...just smile!

People throughout our lives impact who we are both for the good and sometimes for the worse. These individuals help to shape who we are and who we will become. Last Sunday we celebrated All Saints day. There was lots of discussion throughout the week on who our ‘cloud of witnesses’ are and how does that history influence our lives. As you think about the various people who have impacted your life. Flip the coin… You have influenced people in your life as well. How are you going to have an impact on someone else’s life? When thinking about Saints, I think of Mother Teresa. “Be smiling when you visit the poor. Even if you have nothing to give, smile to them, it costs nothing.” I think we should have this philosophy in engaging with all people we come in contact with. Just smile and treat others with kindness.
~peace and love~
Angelica

Carrot, Egg, or Coffee

Are you dealing with some rough issues? Have you had it up to your ears with finals and papers. Is you past haunting you? Does the future feel over whelming? This is a good story about dealing with the life struggles that we all go through. I hope you can find some understanding in your world after reading it. ~Angelica

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.

Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asked, 'Tell me what you see.'

'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'

Each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

'Which are you?'

'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Check out our website! New activities! www.coffeeloft.org

Happy Halloween!

Happy Fall!
This morning I was greeted with a blanket of green laid before my feet as I walked in the backdoor of the CoffeeLoft.org house. The tree in our back yard dumped all of its beautiful green leaves and it covers the yard/sidewalk completely. It was a very warm welcoming with the looming idea of snow being right around the corner. It reminded me of the seasons of our lives- although there are parts of it we might not be looking forward to we should always try and enjoy the beauty we see in all our lives… even if it might not seem like much at the time. So on this beautiful fall day I just want to send you a smile. Watch the leaves and know how important you are!! ~Angelica

a message of hope

New things take some adjusting and getting used to the rhythm of everything life holds for us. I found this poem in a book called “Sacred Journeys”, it has a message of hope, endurance, and strength. Have a great week and take a minute to relax and do something you love. We would love you to stop by CoffeeLoft.org and say hi, or grab a cup of coffee. Check out our website for activities. www.coffeeloft.org

God of new creating,
who beckons us
to the dance of birthing and sustains us
in our laboring,
here this prayer.

From fear of the unknown
deliver me.
From doubts of my creativity
deliver me.
From ridicule by those around me
deliver me.
From my excuses about my abilities,
my age, my education,
my looks, my status
deliver me.

With your promise of companionship
comfort me.
With your creative spirit
bless me.
With your pledge of sustenance
strengthen me.
With your embrace of all of me
Heal me and set me to motion.
… -Jan L. Rishardson


~peace hope and love~
Angelica

response to decisions made by the United Methodist Church

My brother, Aaron Laudermith has spoken out and made a decision in reaction to the decision made on April 30th by the United Methodist Church not to accept Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Transgender persons as members of their church. I have not yet decided what action I am going to take, besides continuing to stand up for my LGBT family and friends. But I am also very hurt by this decision and something needs to be done in love to continue to reach out to people who don't understand that they are killing the body of the church and hurting Jesus' followers. People who believe that all persons are created equal and deserve equal rights in the church need to continue to reach out to our brothers and sisters in Christ and teach them to love with out discrimination. I have included the link to my brothers blog so you can read his feelings and reactions to this decision and I say dido. The second link will show you a video of the witness taken by people at General Conference on May 1st in reaction to the United Methodist decision on church membership.
http://www.capnsadventures.blogspot.com/

http://media.umcom.org/gc2008/video_archives/20080501_protest/20080501_Excerpt_Protest_sm.asx

