Seeds of Change
The seeds of change are blowing in Bulgaria, as my little book becomes a tool in their hands. Never, in my wildest imagination, did I ever dream I would have a book published in Bulgarian!
Last June I was stepping onto a platform to address an audience in Dobromirka, Bulgaria, for a Women’s Conference. It was surreal. I spoke way too fast for my translator, blundered my way through the content in my book, shared the power of love to lead us out of fear, wept as I told my story, but I had no idea if these women, who had suffered horrific heartache, oppression under communism, and a deeply stoic view NEXTof life, could relate or respond. But they did.
One woman came up to me after my talk, wrapped her arms around me, and shouted, “I love you!!!” Her words brought me so much courage. She understood. She felt the love I had for her and felt the power love has to transform our lives. Even when our hearts are as hurt as they are locked up, behind walls of sadness and heartache, we can find a way to open them to love.
I might have offered a cup of cold water to a few last summer, but here’s where the story gets exciting! The team at Mission Possible, who hosted the conference and invited me to speak, have been working in the Eastern Bloc countries for decades. They felt strongly that my book would be, “a tool in our hands to bring hope and healing to our people. Bulgaria needs this book in their own language.”
Now, a year later, that dream has come true! I do not even recognize my own name in Bulgarian letters, but I recognize my dream: to bring hope to those who have walked in fear, to heal and learn a new way.
When I am trying to explain what I do in the world it is challenging.. I bring hope to the hurt, provide for those who grieve, help those who are captive behind a wall of resentment they have not identified. I show people a better way. There is so much hurt, bitterness, and hatred in the world. What IF I could change? What if I could feel the emotions I need to feel (the sadness, the anger, the fear) SO THAT I can let go and live led by love.
My prayer? That all who read it will have the courage to say, “I can let go of my fear, I can feel what I feel, I can let go. It will be challenging, but all the love in the world is waiting for me.”
Bulgaria, you will forever hold a place in my heart! You are brave, you are strong, and you have all that you need inside of you to change your world: one heart, one life, one family, one community at a time.
Be loved and bring love…. find the hope and freedom you need to bring the love in your heart to a broken world. We all have something to bring, to give.
What is your dream?
