One being the hundred thousands of people that are left without homes because public housing is now being considered unfit.
I mean, what did you expect? You put thousands of low income families in one block of each other and do not provide them with efficient resources (i.e. little to no public transit, few places to work, schools lacking proficient resources to educate the youth, few churches near the low income areas that are willing to reach out). Great idea. No follow through.
So what do we do? O yea, tear down the housing to build up mixed income housing that houses less than half the population that was originally there. Cause that solves the problem. I mean, if you can't see it anymore, then it must no longer is exist, right?? Why is this not bothering people in government? Isn't the local/state/federal government supposed to represent the people's wants and desires? Ok. So, at least the government has an excuse, not all of the members of Congress know the one true God.
What about the church? The members of the body of Christ? You know, the hands, the feet, the eyes, the ears, the mouth, the heart of Christ. Where are they? Where am I?
Lord, teach me to be Your hands, Your feet. Open up my heart to feel the pain, the love, the compassion You feel for your people. Let my heart break for the fall of Your creation. Give me insight as to where and how I can be Your hands and feet to those You have placed in my life.
Another thing that struck while I was in Chicago (last week) and even this week when I was hosting, was the overwhelming sense of urgency to reach young people. Every time I work with young people, God reminds me of my purpose: to love, to encourage and to watch the Lord move in there life. No words seem to be required.
One night, during Urban Intensive, we had the amazing opportunity to sit and chat with two former gang members in Chicago. It was amazing how quickly they began to open up to us about their life and how they became gang members and why they got out. One of the CSM apprentices asked them, what would it take for people like us that come from a background so different from yours to reach you and show you that there is another way of life other than gangs?
His answer has haunted me all week long. He said, "THIS. Just sittin' around, eatin' pizza and askin' personal questions. Questions that show that you care. Because in a gang, they care about you when you are out on the street, but when it comes to feeling. They want nothing to do with that. So I would say providing a safe place to be open about your feelings, both the good and the bad."
Wow. Who knew it could be that easy? That gets me excited to know that I can potentially make a lasting impact just through pizza. I don't even like pizza that much, but I think it could grow on me if it meant getting to see young people become young adults by sharing life with them and breaking bread with them. These children (I say that, because the boys we talked to were 16 and 17), wanted nothing more that a place to feel accepted and loved. Of all places to turn to for acceptance, shouldn't they be turning to the church? Where is the church? Where would Christ be? Where am I?
Lord, please open up opportunities in the next several months for me to reach out to my community in East Nashville. Specially working with the youth here in East Nashville.
I get overwhelmed with the weight of the needs around me. I forget that the Lord offers to carry the burden with and for me. I am not alone, and the devil does not win.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33
No comments:
Post a Comment