John chapter 12 records an incident which happened just days before the crucifixion of Jesus. Mary, the sister of Lazarus, "took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair. . . . But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said, 'Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor people?' Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it. Therefore Jesus said, 'Let her alone. . . For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.' " (verses 3-8)
Aside from the beauty of the extravagant love toward Jesus shown by Mary and the hypocritical attitude of Judas, the statement in that section of scripture which always leaps out at me is that the poor are always going to be with us. As the story is recorded in Mark, Jesus adds the statement, "and whenever you wish you can do good to them." (14:7)
Poverty is certainly nothing new. Because of a variety of circumstances -- death of a spouse or parents, disability, a generational spirit of poverty, etc. -- there have always been those who have depended on others just to get by. And it has always been, and always will be, the job of those with resources to assist them. While we are to be good stewards, we are also instructed to "give to him who asks of you." (Matthew 5:42)
As the Easter season draws to a close, I can think of no better way to honor Jesus in our lives than by a renewed effort to bless others. With our money, with our time; we should not fear being taken advantage of, we must remember Jesus commands us to give.
For anyone looking for a way to help in the West Plains area, I suggest making a call to our local homeless shelter, Samaritan Outreach Center. They are needing donations of food for their pantry, but also volunteers to give even a few hours a month to help in the office. The phone number is 417-257-7792.
Special observances like Easter and Christmas tend to bring out the best in all of us, but it should be our job to take these times of inspiration and let them propel us to give on a daily basis, because poverty doesn't stop after the holidays are over.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Cherishing Children
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, established by the Department of Health and Human Services to increase public awareness of the need to ensure the safety and welfare of children. For my own community, there is a horrible irony in that statement (a four-year-old boy was killed by his father this week) which should propel us to think about the plight of all at-risk children around us, and to cherish all children, everywhere.
As a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer, I have a bit of insight into the legal/protective system put in place to ensure the safety and welfare of children in our area. In many ways, it is a broken system, and that's not because the individuals caught up in it aren't, for the most part, trying to do the right thing. Overworked and mostly underpaid, with resources being cut every day, the people charged with taking care of the kids who end up in protective custody have some of the least-enviable jobs in the country.
How can we go about improving the system? Specifically, what can the faith community do about it? Because I believe it is the job of the Church to rise up and help address this shameful situation.
First, not every person is in a position to be a foster parent, or even a CASA, but I call on pastors in every community to be informed about the needs of these vital programs and to present those needs to their congregations. Where I live, the lack of local foster care providers is a huge complicating factor, with kids from our county who have been removed from their homes being scattered all across the state in various facilities, (many of which aren't much better than where they were living before, quite honestly). This forces the people who work with them to use precious time and resources to go where the kids are, and the children end up being neglected, even within the system.
Aside from what individuals can do, there are churches in every community with enough resources to open residential homes for children who need a safe haven. I call on church members to form committees and investigate how to go about it. A few committed individuals, working together, could make a huge impact on foster care needs, while at the same time having the opportunity to help salvage children's lives, showing them what compassion means and breaking cycles of abuse and neglect
Jesus looked on children as precious, and he cherished them with his lavish, unconditional love. He calls on us to do no less.
As a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer, I have a bit of insight into the legal/protective system put in place to ensure the safety and welfare of children in our area. In many ways, it is a broken system, and that's not because the individuals caught up in it aren't, for the most part, trying to do the right thing. Overworked and mostly underpaid, with resources being cut every day, the people charged with taking care of the kids who end up in protective custody have some of the least-enviable jobs in the country.
How can we go about improving the system? Specifically, what can the faith community do about it? Because I believe it is the job of the Church to rise up and help address this shameful situation.
First, not every person is in a position to be a foster parent, or even a CASA, but I call on pastors in every community to be informed about the needs of these vital programs and to present those needs to their congregations. Where I live, the lack of local foster care providers is a huge complicating factor, with kids from our county who have been removed from their homes being scattered all across the state in various facilities, (many of which aren't much better than where they were living before, quite honestly). This forces the people who work with them to use precious time and resources to go where the kids are, and the children end up being neglected, even within the system.
Aside from what individuals can do, there are churches in every community with enough resources to open residential homes for children who need a safe haven. I call on church members to form committees and investigate how to go about it. A few committed individuals, working together, could make a huge impact on foster care needs, while at the same time having the opportunity to help salvage children's lives, showing them what compassion means and breaking cycles of abuse and neglect
Jesus looked on children as precious, and he cherished them with his lavish, unconditional love. He calls on us to do no less.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Springtime and Hopeful Change
I like to stay busy. When someone says he or she is sitting at home bored, I can't even imagine how that feels. Right now, without even trying too hard, I can think of a a half-dozen projects which need my attention and at least that many more I'd like to start. I have two or three books I'm reading at any given time, one I started writing a year ago which I need to finish and one book already published which I should be promoting. I think many of my friends are the same way -- there seems to be so much to do and so little time to do it.
This morning, I took a few minutes to prop my feet up and stare out the window. I don't do that often enough. While I do have as part of my daily routine, time set aside each morning to pray and read, I don't sit and stare enough, don't take time to soak up the details of what is happening around me. Today, many of the trees are just beginning to have that light green springtime "glow" of tiny leaves and buds. I know that by next Sunday, the landscape will be even more dramatically alive, and it is my loss if I don't take time to enjoy it.
But even in my quiet contemplation, my mind goes to what is happening in our country and how there are significant changes on the horizon. Framed in the context of the new life of springtime, nothing seems too bad, nothing seems impossible. I like to think about possibilities because God is the God of possibility.
Our country has gone through many trying times in the past, and it has not been the end. Out of a revolution came a nation based on democratic principles. Out of a civil war came freedom from the scourge of slavery. Out of a worldwide influenza epidemic came modern medical advances. Out of World War II came the knowledge that war at that level must never happen again.
We'll get through whatever we need to, and it is up to the moderate majority of believers to lead the way. Our hope and faith must be strong, and our activism must be real. We must let our leaders know how we feel, and we must not give up. To my young friends, in particular, now is your time to rise up and decide what the future of this country will look like, what YOUR future will be. Don't give up, friends. I say again, as I say often, better times are ahead. I have to believe it.
This morning, I took a few minutes to prop my feet up and stare out the window. I don't do that often enough. While I do have as part of my daily routine, time set aside each morning to pray and read, I don't sit and stare enough, don't take time to soak up the details of what is happening around me. Today, many of the trees are just beginning to have that light green springtime "glow" of tiny leaves and buds. I know that by next Sunday, the landscape will be even more dramatically alive, and it is my loss if I don't take time to enjoy it.
But even in my quiet contemplation, my mind goes to what is happening in our country and how there are significant changes on the horizon. Framed in the context of the new life of springtime, nothing seems too bad, nothing seems impossible. I like to think about possibilities because God is the God of possibility.
Our country has gone through many trying times in the past, and it has not been the end. Out of a revolution came a nation based on democratic principles. Out of a civil war came freedom from the scourge of slavery. Out of a worldwide influenza epidemic came modern medical advances. Out of World War II came the knowledge that war at that level must never happen again.
We'll get through whatever we need to, and it is up to the moderate majority of believers to lead the way. Our hope and faith must be strong, and our activism must be real. We must let our leaders know how we feel, and we must not give up. To my young friends, in particular, now is your time to rise up and decide what the future of this country will look like, what YOUR future will be. Don't give up, friends. I say again, as I say often, better times are ahead. I have to believe it.
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