Shaun Groves
When I’m leading a Compassion Bloggers trip, I don’t get to blog. I mean, obviously, I post something every day but I don’t get to really sit down and write.
Instead, when we get back to the hotel each afternoon, I answer LOTS of e-mails, dig into my bag of tricks and try to drum up some more traffic, read blogs, update the trip page, Twitter, etc etc. All this activity is a coping mechanism for me too. Staying busy with something besides rehashing the day in words keeps the sights, sounds and smells of it out of the inner most parts of my heart and head.
One blogger asked me on this trip, “How do you keep coming to places like this without having a breakdown?” Well, I had my breakdown in 2004 and ever since then I’ve worked hard on these trips – literally – to keep it from happening again.
I’m having a harder time than usual keeping this trip at a safe distance though. India, no matter how many reports I read and hours I log writing e-mails, is inching its way closer and closer to me. So I’m negotiating with it today. How ‘bout I write a little more about you in the next few days and you play nice and don’t screw me up? M’kay?
So, I know you’re tired of hearing about India. I know those of you who read my blog regularly are tired of hearing about Compassion International and poverty and blah blah blah… Sorry. I really am. I don’t think we get to choose our vocations. They just sneak up on us one day, grab hold of our heart and refuse to let go no mater how lame, boring and predictable they make us.
I’ll be writing a little more about India this week – not always about Compassion – so I’ll understand if you want to take a break from this relationship for a few days. It’s OK. You can see other people. Just promise me you’ll come back when I get this out of my system.
Before I write anything of substance I’ve got a little more trip related work to get done. I’ll be adding links and captions and tags to about 1600 pictures over on Flickr for starters. For STARTERS. My fingers are cramping just thinking about it.
Brittnie says:
Not tired of hearing about India. Keep it up!
John Stickley says:
No need to apologize for sharing about India and Compassion International. People NEED to experience what you have, and the only way many of us can do that is through what you and the other Compassion bloggers are sharing.
Christine says:
I saw a guy on some TV commercial last night who sorta looked like you, or at least what you look like in that picture in the upper right corner. Made me think of you and how you said yesterday you were going to take a break from the blog for a few days to re-enter and to spend time with your kids. I said a little prayer for you and your family at that point and a half-formed thought about how I was looking forward to your return to the blog with more from India flitted thru my head. I have loved every single post and picture from all of the India bloggers. You can’t post too much about that trip as far as I’m concerned. Those trips teach me so much about the God we serve, the people He loves and the servants He chooses as His hands and feet.
But then again, I’m not the one living the sensory and emotional overload that comes with the firsthand experience. So, by all means – manage, process, share the India information on your own terms, but from my perspective I wouldn’t worry about sparing us…
Brad Ewing says:
We don’t get tired of it, bro. Keep it coming! It’s inspiring to me and challenges my thinking constantly.
Keep it up!
Kristie Wooten says:
No doubt God has placed you here “for such a time as this.” It’s in your blood…no need to apologize…nothing more beautiful than a Believer being open and transparent about the work of Christ in their lives…even if it isn’t exactly “pretty” or “politically correct.”
Amanda says:
Please don’t get this out of your system! This trip has so impacted me and if it weren’t for the blogging, that could not have happened.
I was new to the blogging world just a year or so ago but the blog I first visited linked me here and there and finally here to you. Two of those links went on the India trip with you and it is all I have thought about for three or four weeks.
I have always had what most refer to as a “heart for missions.” I was a summer missionary through my collegiate ministry and missions captured me. But God gave me a husband and four children over the next few years and mission trips seemed inappropriate for me at this stage of my life. But they pull my heart… So I do what I can. I work with the childrens missions organization at my church and I am part of a missions-active class.
I have been aware of Compassion International for a few years through my Sunday School class. We adopted a child together and later added a second. Just recently God has called my family to adopt our own child and Shanthi is from India. So as I have read about India and villages and gondolas and rickshaws, I have glimpsed Shanthi and his home. Most of the posts from the trip members have brought tears to my eyes and have given me a heavy burden for Shanthi.
But I also have a heavy burden to promote Compassion. It’s all my Sunday School members have heard for several weeks. That’s in thanks to you all. I do not have a large following in my blog but I hope to use it to promote Compassion as well. And hopefully one day, I’ll be able to make one of these trips. I know it would change my life and there’s nothing I want more than to be changed to be more like Him. Thank you for this community.
Chris says:
The people have spoken and they want more. Anything less than what is on your heart is going to seem fake anyway. Keep it coming.
Happy Geek says:
I must confess, I’ve always thought of you as Shaun, the Compassion guy. Only recently did I discover that you actually write and sing songs I’ve heard of. (I’m cool like that.)