~Reconciling the world~

There is so much variety in our ever-changing world. This variety makes the world indescribably amazing and shows us beauty everyday. We wouldn't want everyone to be the same because it would just be bland and boring. Sometimes we get frustrated when people don't agree with us or when people don't see the world the way we see it. And yet we are all God's creation made with our own unique beauty. It’s a pretty complicated world we live in and we do get frustrated with many things.
This week I was able to have the great privilege and honor to go to General Conference of the United Methodist Church. During the two weeks of Holy Conferencing many things are celebrated, prayed about, and many decisions will be made. One of the most sensitive items they are discussing and making decisions on is homosexuality. People feel very passionately about this on both sides of the issue. These loving children of God, from around the world are working very hard for one of the greatest challenges we all face in our lives – peace and understanding. During this time of what we may perceive as unfairness I am reminded of the parable of the workers in the field. I have always read this scripture and thought, this just isn’t fair. And you know I have grown to realize God’s Grace by our standards seems unfair. And that is the beauty in the miracle of God’s love and grace. God is open and available to everyone; no matter who you are; we are all children of God. "And the first shall be last and the last shall be first" Mathew 19:30

CoffeeLoft.org’s Reconciling Statement:In order to seek justice, love kindness and walk humbly; the CoffeeLoft.org community celebrates, affirms and embraces those who have often been marginalized because of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual identity, gender identity/expression, family status or religious affiliation.

If you would like to talk more about my experience at General Conference and my experience of standing in solidarity with my brothers and sisters of Soul Force and Reconciling Ministries I would love to talk about it and share more.

Reconciling Ministry Network - http://www.rmnetwork.org/
Soul Force - http://www.soulforce.org/

~peace, hope and love to you all~
Angelica
www.coffeeloft.org - Check it out COFFEE LOFT COOKOUT THIS FRIDAY!!

“Sometimes a breakdown can be the beginning of a kind of breakthrough, a way of living in advance through a trauma that prepares you for a future of radical transformation.” ~Cherrie Moraga

warm weather - warm hearts

As the weather continues to get warmer and warmer it seems harder to concentrate on some things. But in the warmth we look for any excuse to be outside. This can mean accomplishing a lot and making a difference in this world. Examples of this were certainly seen during Earth Day celebrated yesterday. I drove down Cherry Street, later in the evening and saw the cardboard house that Habitat for Humanity group built to stay in for the evening. The next morning as I saw the ‘house’ again, I was reminded again that there are so many people in our world that don’t have homes to go to at night. I spent the day and the next sorting through recycling stuff at CoffeeLoft.org House and making trips to the recycle center. Thinking I wish more people would take the few extra minutes in a day to walk to the recycling bin instead of the trash. I was impressed by a young woman who stood up in one of my classes and spoke passionately about protesting the building of a hog farm. Everywhere we turn people are trying to make a difference in the world. So please do your part! Have fun with it and take joy in the differences one person can make.

CoffeeLoft.org has an event coming up where you can make a difference.
Support the Orphanage!

When a group of our students went to Mexico on a Mission Trip we were able to visit an Orphanage. We were all very moved be the experience and wanted to do something for these kids. So, on May 3rd we will be having a Garage Sale to raise money to send clothes to the kids and the rest of the money will go to the Orphanage. You can help by bringing anything you would like to donate to sell or if you want to help out with set up or hang out to sell stuff the day of the sale. Any of your help and donations would be much appreciated! Help the children in Mexico!

It is time for us all to stand and cheer for the doer, the achiever - the one who recognizes the challenge and does something about it. ~Vincent Lombardi

Why is humanity such a rarity?
Is showing sympathy such a difficult thing?
We make others feel worthless.
We leave psychological scars.
We are the bullies.
But what if we weren’t?
What if we went out of our way to be kind?
To compliment rather than put down.
To make someone’s day.
To treat people with dignity and respect.
~Luna Argintie in reflection of the Virginia Tech. Tragedy

The last couple of days have been beautiful. You walk outside put your face to the sun and just smile as the wind brushes by your face, or blows you over. Sometimes when we least expect it the storms of life hit us head on. There are storms all over this world that sometimes go un-noticed. There are upcoming events taking place where we can make a difference in the world right here at USD.
Reach out to the world! Show your love to your neighbors.

Weds, April 16th
Join us as we remember the Victims &
Survivors of Campus Violence.
7:00 - Ecumenical Candlelight service at Newman Center, the Lutheran Bishop will be speaking. Candle Procession to Danforth Chapel. After we will gather at
CoffeeLoft House for refreshments.

