Heart Actions

Writings on outreach, humanity & actions of the heart.

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FIND ME AT HEARTACTIONS.ORG

I moved my site to www.heartactions.org so head over there and check out the latest posts :) Thanks, friend!

[heartactions-blog]

The Launching of ‘Heart Actions’:

(Image by Randy Bacon)

Happy New Year! Surprise! It’s been a journey, a long time coming, something I’ve known I needed to do, something I was (am) scared to share, something that I can no longer put off.. I just launched my blog! I have prayed and thought a lot about this, and I despite my fearful reservations, I am choosing to be brave and share what I feel called to share.

2017 has been (and still is) a constant journey of change and growth. In the last year I’ve endured a lot of pushback (hateful private messages, heartbreaking and degrading comments/dialogue in person and online) on the person I have become, I’ve made a lot of changes in every aspect of my life, I’ve questioned everything I once believed and spent a great deal of time, prayer, thought and discussion on faith and religion - now finding myself closer to Christ than I’ve been in my entire life combined; I started my battle with high functioning depression, made some lifelong bonds and friendships with people who have supported me unconditionally (non-blood family <3) that I have prayed to have since I was little, I’ve grown up a bit, learned a lot of lessons, figured out how to put my value in who I am in Christ and not in the things people say or believe about me, and came full circle in finally being who I’ve wanted to be my entire life but never felt strong enough, brave enough, good enough - enough - to be the “real Larissa”. I have never felt more sure than I do today of what I feel called to do and who I am.

God has been patient, filled with grace and unconditionally loving with me every step of the way, and chose to also speak His life, love, encouragement and peace to me through some absolutely remarkable people that I owe so much too. I see now that often times the only way out is through the mess, and that the way out tends to involve getting kicked to your lowest of lows...but it has been in my lowest moments and struggles that I experienced Christ picking me up, piecing my brokenness back together, giving me the tools, people, mercy and courage to start over and be a better version of myself, all for His awesome glory and purpose of serving and loving His people. I am eternally grateful <3

This blog is me, raw and unfiltered...you may not always like what I have to say, or understand my perspective or choices - and that’s okay! I’m a messy human, a work in progress (always working to be better but giving myself grace as Christ does), and someone that is choosing live fully instead of tiptoeing around in fear of being too much or not enough. I hope what I write about (homeless outreach, social activism, real life Jesus miracles, etc) inspires and encourages you to get off the couch and love humanity...to live BIG...fight hate with love...live outside your comfort zones...enjoy and thrive in your one precious life...never apologize for who you are...and give all the glory to Christ. I hope you’ll support me by reading when you can and applying what you choose to how you serve others and love yourself. I am ready to take this leap of faith, and I hope you’ll join me along for the ride. If you’re here with me, thank you...I love you. If you aren’t with me...that’s OKAY. And I love you too. Happy New Year!

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Welcome to Heart Actions! - A Blog By Larissa Kaye

(Image by Randy Bacon)

A Bit Of Background:

I grew up in a wonderful family and community that taught the love of Christ, so I was very familiar with the teachings of outreach and God’s love of humanity. It wasn’t until 5 years ago, the church that I now call home (The Venues) opened their doors for the first time - and that was the beginning of my life changing completely. Through meeting some absolutely one-of-a-kind, compassionate folks (that I now call my church family) there, I started volunteering regularly, and eventually started working for The Venues while I (thought) figured out what it was I wanted to do…that 10 hours a week administrative job turned into a position as ‘Homeless Outreach Coordinator’ after realizing that my heart and soul was with serving marginalized groups (especially the homeless community) and I loved every second of it.

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Although I grew up in church, outreach and serving people regularly was brand new to me, and it was through The Venues that I discovered that what I really wanted and needed to do was to live my life serving people through outreach. I am still heavily involved with The Venues on a regular basis, and now I also get to be a part of this crazy incredible thing called 7 Billion Ones. We are a non-profit story movement driven to empower people from all walks of life, and bring hope & healing through the power of storytelling and portrait photography. It fills my soul to overflowing to engage with people weekly during photo shoots, reading stories, to write heart driven, people-centered posts for our social media pages and websites, to travel and listen to people share their hearts and past & present…to be a part of something that changes people’s lives, that inspires people to go out and make a difference, that reminds people that every life has value, that there is hope and healing ahead, and that everyone deserves love and a new beginning.

Why Am I Doing This?

