What I do with my religious non-profit involves many things. Many various and asundry things. Such a wide variety of things you wouldn't believe. today for instance, I've played social worker, planner, permission-giver, editor, and delivery boy, counselor. That's all I can remember from what's already happened, today.Woman in need. Three children (4 yr old, and twins). No transportation. And no diapers. Husband (are they really married? Does it matter? Well, they're straight, so who cares, eh?) works, gets ride to job. But working in landscaping/lawn care means no work when it rains. So, no money (or not much). If you can't pay the rent, etc., how ya gonna save up for a car??? There is little or no "safety net" for folks like this. And I've met them, worked with them, etc. They are really are hard-working, doing the best they can.
So, in WalMart (I hate WalMart) to buy diapers, juice, snacks, and a gift card. And deliver them. She tried to get a ride to pickup something here at our religious non-profit office, but she'd have to bring all three kids. And folk want cash for the favor. And I don't have cash to give. So, I'm on the road again.
While attempting to shop at WalMart (I hate WalMart, did I tell you that?) I come upon a physically challenged man in one of the hated WalMart's electric shopping carts. What's his story, I wonder? In his basket, some hemorrhoid cream; and he is having trouble reaching the snack bars. There go I, but for . . . .what.
When I think what some folk spend on trifling stuff - and what these folk don't have in basics. How much does Fred Phelps spend on his web page and traveling to demonstrations? How much does "Focus on the Family" spend on defending "marriage" or Pat Robertson on condemning Haiti?
There is so much I cannot do - so many things I cannot fix, repair, or change. But one thing I know, there are some kids with clean diapers, some juice and snacks. And those kids are going to be able to get some shoes, too. (That was one of mom's priorities with gift card).
Take that, you hate mongers.
Now I'm tired and going to a fabulous gay pot-luck.
Art work stolen from the work of the fabulous GAY author-illustrator Maurice Sendak,
from Where the Wild things Are. But you knew that, didn't you.
12 comments:
You summed up my take on things perfectly.
You're a good man. Are you going to tell the story about the little girl's balloon at the Big House? Maybe Java or David will tell it. I had my back to you and missed it.
I get so frustrated 'cause I want to save the world and can't. I also hate worrying if I am being taken advantage of.
Yep. That's what we do when we do what needs to be done. Would that more people would take up the cause.
I used to like Wal-Mart. Any more, though, it really gets on my nerves.
I hate Wal-Mart. It robs communities of their standard of living. (And this isn't opinion: it was the result of a study by two universities.)
The poor will always be with us. We will do what we must and what we can and know that, under the right/wrong circumstances, it could be us.
Just the other day I was reading a blog in which the author was taking [right-wing] "Christians" to task [and rightly so!] for their hate, their greed, their ignoring of our Lord's two great commandments. He wished for true Christians to speak up and get noticed. I commented to him that it will never happen. In a strange way you underlined my point. Your trip to the Wal-Mart [I hate them with a passion as well!] and your work on behalf of this family and the man in the car will not make headlines on Fox News nor will they be credited by many (other than those immediately impacted) as signs of God's Gracious love and redemptive work in our world. But they are what Christ would have us do - quietly, unassumingly, freely, lovingly - in his name. How sad it is that our world only understands God in terms of Phelps and Dobson and Haggard! God reveals himself most often in terms of diapers, gift cards for shoes, and in kindness toward the stranger.
You can only do what you can to help. At least, that will keep you from drowing by all the negative things happening in the world.
God bless you......
To a person with unconscious thinking, the concept of one person doing one thing that can change the world is utter nonsense.
To a person with consciousness and connection to the Divine, that is all you need to change the world. One person, with a determined attitude. It can move mountains.
Each of us can accomplish great things with what we have to work with. We don't have to be Madonna or Angelina Jolie, or Oprah to do good things. As long as you are doing your part you are putting your good energy out into the world. Is always better than sitting and being a hypocrite, in other words better than doing nothing.
You're doing great, Joe. Happy Pride!
LOL - I can SOOOO relate to this post!!
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