So I am not going to get into any sort of a political debate, but with all this BARRAGE of politics and knee-deep muck of promises and campaign clutter I have been thinkin’ some about what type of things would actually BENEFIT us in the world, more specifically in this country, in which we live. I have been reflecting on a lot of issues that are at hand with the horrible state of the economy, with morale being pretty low, and sometimes the future possibilities seeming bleak – WHAT IF someone, someones, some group, some people, some believers, some WHATEVER stepped up to the challenge to do something different – WHAT IF I got involved – WHAT IF you got involved?
I am not talking about “oh go vote – get involved” – in fact I am not even going to talk to you about voting – many of you would probably be EXTREMELY UPSET with me if I shared where I am on that whole subject – so instead I am going to dream a lil dream with you…..
WHAT IF someone decided to do something about the family? I think we all agree the “family” has been steadily being ripped apart the last couple decades – but I am not even talking about the moral fiber of the family – in fact I want to get real specific. This past Sunday a group from our church (mainly the teens and sponsors) went downtown ATL to help out with a great organization called JESUS PLACE and worked with some of the homeless population of Atlanta. Now I know that there are many different reasons and factors of why someone is homeless as well as a very diverse demographic of people that find themselves homeless. I have been impacted by the thought of whole FAMILIES being out on the street as of late. I received an e-mail last week from someone in our church talking about families in a school that need some help. In it the person mentioned that some of these families of kids in this school were living in their cars or on the street – THAT IS INCREDIBLE TO ME – especially as the weather gets colder.
Now before you say “duh Neal, come on into the real world” – yes I know it is happening and has been happening and will continue to happen. I also know that there are many reasons that people COULD CONTROL and have made bad decisions that led to this – as well as many who have just had tough circumstances hit to cause this. I am well aware that the God that I am trying to surrender to and to serve has called me – called us to minister to those in need – so what to do?
So back to my dream/thought/vision WHATEVER – you see it also is ASTOUNDING to me the # of houses that are sitting around the Atlanta area COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY EMPTY – the number of buildings that have been sitting around just wasting away and at the same time these people who have nowhere to go to seek shelter from the outside world and this seems completely and totally inexcusable to me! How in the world can we go to bed each night with thousands upon thousands of perfectly decent homes, sitting empty – a housing market that is in turmoil, builders continually building new structures and yet there are countless thousands living on the streets, under overpasses, in the woods, in their cars and the list goes on and on. These thousands of nameless faces, of hurting hearts and crying children and yet the two worlds cannot be meshed together? This seems ridiculous to me.
So WHAT IF? – What if we found some people who would rise up – who have wealth of untold proportions or even those who are not filthy rich but just have a desire to do something about the problem. What if these people decided to put a plan into action? (and please understand that I am not trying to say I have the answer to save the world – and no one else is getting it right – there are TONS of great organizations trying to rid our nation of the horrors of homelessness)
What if houses were purchased (heavens knows with the foreclosure market like it is we could purchase houses upon houses for not much money) and families were allowed to move in?
What if these families were given some mode of transportation (once again I have driven by these lots of gov’t owned vehicles or repossessed vehicles that go up for auction at a fraction of the price) so that these families could get a fresh start?
What if we set tough standards – I am not in the business of being an enabler, but a grace filled giver to meet the needs of the destitute – not a crutch to be leaned on to limp through the rest of the days of someone’s life but a ladder to be led by the Spirit’s healing power up and out of the dire straights!
What if they were given 2-3 months to get in the house and get on their feet? What if we invested in them to find out what ages the children were and what grade they SHOULD be in? What if we then invested time tutoring these kids and got them back in school so we could really stand as a society with “no child left behind” but not because a President says so but because WE SAY SO! What if the parents were set up with job/career counseling and given connections to find jobs?
What if we then stayed involved and did financial planning and helped them see how to save and spend wisely? What if after 6 months they were required to pay back a percentage into this process so that more houses could be purchased for other families – and this family took ownership and partnered to help someone else who is exactly where they were 6 months, a year, two years ago? What if after a certain amount of time & money this family could own that home? Or what if now that they are employed and learning how to take care of themselves they could move into another home situation and that home could be used once again to start helping the next family?
What if we cared enough and got involved enough to know that there were addictions or mental illnesses that were causing a cycle of instability and failure and we involved the proper program or counselors or whatever it took to meet the needs – not just simply threw them out of the house which we had provided – what if we WENT THE EXTRA MILE and helped to salvage another man, another woman, another marriage, another child, another life, another future, another soul? WHAT IF? WHAT IF?
Well I think we would look a lot more like the 2nd chapter of Acts (esp the later verses) – I think we would make God smile – I think we would have a lot less trouble with our own sense of self-worth or self-esteem – I think we would not care nearly as much about our 401k’s or our SUV’s or our X-box or our Summer Homes or our Boats or whatever it is that you believe you cannot live without – how do I know – well I can’t say for sure, but how can anyone say anything to the contrary until we have given it a try?
So what if? Is anyone with me?
What if some of you out there who get a “rush” from flipping a house for a profit took the time to flip a house to provide – to provide as God has called us to do? What if someone out there who has been gifted with the way to create cash flow and to invest well and to “wheel & deal” did so for the sake of the Kingdom and to meet the needs of the “down & out” that our God cared so much for that He sent His Son to Die?
Not exactly sure where all this is headed – but WHAT IF YOU JOINED UP WITH ME TO FIND OUT?
Shakyhands 