ANYWAY, I read this blog BECAUSE you blog about India and Compassion and this suburban housewife NEEDS to hear about it.
My God grant you peace and wisdom as you process all that you have seen and experienced.
Beth G. Sanders says:
Our family recently sponsored a child (from Nicaragua) and I followed your progress in India was great interest and many a lump in the throat. You have touched my heart.
Our 17-year-old daughter has a missionary’s heart and has taught me more in the past year or so than I’ve taught her. It inspires mixed feelings in a mom – thinking of her absence, her comfort and safety while brimming with pride and joy that she is probably more obedient at 17 to God’s call on her life than I am at 50.
Seeing the impact you all have made somehow gives me peace that when she leaves me, she won’t do so in vain.
I never tire of hearing about your insights and experiences. And I hope you never get over it.
JD says:
Please don’t apologize, if God has it on your heart to tell us about India, about Compassion, about your experiences, it’s because God also wants us to hear about it… and we not only want to hear about it, we NEED to hear about it.
I will never get tired of it, because it’s exactly the information I’m hungry for in order to go forward in my calling to serve God through being involved with Compassion.
Thank you doesn’t seem to be sufficient. But it’s a start. Thank you.
E-Jayjo says:
I agree with the others…I definitely want to hear more of what you have to say about India. Even though we weren’t there with you physically, we can catch glimpses through your posts. Thanks for sharing!
Texas in Africa says:
I read your blog BECAUSE of your commitment to Compassion and simplicity and trying to follow God.
So, yeah, it’s okay. As it sounds like it’s okay with everybody else.
Su says:
TOTALLY not tired of hearing about India. Blog on, brother!
karen says:
I hope I never get tired of hearing about Compassion. And since my newest little girl lives in India, I don’t mind you talking about it either. Honestly, I need my heart to stay tendered. It’s too easy to hide behind so many things and then I can “forget” that these are real children in real lives that they can’t hide from. So…go forth and speak.
Kent Kingery says:
Please keep telling us about your trip and experiences. I am already looking for an excuse to go back to India after a three-year hiatus, and I am loving your pictures and stories.
They make me homesick for a home that really isn’t mine (but could easily be…).
Kent
Dory says:
Take a break from reading about your perspective of the trip? Are you kidding? Keep ‘em coming….
Cheri says:
Love reading your blog. Very inspiring and thought provoking. I look forward to reading stories about your trip and Compassion. If you need a break to re-group so be it otherwise keep them coming!
Lindsay @ Not2Us says:
I’m not sure about the others, but Compassion, Poverty, God’s Children, and especially India are the only reasons I come here. Please let India get closer to you. And when India gets closer to you, please bring India closer to us. We cannot pretend that India is not there. We cannot pretend that India does not need us.
Thank you for being a vessel. I know it’s not an easy calling.
Amy @ My Friend Amy says:
My favorite posts of yours are your processing, introspective, etc. posts. So I’m really looking forward to your processing of the trip and not just the reports. I appreciate you and your blog and your love for God’s people.
Morgan says:
not tired of it.
deirdre says:
don’t you DARE apologize.
And we are not sick of Compassion, or India.
that would be like saying we are sick of God, or Jesus. quit beating yourself over this. Waste of energy. Seriously.
Deirdre
p.s. I’m trying to work something out with Ben for you to come to my church.
Kenyon says:
So why apologize for God’s call? (Just in case that hasn’t been made clear yet.)
annie says:
Keep reminding us ~ lest we forget.
Stacy says:
Please, write more about India! I’m a new reader of yours, discovering your blog because of your Compassion trip last week to India. I’ve enjoyed your writtings. And, we sponsored a little boy (the same age as my oldest son–11) whom I’ve already grown to love. I have learned so much from all of the Compassion bloggers, and my life will never be the same now. God bless.
Stacy
Compassion dave says:
1) Yoke easy…
check
2) Burden light…
check
3) Doing it Jesus’ way…
check
Cindy says:
As my dad says: Never apologize for doing what God tells you to do.
Apparently everyone else here feels the same way. Your writing about your experiences enriches our lives! Thank you for being faithful to the passion God has placed within you.
Lesli Bieganski says:
Thank you for sharing all that you share. Please don’t stop. It propels us all on to what God is calling us out to do.
Denny says:
Hey Shaun,
Just wanted to re-iterate what everyone else has said- to keep on sharing about India, and all the Compassion stories. Through your blogging,you are opening our eyes to the poverty of the world and how we can do something to change it.
Thanks!
Jill Foley says:
Don’t stop writing about Compassion or poverty….the need won’t go away and we mustn’t stop speaking up for them.
Although I find many of your other posts funny, enlightening and inspiring, I LOVE your posts about Compassion.