Through much of my work, my volunteer and outreach time, my church family and the opportunities I jump head first into that push me outside of my comfort zone (where our best life is lived), I am honored enough to meet, engage with, invest in the lives of, and love on (and be loved on) many people of all kinds on a regular basis. Because of this, I encounter moments of hope, healing, loss, friendship, despair, love and miracles daily that are beautiful stories waiting to be told. I can no longer keep these interactions, observations, stories and pieces of the soul to myself, as that would be disservice to the world; for if a story goes untold, the world can never benefit from the lessons, the beauty, the healing to be learned from it. So I am here to share with you what I can, in hopes that it creates this incredible cycle of compassion, love and perspective

On this blog you’ll see:

writings and stories on my interactions with our homeless friends

misc. opinion/political pieces here and there (bare with me - I promise I will share with as much grace and open-mindedness as I can ;)

traveling adventures

advocate work as an intersectional feminist and LGBTQ+ ally

what social justice actions i am involved in (how you can get involved where you are too)

bits of God’s presence and mercy in my everyday life

and all the outreach, work and love I feel called to share.

I am hoping there is a bit of something here for everyone, but I’m going to be up front with you now…we may not always agree. You may love what I have to say, you may think I’m wrong, you may view people and the world differently than me, you may want nothing to do with religion or spirituality, or maybe you think I’m not a “real Christian…you may love or hate that I do not sugar coat the hard things in life or that I curse a lot…but here’s the beauty of that - that’s okay! We don’t have to agree on anything for me to love you, or for us to connect or be friends. I am praying that I continue to keep myself honest and open-minded; knowing that I certainly am not always right…I will make mistakes, I will mess up. I can’t always be everyone’s shot of whiskey (or cup of tea if you prefer…sorry mom), there will always be people ready to tear me down or tell me that I don’t measure up to the standards the world has…but there will also always be people that love me unconditionally, that know my heart, that encourage me and carry me through the pain and the tough stuff in life. And the community and love I have in that will always far outweigh anything unloving someone can say or do to me.

I have spent so much of my life walking on eggshells, tip toeing around people, doing everything I could to make sure that I don’t offend anyone, hoping that everyone I meet likes me and that I would be good or smart enough..I can’t tell you how often I’ve let something said about me absolutely crush my spirit and make me questions everything about myself. God has been at work in my heart a lot the last 2 years of my life, and I am choosing to listen to him…to be BOLD in the way I live, love and serve. I am called to be a voice for the voiceless, to protest and march and speak about change that is needed…to be courageous in what I speak up about. I am choosing to no longer let what others say or think about me define who I am in Christ or my worth. I will not let fear keep me from doing what I believe is right.

Words have power, but I believe it is actions of the heart and soul that change the world and bring light and love to people. I’m excited and finally ready to share my heart and experiences with you, and I hope you’ll join me in the trenches of life, where it’s difficult, messy and often heartbreaking…because I’ve found that it’s there in the trenches, with your boots on the ground, love in your heart to give freely, and courage to stand with the marginalized and the broken and forgotten, that you see love in action, and lives changed. See you in the trenches, my friends. <3

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Already Home

This time last winter, I remember a night when it was roughly 15 degrees outside with an intense wind chill. I was talking to a friend that was sitting outside with her head buried in the hood of her torn coat...her eyes fluttering desperately to stay awake as she spoke and shivered in the cold. She told me she was sitting outside the restaurant, waiting for it to close so she could go to sleep around the back entrance. We talked about how much she was missing her husband that was just arrested a few days prior (whom I had only previously met a few times but he has this contagious smile and twinkle in his eyes every time he looks at her that is unforgettable)...she said she missed him terribly, that she didn’t know when she would get him back, and that she didn’t know how much longer she could or wanted to survive nights like these alone, outside, in the cold...without him, without a home. My heart crumbled.

I’ve seen my friend about once a week or so since then, and prayed and hoped that one day things would change for her. She’s had bad days and good days, but always managed a smile and a hug whenever I saw her.

Last Thursday night I was bear hugged from behind, and turned around to see my friend and her husband with the biggest smiles on their faces. I was so shocked with joy to see him back, standing there holding her hand, and grinning like a kid on Christmas morning. They thanked me for helping them during this last year, told me they are looking forward to hanging out at our Thursday night services at Ernie Biggs each week (Downtown Venues), and were optimistic about the new year ahead. My friend leaned her head against her husband’s chest as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and she told me with a warm smile that they had to get going HOME because they were meeting with some family there….HOME. They have a house now, and each other, and it was clear they might spend the rest of their lives wanting for nothing more. HOME to my friends, is wherever their sweet loves are. HOME doesn’t always mean a physical place. Her HOME is him, and he is hers...and now they have a safe, warm, dry place to lay their heads at night. They hugged me tightly, each kissed me on the cheek, then strolled away, still holding on to each other like they might never let go.

My heart is full. Thank you sweet Jesus for reminding me the beauty of love, of staying hopeful when all hope seems lost, of holding on to your dreams no matter what life throws at you, because God has got your back and he wants good things for us. God’s home is in our hearts and souls and he will never let us go.