Win a Free Compassion Tee Shirt

I’m not a fan of fish myself, makes me physically ill after eating it… But I loved that your word cloud looks like one! Awesome.

When I first looked at the word cloud I could only see one jumbled mess. After looking at the words which included God, individual names, parents, Compassion, diseases and other words I began to see something different. Everything in this world is connected. When my neighbor is sick or in poverty eventually it will effect me or you. We need to help an individual as much as we can because poverty and disease changes an individual’s life, not just a faceless group. All of the words thrown together represent this. It is in the shape of a fish to remind us that Jesus wants us to do something.

hahaha good one Sherry! I like that caption!

The fact that ‘Malaria’ and then names (i.e. Mario, Martha, Javier) are the most visible part is striking. The fish shape just adds to the compelling nature of the wordle. Thanks for posting.

Sweet fish… can’t think of a caption, but I was here.

Loving this fish! Can help but think of Christ’s call for us to be fishers of men! Very cool… would love to win!

I actually see a rabbit hopping. Head on the left, feet together.

Love the wordle…love the tee…I even love fish….but I don’t love Malaria – can’t stand mosquitos and what they can potentially do to God’s children who have no protection against them.

Woohoo! This was a fun contest–guess someone at Compassion likes bad puns. Thanks so much!

I see “child” in the center, surrounded by a cloud of things that may affect the child’s life. How very near, and how very big is malaria, such a threat to many of our children. I see words like parents, disease, Compassion, God, and the names of individual people: a reminder that individual people — ONE person — can have such a huge impact on a child’s life. We, as Compassion sponsors, along with Compassion, God, and the child’s family can work together to be the biggest influence on the child’s life.

I see that God is at the head of the fish. And when we have God, we have “enough.”

“The fish aren’t bitin’ but them skeeters sure are.”

I think about how all of these words deal with needs that must be met around the world. We can effect individuals across the globe very easily from our homes here in the US, and yet many of us don’t ever move to help. We have to start loving others practically.

It does look like a fish to me, and because we live in an area with lots of wetlands, fish, and fishermen, the mosquito population can be menacing around here. Seeing that Wordle fish with that particular bunch of words really reminds me that the mosquitoes where many of our sponsored children live are far more menacing than are the mosquitoes in my neighborhood! Hearty congratulations to Sherry on her win for her “tooth” caption!

Love the shirt. Reminds me of Haiti.

I think it’s awesome

We are all children of God

See the fish but my daughter and I think it looks like a turkey leg.

can’t think of a smart thing for the fish… but i was here, and i’ll proudly wear a compassion tshirt all over the place

I see a tire track.

in seeing the fish, i see Jesus and his provision and stewardship of perfection in his life of healing, teaching, loving, and providing for his children. He has given us the call of Stewardship of perfection as well with our healing, teaching, loving, providing for people in the name of God and for his kingdom.
I really like how it came out because it just reminds me that there is is still hope offered in christ in the midst of all of the hurt, lack, pain, and poverty.

Like the fish cloud, and I like fish

I see a fish. I then saw the word “child” in the middle. We are “fishers of men” and should be able to rescue that child from the mess of poverty that surrounds him/her.

Fish!! I love how God is near the mouth of the fish!

What I get from this picture is that with the help of people with God in their hearts, Compassion International can help children and their families overcome many obstacles, such as disease and poverty. Thanks!

It’s a footprint of one carrying the Good News!

Something from…

Mat 7:10 – 12 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not!
If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.

“Do for others what you would like them to do for you. This is a summary of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”

I see a sadness of the suffering in the words, but then I see hope in the shape, and the reminding us of God always providing, always loving.

I don’t like fish

Love the T-shirt, especially the quote, although the adorable kid is great too…

I definitely saw the fish. And I definitely want a shirt.

I see a fish – give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach him how to fish and he can feed his family for a lifetime.

Not all of us are called to fish – some of us are called to rescue kids. Let’s end poverty now – sponsor a child today – http://www.sponsorshipchallenge.org/210in2010

I see the rabbit too…. in mid sprint trying to reach the ends of the earth with the message of Jesus’ love for us all.

Great looking fish. Great meaning.

