can't really drop it all for something that's not. 

PS friends- thanks for understanding, and thanks for being patient when it might take me a few days to get back to you...or if I forget. :) 

Lonely Girl

I want to talk about something that I've observed over the years:

From high school girls, to a career in law enforcement, to living in uganda, working with imprisoned children & teenagers, meeting full time missionaries who've left behind their home in America and now call Africa home, to meeting women who sit in a mega church, mothers who attend small fellowships, pastors wives around this great nation, missionary kids, school teachers, young adults in college, business entrepreneurs, the heads/leaders of non profits, nanny's, mom's of newborns, mothers who have a lot of children and a superhero type husband, newlywed wives, single girls, worship leaders...

There are a lot of themes of similarities that I've noticed no matter how different everyone in the people groups I've described above. What is it?

The theme and the commonality between all of the above:
This thing called "loneliness" 

Have you every heard of it? Have you ever felt it? Have you ever seen it?
I'm sure you have, no matter what age you are, what you do every day, or whoever you associate yourself with.

Loneliness comes in a lot of ways, shapes, and forms. And it's something that I really want to kick in the ass for a lack of term. (Sorry, the Law Enforcement type A comes out in me every once in awhile..and we're all pretty much adults here.)
 
I've seen this stupid but real thing called "lonely" ruin so many lives, so many friendships that could be, and kill so many people's dreams and families literally. It's taken away too many smiles. Let's stop this stupid enemy called "lonely."

He gives us beauty for ashes, not ashes for beauty. He gives us JOY for mourning, not mourning for joy. He takes our rags and clothes us with gladness... He doesn't give us rags and take away our gladness.

No matter where you are, if you feel lonely, or have someone around you who you can see is depressed... associate yourself with others. There's a reason why the Lord says, "do not forsake the assembling of yourselves." I've also heard how "an idle mind is the devil's playground."

No matter where you are, whether it's a hut in Africa, surrounded by people in America in a corporate job, a momma with little ones at home everyday, a teenage girl stuck in public high school fighting to stay pure, a missionary kid, pastor's wife...i could go on and on.

Stop feeling lonely. Stop feeling like you are alone. TRUTH: you are never alone, the Lord is with you.

Get out and make some jesus loving friends, ask for prayer from those around you. Introverted or Extroverted (whatever those mean), get a prayer buddy who's only a text, coffee date, or phone call away.

Life is too short to be lonely. You are loved, you are meant to be a princess, and you are so cherished by the one true God. You. Are. Not. Alone. Fill your time with lovely things. Get outside, paint a picture, sing a song, bake a cake, buy a puppy... :) But most importantly, know that you are loved, not forgotten, and Jesus is always just a prayer away.