The world has changed. The United States of America has changed. The people of our cities and towns have changed. More and more I notice that good manners are disappearing from the landscape of our neighborhoods. Now I am aware when I smile and greet a stranger they may not return the smile or the greeting, and their eyes are cold. The homeless population continues to increase, and for many it is through no fault of their own.
Too many people are unemployed. Too many people are one paycheck or serious illness away from being out on the streets. There is insufficient help for those who are homeless and especially for the mentally ill. There is more assistance for those addicted to drugs and/or alcohol than for the most vulnerable who have mental and emotional problems. Even for those who are normal before being forced to live on the streets, the ravages of time and hardship can cause them to become mentally unstable.
We seem to have our priorities backwards. Athletes, actors, singers, politicians, and CEO's command and receive extraordinary incomes, but our military personnel, policemen, firemen, nurses, teachers and others who serve us have to make do with so much less. When was the last time an athlete, actor, singer, CEO or politician saved a life? Which children other than their own received a good education courtesy of an athlete, actor, singer, politician or CEO? We willingly give our money to support the athletes, actors, singers, politicians, and companies headed by CEO's...........but what do we do for those who truly serve the more important purposes? What do we do for those who are the least among us?
Do you know how many homeless people there are in your city, town or community? Do you know how many homeless children are enrolled in your public schools? Do you know how many resources or facilities there are in your area for people in need? If your answer to any of these questions is "no" then make it a point to obtain that information. If the resources are insufficient what can you and your neighbors do to change that? The mental hospitals and sanitariums are no more. For some homeless drugs and alcohol are not addictions but rather self-numbing devices against the pain of having no where to go and no one to help.
If your heart is cold or has grown cold ask God to
Too many people are unemployed. Too many people are one paycheck or serious illness away from being out on the streets. There is insufficient help for those who are homeless and especially for the mentally ill. There is more assistance for those addicted to drugs and/or alcohol than for the most vulnerable who have mental and emotional problems. Even for those who are normal before being forced to live on the streets, the ravages of time and hardship can cause them to become mentally unstable.
We seem to have our priorities backwards. Athletes, actors, singers, politicians, and CEO's command and receive extraordinary incomes, but our military personnel, policemen, firemen, nurses, teachers and others who serve us have to make do with so much less. When was the last time an athlete, actor, singer, CEO or politician saved a life? Which children other than their own received a good education courtesy of an athlete, actor, singer, politician or CEO? We willingly give our money to support the athletes, actors, singers, politicians, and companies headed by CEO's...........but what do we do for those who truly serve the more important purposes? What do we do for those who are the least among us?
Do you know how many homeless people there are in your city, town or community? Do you know how many homeless children are enrolled in your public schools? Do you know how many resources or facilities there are in your area for people in need? If your answer to any of these questions is "no" then make it a point to obtain that information. If the resources are insufficient what can you and your neighbors do to change that? The mental hospitals and sanitariums are no more. For some homeless drugs and alcohol are not addictions but rather self-numbing devices against the pain of having no where to go and no one to help.
If your heart is cold or has grown cold ask God to
IGNITE YOUR HEART!
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