Keep dreaming!

A quick note on my future:

I've been mildly overwhelmed lately that my life could go in any direction from here. Never has it seemed so open-ended. When I dream about what I want to do with my life, it's not one, clear-cut answer. I cannot cram everything I would love to do into my daily rhythm. There's no magic formula that would allow me to be everything I would love to be on a weekly basis, although this is probably the closest I've ever come – an artist, volunteer, student, social activist, writer, farmer, musician, translator, missionary, athlete, community developer, etc. To an extent, I am all of these things right now. But eventually I wish to select one or two areas in which to really focus and invest myself. In order to make truly good art, I must invest hours in the studio each week. In order to be a truly effective social activist, I must do thorough research. I try to imagine the ideal set-up, the maximization of my gifts, talents, and dreams...but it seems that there will always be a deficiency somewhere. And I've realized that that's okay. I am free to live out God's dreams for my life in seasons. I'm living one right now. Right now! And the focus is service. And it's beautiful and good for this season, and right to embrace it. I cannot pursue every path I want to at once. But whichever path I choose can be good. As C. S. Lewis describes it, we must accept and embrace each new wave that comes to us, and not pine after the ones that have already come and gone.

That being said, I'm going to let my inner social activist steal the stage for the next few paragraphs...

This month, the House of Representatives PASSED the Trafficking Victims Protections Reauthorization Act! I do not know how to express to you how significant I believe this is.

...Let me back up a second:

I believe that we should not rely on a broken political system to fix problems. I believe, to quote Shane Claiborne, that “another kingdom is coming – one that you can participate in but cannot build, a seed you can plant and water but cannot make grow.” BUT...I also believe that we have a responsibility to act, even when we don't see results or experience tangible success. Whether or not you believe our government is good, the fact remains that our government officials have a responsibilty to listen to us. There is no excuse for us to not voice our concerns (and/or thanks) to our officials. Their job is to govern according to what the people demand. We hold a veritable influence in our own political system that many people in the world do not have. Let's take up that responsibility.

So, anyway, the TVPRA....

This is a foundational piece of legislation established in 2000; the first comprehensive federal law to address human trafficking, focusing on prevention, protection, and prosecution. As the crime evolves, the law must also evolve, which is why it must be renewed every few years. In 2011 it was not reauthorized, so one of the major focuses of our Act:s team my senior year of college was to push people to hold Congress accountable to reauthorizing it. Over a year later, it has been passed. To learn more about this bill, visit: http://www.ijm.org/docs/justice_campaigns/TVPA-Summary.pdf

Alright, now let's break this down into real life and take a look at Houston.

Some of us had the privelege of volunteering at a Free the Captives conference this past weekend (www.freethecaptiveshouston.com). It was encouraging to connect with people who desire to learn more about the injustice of human-trafficking and how we can combat it. In fact, Houston appears to be taking great strides in their fight, as is certainly necessary. Houston is estimated to be in the top six cities where trafficking takes place, due to its proximity to the Mexican border and the Gulf and its international airport, among other things.

Much of the information that was shared was not new to me. However, for the first time, I'm hearing this information and specific people and places are coming to mind. I know about houses in our communities where trafficking has taken place. I recognize the massage parlors and nail salons where it undoubtedly takes place. I know young girls whose moms encourage them to go out to the clubs. Our directors have the anti-trafficking hotline taped on their desks (1-888-373-7888). I have looked into the eyes of traffickers themselves and have seen their humanity. It has occurred to me recently that it has become normal for me to have conversations on a weekly basis with prostitutes, ex-convicts, and drug-dealers. There is a sweatshop down the street from where I work. We can all too quickly get caught up in statistics about justice issues and allow numbers to dehumanize the people behind them. Now, after having done some research over the past few years, I've found myself suddenly surrounded by the reality of it. On one hand, these people are becoming real to me. On the other hand, I now live in the danger of injustice becoming normalized.
...I must newly ask myself: What can I do?

So, let me close with a few cursory action items...

Human trafficking is a complex system; there is no simple solution to eradicating it because there are many layers. But that also means that there are so many ways to get involved:

Getting to the root of the problem: Porn. A key point to remember here is that human-trafficking is a system of supply and demand, and the demand is largely fueled by pornography. Learn more about reducing the demand: www.PornHarms.org

Rescue and Prosecution: Learn how to recognize suspicious activity and ask your government officials to DO something. And thank them for what they have done. Thank your Congressmen for passing the TVPRA!

Restoration: Girls who have been rescued need a safe place to go. Learn how to start a safe home for trafficked teens or how to help them rebuild lfe after the trauma. Support businesses like http://www.freethecaptiveshouston.com/new-creations.php that sells jewelry and soap handcrafted by teenaged trafficking victims and at risk girls.

Prevention: It is estimated that a runaway girl will be approached by a pimp within her first 48 hours on the street. Get involved in your community. Become a mentor or tutor at your local school or community center. Build relationships. Relationships are the best prevention.

Some featured resources from the conference this past weekend: http://www.freethecaptiveshouston.com/get-involved.php

And a couple of my favorite resources:
http://www.callandresponse.com/
http://www.polarisproject.org/

Until next time!
Tracy