What is that old adage, “give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. . .TEACH a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime”. I feel like this is what we do through Compassion. Our children aren’t given hand-outs, our families do not receive out of pity. Our children and our families have committed relationships with Jesus, they are learning trades and accept tokens to help them survive and grow together. We are teaching them to fish. . .no free fish here.

That’s pretty awesome, I can definitely see a fish but I can also see a rabbit too.

I see a jumbled mess, but with God at the head, just as He leads our jumbled mess of a world!

Love the shirt and love what Compassion has done for so many people around the world.

I see that God is at the head of the church (fish) and that we are all in this together. 1 Corinthians 12:26 – “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.”

The way the words are all together in the shape of a fish immediately brings to mind sardines. Thy must all work together to escape predators. Which, makes them completely dependent on eachother without even knowing how important they are to life below and above the surface of the sea. Truly amazing.

I’m allergic to all fish EXCEPT the Jesus fish! )

Fitting that the “O” in God is the eye of the fish. He sees all and requires us to feed the poor and oppressed… With or without fish

We can give the children fish but also teach them about being fishers of men.

To me, it also looks like a knocked over bowling pin.

“Strike out poverty.”

Lol, so like the “skeeter” one too!

I actually like the fact that God is at the front of the fish, the head of the fish. It’s good to remember that God is always at the head, always in charge of all of our lives (the names) and over everything that happens both good and bad (the diseases).

The other thing that struck me was that the word God was written slightly smaller than some of the other words which were written largely. It made me think that sometimes we get caught up in the worries of this life and forget that God is still in charge and still bigger than ourselves and all our troubles, no matter how bad things may seem.

I think it’s called a “Compassion Fish”. Never seen one until now! Thanks for sharing!

It definitely looks like a fish at first glance. But it also kind of looks like a footprint.

There are many people and experiences that make footprints in our journey and in the lives of the families living in poverty. Some bad. Some good. And some great! Those footprints cover our journey path and shows where we have been and reminds us of what it took to get where we are today.

When we have God in the forefront of our feet, lifting us up each step we take, we can’t go wrong.

I see words that some may hear every day or perhaps have experienced. Even though it may look like a jumbled mess of letters its formed into a symbol that reminds us why we are here…why we live what we do and how we do it. The fish symbol was originated to let others know they were christians. Today we use it for the same purpose but more freely. In all that makes up my day of words there is no denying who created me. My life of faith that shapes my very soul into who I am. If I weren’t with Christ..my daily words would not form into a symbolic reminder of who I am and who I stand beside.

It reminds me of the back of a tapestry. The intricate weaving is the artists’ master-piece. He knew just what he had in mind when He created it. He knew how it was going to turn out….but if you were to only look at the back of it you would say “Oh my! What a mess”.

I first couldn’t tell that all of the words were a fish but it’s very cool now that I look at it closely! Good choice of words to have in it Oh and I think fish are very yummy! I love all seafood!

I often think about how if everyone would take care of someone, nobody would ever have to walk through life alone. Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. It is time that we all rise to the challenge of being the hands and feet of christ.

I seee that God is a the head and when you put HIm first all other things fall right into place!

I see malaria, and all of the children Compassion is helping to overcome it.

it looks like a bowling pin

The names stood out to me first — Javier, Martha, God, Mario. Reminds me that we’re not primarily people who care about solving hunger or teaching children or arguing theology. We’re followers of a personal God who reaches out to his people, calling each of us by name.

I see a fish, but in the heart of it is something more. Connectedness. Purpose. And vision for those hurting.

“Fish are friends not food.”-Bruce the Shark (Finding Nemo)

the word “children” jumped out at me. we sponsor two, we have three of our own, and my husband and i both teach…a lot of them!

I LOVE that it comes out looking like a FISH with God at the very front of the fish…soooo cool!

Saw the fish and the large word Malaria. Reminds me of how many get this illness and of how easy it is to prevent or treat with the right medicines.

Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime – and has the ability to provide for his children.
Compassion makes a difference…one fish at a time.
Blessings on the journey!

I visited! I love the shirt! ♥

I love that God is at the eye of the fish. God is still sovereign and in control, watching over us. We need to be His body, working to end diseases like malaria, so that the Javiers, Marthas, and the Marios of the world can live.

