Getting back into the news...

I have been reading a new book that was a gift from my Aunt Sharon, a Benedictine nun. The book is a compilation of 365 reflections on the names of God titled, Fragments of Your Ancient Name. As the front cover explains, "Whether drawing from the Psalms, Sufi saints, Hindu poets, Native American rituals, contemporary writers, or the Christian gospels, Joyce Rupp stirs the imagination and the heart to discover a new dimension of God. Each name is explored in a ten-line poetic meditation."
The other night, the meditation was a call to focus the mind towards things which facilitate growth. I will share the reflection with you- perhaps you will find it to be like a good drink of water, like I did.

Strength of My Heart
Psalm 18:1

I rely on you, Strength of My Heart,
To fill the gaps of my inadequacies.
Strength for when I limp along weakly,
Unable to activate what is best in me.
Strength to turn toward those in need
When my heart is hollow, my mind shallow,
Strength to carry my through confusion,
To bolster my faith when it declines.
Strength for the times I am tempted
To turn from what facilitates my growth.


And with that, the next morning I awoke determined to get back into the world news. I walked 1.5 miles to the grocery store in 90 degree heat at 7:15am to get the Sunday paper. The TV and computer screens are driving my eyes crazy. Unfortunately, there was but a blip in the paper about Somalia. I have been on vacation from "the real world" and have given myself the excuse to unplug from all things of importance (other than family time and friends). As I discover what hell is unfolding rapidly in  Somalia I am stunned by culminating factors that exist to make this famine the perfect storm. If you have any questions on al Shabaab, or the security situation in Somalia, feel free to ask. We studied the country in depth at Fletcher--as it is considered a 'failed state' and has such a history of aid missions. Furthermore, I took notice of al Shabaab after my time in Uganda last summer during which they were responsible for the World Cup bombings in Kampala. Uganda is one of the main troop contributing countries to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) along with Burundi. Sunday night I felt a bit relieved to see that some headway had been made to secure the capital Mogadishu from the rebels. Unfortunately, as I am seeing right now on NYTimes, fighting continues despite reports from the President. Article link: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2011/08/07/world/africa/news-us-somalia-conflict.html?src=un&feedurl=http%3A%2F%2Fjson8.nytimes.com%2Fpages%2Fworld%2Fafrica%2Findex.jsonp
Hopefully the transitional government can maintain the 90% control they have on the capital so that aid can be allowed into the country.