Saturday, May 10, 2008

2 blocks over and 3 blocks down....

On our way to visit Aunt Connie each day, we take the bit longer route...down the hill and over, as the roads on that route don't have as many holes. (That's a whole other story!!)

On that longer route, we travel past the "other side" of humanity. We drive past those places that look as if the world has forgotten....and all just a couple of blocks from where all the neatly landscaped, well taken care of, 3 vehicle families live.

Two young boys we drove past were in another world, literally....where drugs and violence and hopelessness live. Where those things are the norm. It makes my heart sad to think that there are so many young people who live right close to me, take drugs to simply get away from the reality of their despair.

There must be something I can do..........well, perhaps there is something we, as community, can do. Not sure what, but helplessness and hopelessness seem to go hand in hand and something or someone needs to offer a glimpse of hope.

I think Jesus and his followers would be right in there pitching for the "other side".

Come to think of it, I do call myself one of his followers too. I don't think I'm measuring up.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Where poverty is you will find hopelessnes, despair, violence, and all other kinds of things that seem to go hand and hand with it. The truth is there are far more people living with this awful reality daily. The question lies in how can we make a difference, because truthfully there is no one simple answer, rather there are a combination of different changes that have to first happen in society, government and so on, but even though not one of us can change the world, we all CAN make a difference. The feelings we have of feeling overwelmed because we don't know where to start or what to do are normal, what isn't is when we allow that to stop us from doing what we are called to do.

Your right, Jesus and his followers would be with these people, but I don't believe they would be hitting them over the head with the Bible, but instead I like to think they would just love them through it.

Humm...........

Sharon Kent said...

Very good thoughts Shannon. I agree.