Spirit Day October 20, 2010

Wear purple today to show your support!

This action was created by the efforts of one Canadian teen!

We all have a VOICE! Don't underestimate its POWER!

Remembering The Day

Today, nine years after 9/11, the shock and disbelief still overwhelms me. The pain and ache of all those lives and the tragedy which took them from us still bores a hollow into my soul. Even now the struggle to find meaning and understanding comes up empty. As a world population, our future is alight with the potential cruelty of man upon his neighbor. Given our human capacity for evil, this should not surprise us. Still that day caught us off guard. Everything happening since has been a scramble to regain what we lost—our sense of stability. We are unsure of what will happen or who will leap out at us next. Fear creeps into our lives a little more easily than it did on 9/10.

Recently, I spoke with a concerned individual regarding all the events happening in these times. He was troubled by what was occurring and his inability to exact change. While our perspectives differed on various issues, we both agreed that the best one can do to change the world is to help our local communities. Taking care of and looking after our neighbor with genuine love and compassion is the best cure for hatred and poverty. To heal the world around us, we must first heal each other. Our community may be our neighborhood, our work or our school. It may be our family, our synagogue, our temple, our mosque, or our church. Also, it could be an orphanage in Russia or flood victims in Pakistan. It may even be the women and children of Afghanistan.

Loving our neighbor as our self is a tough pill to swallow. Loving our enemy is an even tougher pill. Yet, understanding the true need at the heart of a tragedy, albeit difficult, is our duty as humans. We transcend the very nature of darkness by finding the light. We are often put off by the affliction such events inflict on our fellow man, but we must step back and see ourselves as God sees us. We are all hurting, afraid and in need of love. For those of us who feel useless in the efforts to help, look only to the person beside you. Start there. Show as much love as you can. Feed, cloth and lend a hand when possible. We become most like God when we face evil and act out of love.

To all the families and friends who lost loved ones on 9/11, and to all families and friends who have lost loved ones to terrorism, our hearts beat with yours. We hold you close and offer you our love and support. May their memories live on in our hearts. May you gain new strength each day. May God bless you deeply.

Grace, Peace and Love,

The Acacia Tree

Flooding In Pakistan

 As the waters continue to flood much of Pakistan, many organizations are working diligently to assist victims in the effected areas. We at The Acacia Tree would like to help those hit by this tragedy through assisting those on the ground in Pakistan and the organizations they represent. Several of these organizations are part of our Twitter family. We will be keeping you updated as to their progress and ways you can help.

MercyCorps (@MercyCorps). "Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities."

Oxfam International (@Oxfam) "Oxfam is an international confederation of 14 organizations working together in 99 countries and with partners and allies around the world to find lasting solutions to poverty and injustice."

Caritas Australia (@CaritasAust) "Caritas Australia helps people help themselves — regardless of race, religion or political beliefs...helping oppressed people to rediscover their dignity by taking greater control over their lives and overcoming poverty."

Out of Africa: The Elephant Corridor

The Elephant Corridor is a solution to the growing displacement of highly concentrated elephant populations. Civilzation and political turmoil have forced the herds to shift away from their normal migration routes and free ranging. This new "peace park" would create one of the world's largest wildlife parks and restore much of the land they have lost.

“I know of no political movement, no philosophy, no ideology, which does not agree with the peace parks concept as we see it going into fruition today. It is a concept that can be embraced by all. In a world beset by conflicts and division, peace is one of the cornerstones of the future. Peace parks are a building block in this process, not only in our region, but potentially in the entire world.” —Dr. N. Mandela

Out of Africa: Hope Community Center, Kenya

Hope Community Center is our second look at the work happening in Africa. If you missed our first, you can view it here. This orphanage is home to one hundred forty children but serves over three hundred. All of which have been orphaned through abandonment, abuse or parental death. Hope Community Center was founded in 1997 by Lucy Gacheru. She wants to take the love and care God shared with her throughout her life and give it to needy children in Kenya. The foundation of the Center is based upon Jeremiah 29.11.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

The children are fed well, clothed and schooled. Lucy holds them each in her heart as her own. In her constant effort to improve their facilities, she is now building a high school and raising funds for a medical clinic. You can follow their progress and find ways to help at the Center's website and Facebook page.