The Words of the Gavin Family
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The Words of the Gavin Family |
Jaga Gavin is a carpenter and member of the ministry and education team at HSA-UWC, where he connects with local pastors to communicate their needs. He lives in Bloomfield, New Jersey with his wife, Tamara Gavin.
Over the past few years, I have had the opportunity to travel all across the country and the world. Everywhere I go, my international community welcomes me into their homes and makes me feel like family. They drive me through their neighborhoods and take me hiking, dining at the local hot spots, fishing in streams, eating exotic fruits, surfing, playing games... and then at some point we get to talking.
A common question that comes up in these conversations -- and that is on many people's minds around the world -- is, "What is going to happen on Foundation Day?" There are many uncertainties surrounding this historical day, and with all the apocalyptic TV shows like the Walking Dead, Jericho, and The Colony, people seem to get carried away with their ideas and thoughts about the future.
Will Foundation Day be like these end-of-the-world theories, or will it be the start of a new era? Is it going to involve external changes on this planet, or is it purely internal in nature? What does Foundation Day mean for our community and the world? What does Foundation Day mean for you?
My response to these questions is, "Well, on Foundation Day I think I'm going to wake up, go to the bathroom, brush my teeth..." The point is, February 22, 2013 -- Foundation Day -- is not the end. It's the beginning.
I used to build houses, and there usually was a lot more work to do after the foundation was laid. The foundation is just the first step, and from a strong foundation will come a strong house. God and True Parents -- the Reverend and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon -- alongside many saints and sages of past days and present days have laid a solid foundation. Now, it is up to us to build the rest of the house together.
"So what is the foundation?" I have heard that follow- up, I have pondered on it, and this is what I realized; Instead of wrestling with this big question, think about what your own personal foundation can be in helping to build a better world -- what we call Cheon Il Guk, or God's Kingdom.
I don't think it is something True Parents want to define for us. In fact, I think they are waiting for us to define what it is for us on a personal level. That is when real ownership happens, and that is when True Parents can become truly proud. I have seen the greatest joy in my parents' eyes when I made decisions on my own which brought honor and love to them.
At the end of the day, we still have our own personal responsibility. What we need to ask ourselves is. "What foundation am I taking responsibility for?" Imagine if each of us defined our own personal foundation and then together offered everything up on February 22, 2013. How glorious could we make Foundation Day?
My personal foundation is to bring balance back into my life: my spiritual, physical and social life. I am going to lay the foundation of balance.
On the spiritual level, I will connect to my Heavenly Parent more deeply and regularly, letting God's love flow unrestricted through me. I will also develop my hobbies -- such as woodworking -- which contribute to my spiritual balance and are important to me.
Physically, I will exercise and work out, keeping this precious gift (my body) in good. working condition and honoring my body as a place in which God can dwell.
And finally, my social foundation of balance is to connect to my family and friends -- the people who have loved and supported me throughout the years. I have been too busy recently to include them as a part of my life, but that is now changing.
For me, balance is about priorities. It may seem selfish to some, but how can I share the love and message of God and True Parents effectively if I am not in balance? How can we build a house on a foundation that is not solid, level, and square?
This is the foundation I am working on to offer up on February 22, 2012. It is my prayer and hope that my foundation can be offered up together with True Parents' foundation and yours. Make Foundation Day personal to you. Ask yourself, "What is going to be my personal foundation?" and imagine the house God is going to build on top of this foundation.
It's going to be beautiful.