The connection I make, is that the role of the church is jumbled right in there with the needs of the world. We are blessed that we may share that blessing. And, what I like about Compassion is it’s role in the whole “give a man a fish and he will be fed for the day, teach a man to fish and he will be fed for life” idea.

(And, I love your comment, Jen Jones! )

Great job w/ creativity…I am not creative, so I only see a fish I am thankful that Compassion is bringing hope to the hopeless. I love being a part of it.

I think the wordle would make a great t-shirt. It would get people thinking. . .

i see a jackrabbit!!
the head is the “fish’s tail” with an open mouth and one black eye and the “Martha” being the long ear. “Mario” “Javier” and “Malaria” are the jackrabbit’s legs in running motion.

It’s a little abstract for me, but it made me think of the quote, “Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day. Teach him to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime.” By educating the children we sponsor, we are giving them far more than their daily needs until they turn 18, a lifelong opportunity to succeed. My sponsored child wants to be a teacher. I’m so proud to help make that possible. She will touch many more lives than I ever can by myself.

” God sees all and has Compassion for all … even mosquitos”

Looks like a fish or a grenade to me. I like fish better though.

I see the fish and the rabbit, but I really think it looks like a bug, maybe a queen bee with her wings close to her body.

I see two things – a fish and/or a grenade. Both are equally symbolic in my mind. Fish: Compassion’s network of volunteers and programs provides food – spiritually, physically and looking-forward…the skills to provide for a family.
Grenade: Only God knows how much time we have to reach the children of the world.

My first thought was “ichtus”. Second was Jesus and the loaves and fish–he provides that which seems impossible…and one fish can go a long way to feed a hungry child/family.

I thought the word “Compassion” and it had “little” and “disease” connected to it means with Compassion there is little disease meaning disease it mitigated b/c of Compassion. So to summarize again with Compassion there is little disease. I WIN!

It does look like a GRENADE hahaha but a grenade ready to explode with COMPASSION

Love it! Fishing for men! Love our compassion girl in Uganda. Just had comp Sunday 3 sponsored!

if you put the left side as the bottom, it looks like a rose that hasn’t quite opened yet. “children” and “martha” are a leaf, and “malaria” is the first petal to start the full bloom process…

I see hope… in the mess and caos. And i see that running rabbit too:)

jumping off of LisaC
Losing the forest for the trees- or losing the big picture of hope for all the sorrows and trials and joys we face each day in reality.
God is at the mouth- or eye- and when you step back there is the fish- Jesus the Son of man, who in the end will make all things work together for the good of those who love him- all things.

What came to my mind was exactly what Caitie (#35) said about teaching a man to fish. I thought of it, but she said it first. I vote Caitie wins the tee-shirt!

two hands (one on top of the other) clasping all of these names as well as these problems and lifting them up to God in prayer

When I look at this jumble of words, the word ‘malaria’ stands out to me first and foremost. Then I notice the names, ‘Martha’, ‘Javier’ and ‘Mario’, followed by the words ‘children’, ‘parents’ and ‘community’. All of this causes me to think of the Sara Groves song called ‘Abstraction’ which reminds me that diseases like malaria affect (and too often kill) individuals, people who each have a name, and subsequently their families and communities. So often we hear statistics and mass numbers and fail to really think about the individuals represented by those numbers. Each one is known to God, is loved by God and has value.

Children (and parents) are important to God-he knows our name. There are alot of other words, but that is what jumped out at me, both specific kids names and kids in general.

I LOVE it! My only criticism is that the word Compassion should be bigger!!

I really like the tee shirt & the statement about poverty. Thank you for your constant reminders.

Love the tee!! I did see the fish, though I think Malaria was the first thing that stood out to me.

Love the t-shirt!

It’s very telling of all things Compassion

I’m glad this post caught my eye- I haven’t been on the website in a bit but it’s about time I checked it more regularly. . .

When I think of it,we truly are one NATION under GOD and it is our duty to love our neighbor as we love ourselves and when you LOVE someone,you help them if they need it! This Fish represents a NATION of things and people. Thanks for the chance

God at the head and children in the middle- makes a lot of sense to me.

i see the fish…awesome shirt!

