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The Challenge: to write a six word love note.

It came from my friend Lois, a fellow Wordie, who is a master of writing,and can whittle a big idea down to a juicy nugget of truth. (Even though her new book is called TMI – Too Much Information!)

My words of love  –  A hopeful start ~ a grateful heart  – flew out of my mind and onto the paper.

Since then, this six word concept has been rolling around in my head.

And the idea came to me that these words could be used in a multitude of ways.

What a thought – that six simple words could hold a powerful message.

Especially in our culture of excess and overstimulation.

I Googled the idea of expressing thoughts in six words, and found entire websites dedicated to Six Word Memoirs, which originated from Smith College having been inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s 6 word story:

For Sale: baby shoes, never worn.

How would you tell your life story in six words?

My off the cuff response to that question:

 Using the voice I’ve always had.

(I hope contractions count as one word.)

But here is another thought…

Why not use a six word message to encourage, delight, or surprise?

Once you get the hang of it, they come pretty easily.

Who would believe it’s even fun?

As the season of Lent begins, the thought of giving ( as opposed to the old “giving up” idea) is very appealing.So each day for the next 40, I will share some combination of six words with someone in a positive way.

Good exercise for mind and heart.

And while we’re on the subject of Lent, here are six of the biggest words ever:

The Way, The Truth, The Life.

Just think of the volumes that have been written on those.

So if you could tell your life story in six little words, what would it be?

Or how could you gift someone with a six word message that would add cheer or comfort to their day?

Your thoughts would be most welcome…

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Doesn’t she have the most beautiful smile?

That was the first thing I noticed when I met Miladys last year. She was one of the lovely ladies who attended the restrooms on our eye project in Colombia.

When I saw that Miladys’ right eye was in need of a prosthesis, my heart sank. Lawrence, our gifted ocularist, was not able to make the trip in 2014.

Throughout last year’s project, I marveled at how she glowed each time she smiled. She and the other ladies who so cheerfully greeted us each day were tireless as they restocked paper products and kept all surfaces sparkling clean.

I vowed to pray that 1) Miladys would be back to help us in 2015, and 2) that Lawrence would be on our team, and would be able to fit her with a prosthesis.

God heard my prayers – and He answered them.

Midalys received her new eye on the first day of the project.

We both cried tears of joy.

What I didn’t know was that her eye had been injured due to an accident when she was 2 years old. Had she lived in the states, she would have gotten a prothesis long ago.

Although the results of having a prosthesis are cosmetic, surely the internal effects are monumental. And for some people in Third World countries, missing an eye means not being able to get a job, or find a spouse.

26 people in Cienaga, Colombia were fit with prostheses during our 2 week MMI project.

All were overjoyed – and immensely grateful.

The prostheses were but one small part of the work done by our Dream Team of 70 people.

Over 5000 of pairs of glasses were fitted, and over 200 surgeries were performed.

Patients blind from cataracts could see once again.  Children and adults with strabismus had their crossed eyes straightened. Diabetic patients and those with glaucoma received laser treatments.

Smiles, hugs, and prayers were in abundance.

Our team members were steadfast and enthusiastic, pitching in wherever needed, learning new jobs when necessary.

Serving alongside such devoted and inspiring people always gives me new vision and inspiration.

The real voyage of discovery consists not  in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes. ~Marcel Proust

This quote is on the front of the journal I used on our very first eye project in 1995.

Twenty years later, it still rings true.

Surrounding the miracles and bountiful blessings we experience during each and every mission project, one thing is true above all.

Seeing the faithful presence of God is what makes us all believe – in His goodness, His mercy, and His grace.

How blessed we are are that God’s desire is for us to have perfect vision – and that He continues to fine tune our ability to see as we journey through life.

20/20 never looked so good….

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