Saturday April 19th
Amnesty International hosting JAMnesty
FREE ADMISSION
9 PM – MIDNIGHT
RAZIEL’S
Donations & Raffle Drawings
ALL PROCEEDS TO REBUILD
SOUTHERN SUDAN THROUGH EDUCATION

Unease, anxiety, tension, stress, worry — all forms of fear — are cause by too much future, and not enough presence. Guilt, regret, resentment, grievances, sadness, bitterness, and all forms of nonforgiveness are caused by too much past, and not enough presence. ~ Elkhart Tolle

Live in the present.
You hear this saying all the time, yet aren’t we constantly bombarded by hopes of our future and regrets of our past. Lately I have been thinking much about what the future holds. Thinking of this leads me to wondering about past experiences and how I have gotten where I am today. This sort of thinking can drive us insane. Maybe this is why we are reminded to live in the present. This usually seems easier said than done. When we are continually trying to accomplish certain tasks in our life and moving forward in our lives, it is very hard to just be in the moment.
Tonight at Taize I had a moment of insight, what I like to call ‘a God moment’. Steve Miller expressed the importance of being in the moment and brought attention to a "Buddhist gatha" we would be singing later in the service. When the song presented itself I was sitting, listening to the words and being in the presence of the beautiful melodic voices of the music ~
~ “In, out, deep, slow, calm, peace, smile, release;
Present moment, wonderful moment.” ~
I lost myself in the music for a moment and something said to me “See if you were still in your past you wouldn’t have been able to experience this moment now.” Tears streamed down my face as I realized how often in our lives to we miss a beautiful day, a beautiful person, a beautiful moment because we are not living in the present.
Pastor Brook recently challenged a group at church to share a meal with someone and be present. Turn off the TV, don’t have any agenda, and just sit and enjoy; appreciate and cherish the moment with that person. I challenge you to do the same in the next week …and live in the present.
~Angelica

Lost Boys of Sudan

Tonight I went to listen to Moses, a Lost boy from Sudan speak. He discribed the conditions he came from in Sudan. There was a civil war going on that over 4,000 people had to flee from the area. Many died along the escape route due to lack of food, water, and rest. By some miracle Moses finally found his way to South Dakota. (Which many people I know would not consider a miracle.) When arriving in the United States he knew vary little English. In the 6 years he has been here he has gotten his GED, became a US citizen, recieved his associates degree in electric work and will soon be a liscenced pilot as well. He has great hopes to make a difference in his country by helping to build schools. A good education can make a world of differnce to the people of Sudan; Moses has proven that. It continues to amaze me how many blessings we have, just being American. We take so much for granted. I was reminded again this evening how thankful we all should be for our lives. All Moses is asking for is pennies.

Just bring your pennies to CoffeeLoft.org, "Change for Classrooms". We have a jar sitting inside our doorway. When you stop in grab a free cup of coffee, tea, or hot cocoa. You can make a difference by donating to this cause.

~Cup of Coffee~

What are you going to be when you grow up?
Smiles come across our face as children responding to this question “a fireman, a princess, a doctor, an airplane, or an architect."This answer continually change and develop as you get older. In high school suddenly the questions is serious – What do you want to do? (and it sounds like for the rest of your life!) You finally decide on something so you don’ t feel foolish anymore, not having all the answers. Or you continue to change majors as you grow in what you believe and think. Then you are graduating and start to panic about the ‘real world’. Is this really what you want to do with your life? Is this who you are?
Is this the way it works in the church as well? If you pick a church, or a denomination are you trapped in this view of the image of God forever? I don’t think it should be that way. We are all continuing to develop and grow in so many areas of our lives and the way we think about God should be the same way. Recently I started reading a book called Velvet Elvis, Repainting the Christian Faith by Rob Bell. He says, “…to truly pursue the living God, we have to see the need for questions. (pg 28) … And this is why questions are so central to faith. A question by its very nature acknowledges that the person asking the question does not have all the answers. And because that person does not have all of the answers, they are looking outside of themselves for guidance.” (pg 30)
So I encourage you to continue to ask questions about God, stretch your faith and expand your passions in life. Find someone to share with what you believe and what you discover.

It’s the way you grow!

~Angelica