I see a fish! Very cool art- love that it’s left up to interpretation…

Is it from a talk on World Malaria Day?

I see words roughly shaped like a fish, but beyond that I see kids. Some are bog, some small. Some darker, some lighter. Some hidden in the background because they’re shy, some up front and bold. Each word in the wordle represents a child Compassion supports. Every size, all ages, all races, they’re all still God’s children and like the words are all together in the ‘fish,’ God holds all His kids in His hand

I didn’t see fish on my own, but my husband saw it right away… love it tho’!

I see a chicken laying on its back thinking deep like “it takes a village to raise a chick.”

I immediately saw the fish, but didn’t read what was in it until I started skimming comments… How often do just see a result but don’t actually stop to look at how it GOT there?

I see a collection of all the thoughts that are going through the minds of the sponsored and the sponsers. Perhaps one day the words will become unscrambled and we will see everything clearly.

What I noticed the most is that GOD is at the head of the fish. The head is what guides the fish just as God is the one that guides us. The other thing I notice right off were three of the words at the tail. Parents, people and church. The tail of the fish is what moves it and steers. Parents and the church are so responsible for steering our children in the right directions.

It seems like the eyes of the fish is the word “GOD”. So the fish sees through God´s eyes and what he sees are people living in poverty and his heart is full of compassion for them. God reaches out to the lost and to the poor and for this he uses us.

Though I see a fish and I like all the words used, I wish the positive words were more pronounced & the negative words (i.e. malaria) were more in the background. Compassion is all about making a positive difference and should be expressed as such.

I see both the rabbit and the fish (makes me think of a good tuna fish melt sandwich) as well as the grenade, bowling pin….I love how everyone sees something different! I also love how the white letters stand out on the black background, an awesome effect

It makes me think of when Jesus used the five loaves and two fish to feed the multitude. Some of the words on there are very distressing, but we have a sovereign and powerful God who is over those things. He can take fish and use them to shape the multitude.

What an awesome shirt! Thanks for sharing with us. I can see the fish and it’s significance in many ways. Thanks for doing all that you are!

I see a rabbit…head on left and running to represent the RACE against poverty,hunger, illness….

I thought “Through our donations, this fish feeds, clothes, educates, encourages, and shows God’s love to many more than 5000!”

Love this shirt!

My first thought was a fish too. I also see a slightly misshapen warthog- Head on the right, Martha is the tail.

With all the talk about money these days, it’s a good reminder to remember it’s not just our country that is suffering. People all over the world need help. I really like the theme of the tee shirt and the fish!

God is at the centre of every thing, every thing has its being in him.

I don’t love fish, but do love the wordle. Such a lot of things to think about.

I see the fish, but my eyes tend to focus on the words more…and the ones that caught me were: use, little, compassion, now.

“Use a little compassion now.”

I love the fish and the shirt!

The fish is a symbol of silence. We must listen more clearly to human suffering. As “fishers of men” we are called to comfort our fellow human beings and drown out the “noise” in their lives. This fish represents God at the helm leading us from the “noise.”

The words do resemble a fish; each word held together with on purpose—to reach out and use Gods love and teaching to be your brothers keeper.

I was so taken by the names I didn’t even see the fish at first!

I think it’s pretty cool how all these words connect and make up what Compassion is all about.

If you turn your head 90 degrees to the left and look at it… it absolutely looks like a woodpecker.

A woodpecker on the verge of foraging through some bark to “russle up some grub”.

I love it, the words that stuck out to me are compassion, children, community, child.

Malaria and mosquito jump out at me.

I love the shirt! It makes me feel humbled, blessed and want to take action to help others!

what a jumbled mess we live in. Which is why we need GOD at the head to lead us.

Not a fan of fish but I like the cloud and everthing inside seems like its what Compassion is all about, providing for those in need and meeting needs.

I do see the rabbit, fish and woodpecker but the words stand out to me.
I see children and parents forcing malaria out of the system led by Martha, Mario and Javier with God powering the whole thing from the tail end.

Although we announced the winner of this shirt in another blog post, I never closed the loop here. My apologies.

Derek Chalfant was the winner of this shirt.