Yesterday's Givers

Ginter Botanical Garden © singeronthesand 2011

Is this not the fast which I choose, 

to loosen the bonds of wickedness, 

to undo the bands of the yoke, 

and to let the oppressed go free, 

and break every yoke? 

Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry, 

and bring the homeless poor into the house; 

when you see the naked, to cover him, 

and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

Isaiah 58:66

“In Forsythe County’s rolling subdivisions near Atlanta, Easy Street seems to run forever.  ‘What recession?’  The average household here earns $88,000 – the highest in Georgia, 13^th highest in America.  But for more families here, prosperity is a pretense.  The job’s lost, the savings are gone, and the big house is either in foreclosure or on its way.  And just keeping food on the table is a struggle.  So Forsythe’s newly needy file into local food banks.  Yesterday’s GIVERS have become today’s TAKERS.” [CBS News 11/20/11]

While the Super Committee for Debt Reduction is drowning in partisan politics and on the brink of collapse with out a deal in sight, America’s lower and middle class are finding it increasingly difficult to save their homes and feed their families.  Local news outlets here show photos of food banks with empty shelves.  Neighbors are going into bankruptcy or foreclosure or both.  The lines at soup kitchens get longer every day.

How can we help – those of us who still have a home and a decent meal for supper tonight?  If you have an opinion, make your voice be heard in your local political system.  Pick up some extra cans of food or a can of baby formula and drop them at a collection site for the food bank.  Volunteer at a soup kitchen, or with a group that does gleaning in local agricultural fields.  Jesus isn’t on earth today – we are.

We are His hands to touch the world around us.

We are His feet to go where He may lead.

We are His love burning in the darkness.

We are His love shining in the night.