start the week out right

Sometimes it's hard to know where to begin when you want to change the world. The problems are knotty and overwhelming. And can one person really do anything to help the oppressed?

In a word...YES! A resounding yes.. 

But that takes years, decades, right?

Not necessarily. Do you have 60 seconds?


Here's a link to Oxfam's "Women & Chocolate" campaign directed at the three biggest buyers of chocolate in the world - Nestle, Mars and Mondelez (Oreo's manufacturer). Happily, Nestle and Mars have already made commitments to look at their purchasing practices. Yeah! See how one person + one person + one person all add up together to one strong voice and that makes a difference.

Now you can lend your voice to convince Mondelez to stop oppressing women cocoa farmers. Can you think of a better way to start your week?

in which this keeps things in perspective

The hardest I have to work for my food these days is to drive to the grocery store, make the purchase, travel home, unload purchased groceries and then decide how to put it together for a meal.

When the pots and pans pile up and the day is strung together with one dirty dish after another, I must remember to give thanks for the food which caused the dirty dishes. I must humbly remember that this is not the way most people on this planet and that I did not struggle to feed my family.

A plant-based diet has its challenges, but none to equal this.

Today, if you have food on your plate, would you give thanks with me for our Creator and pray for the people in Niger and other drought-ravaged countries?