Paying the Price - II

Paying the Price

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NZCWeBNPeE 

My great-great-grandfather and great-great-grandmother (Gottfried and Mary Quaas) came from Germany in 1849. 

They are the family I know the most about, but (as I’ve been told), other ancestors came to the United States from Ireland, Scotland, England, the Netherlands, and possibly other places.  

But, let’s look at Gottfried Quaas and Paulal Stone Williams today.

Gottfried was from a fairly large (and typical) German family - before German Unification.  He had received a notice that he was drafted and he and Mary took their money, their two small children, and went to Brenham for a ship to the United States.  It wasn’t a pleasant “luxury cruise” but one in steerage.  When Gottfried got to America, the family history indicated that he was deathly sick from cholera and a German-speaking physician helped save his life.

With little more than two trunks and two children, they made their way from Brenham Germany to New York City to Iowa and established a flourishing family.  But, I’m sure many days they wondered and worried about the family back in Germany.  Saying ‘goodbye’ at the train station to their families and knowing that they would never be back in Germany again!!  They paid the price to find freedom, to escape the coming German Unification wars, and from meager beginnings build successful lives in the United States.

*****

The scenario above was similar for so many.  In Europe, it was common for the eldest son to inherit the family farm - and thus for the other children they needed to find other ways to live.  Some went to cities and built their lives and careers on jobs there.  Others found their ways to America.  

For the Irish from 1840 to 1850, the Potato Famine sent many to the poor house, some starved, and some were lucky enough to emigrate to the United States (and the criminals were rounded up and sent to Australia!!!)  

Others arrived - from China to build the transcontinental railroad, Hispanics have moved into many states - first as migrant workers and now as regular citizens.

Yes, many of these paid the price.  Some ships sank, many got sick on the journey and died, others made it to American with little more than the shirt on their back.  And, some flourished.

***** 

I met a new friend Scott about two months ago.  Scott is a Physician Assistant (aka - “almost” a doctor) with a family (wife and two children).  Scott and his family are moving from Central Texas to Indonesia when the COVID virus lessens and he will be a medical missionary there (and from my brief talk with him, he does not intend to return (other than to visit)).  I assume he has counted the costs and the implications of raising his family in a foreign environment!! 

*****

I don’t know Paula Stone Williams other than what I have seen on the Internet (especially YouTube).  I am a friend on Facebook (and we had one brief interaction).

But, as I’m looking at “Paying the Price”, I wanted to highlight what I know about Paula.  

Paula was a highly successful Christian minister and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)  of a Christian related ministry.  She was on boards of directors, she traveled frequently, she spoke at conferences - all of these as a MAN - PAUL. 

After careful consideration, deep prayer, she arrived at peace within herself and decided to become the woman her brain said she was.  She announced this to her organization and church as within a week was fired from all of her associations.  Talk about “Paying the Price” - from a well-paid executive doing good ministry to becoming who her brain said she was.  This was a big challenge.  Do look at her TED talk (linked at the top) - she is also humorous.

Some of the things she gave up fit into the category of “White Male Privilege”  She indicated she was a nice person, loving, giving, hard-working and not toxic as some men seem to be.  But, again, she paid the financial price, and a social price, and a family price, and (I’m sure) an emotional price.  She is back in ministry, but not at the level she previously enjoyed and without the ‘white male privileges’. 

*****

So, Gottfried and Mary, other immigrants, Scott, and Paula paid a price to change their lives.  

How about you?  What are your dreams?  Go to America?  Starting a scholarship/foundation for rural farm kids in South Dakota can get great jobs in the technology field?  Mentoring and encouraging others to reach for the stars?  To make a success of your small leather making business?  To make a success of your life?   To love your grandchildren with so much grace and love?

The literature says “If you can dream it, you can do it”.    But, before you start, you should “count the cost”!!  Will the cost be in money, or in some other area, such as changing jobs completely? What if you decide you want to quit your job and be a teacher in Nigeria - what will the costs be?  What will the benefits be?

Can you anticipate the changes you can make to yourself and your life and to others?  Do you have a passion for something (I know LMG does Marriage enrichment).  What is God (or the “Force” or “Karma”) calling you to do?  

Think about it!!!

Hugs!!

Karen