I am reminded each day that there is hope. There is hope that the cycle of poverty can be broken. For many the cycle is this incredibly strong hydraulic that sucks people in and never releases the grip on them. So what can we do, how can we break it?

I am encouraged when I hear a young senior who has committed to being the first one in her family to graduate. And she will. Not any of the work we do at Shepherd can replace the internal strength she demonstrates to overcome a home life that would destroy her and drive her deeper into the clutches of poverty. Yet, she overcomes and we can help her to overcome.

Yes, there is hope, because there are more just like her. More who are making the difference. More who want to understand the true freedom.

So today, I reflect on those overcomers who we can add a hand to, you can too!

Journey Well

jay

Well, it seems as if the approaching snowfall will be here soon. We have heard reports for days of the major snow storm coming. Each news station will have their special ’snowball report”–okay, that was my title. We will see the mayor riding on a plow. Our focus has forgotten the victories of just a week ago and now we try and figure how to handle this mess.

Saturday another fire death here in our neighborhood. While many worry about the pending snow that might keep them from getting to work, many in our neighborhood worry about…

1. how do we stay warm with no electricity? Space heaters are a blessing and a killer.

2. how to get to the store with the predicted ice. If you must walk over two miles on unshoveled and icy sidewalks, it is more than an inconvenience.

3. the forgotten children who have to walk to schools in worn-out shoes with cardboard on the bottom, the snow soaking through. For those who have to wait outside in subzero winds, with thin coats that offer very little help.

Maybe that is a story the media should cover?

We continue to try and meet the emergency needs while trying to deal with systemic issues that curse our neighbors. Poverty is an ugly picture, yet it is painted on the faces of very beautiful children and their families. Help us paint a better picture.

Also…..on Tuesday I celebrate 19 years of patience on my wife’s part. Yes, she deserves a medal for 19 years of marriage. If you know her, let her know how special i think she is. She must be, she puts up with me

Journey well,

jay

Yes, I am so proud of MY team. While I never threw a pass, made a tackle, or kicked the ball, somehow I felt as if I won too. I heard many exclaim, “We Won!”  I am so proud of the Blue Crew, they did it and Tony Dungy makes such an impression as the man with such a strong testimony and integrity. So today I celebrate.

Yet, early this morning my mind raced back to the real world i live in. I asked myself how I felt I could say, “we won”? Maybe because of friendships, maybe because I live in Indy. Probably the hometown draws me in.

So, do we declare, “we lost?” when a few weeks ago our wonderful staff had to comfort a 10 year old who was fearful when a boy at school threatened to rape her? She fears Friday because that is the day we do not have after school and she has to walk home. Do we find any attachment to her?

Do we utter, “We lose” when a nine year old boy hurts himself on purpose and says he wants to commit suicide? How do we find common ground with him? He lives in our city too! Maybe he even cheered the Colts last night.

Maybe the student who can’t get along with her father’s girlfriend, and she is the one who has to leave. Do we mourn that like Chicago mourns losing the Super bowl?

Do we mourn the loss of innocence, the loss of security, the loss of hope? I think I speak for our great staff when I say that we never stop crying. Don’t ever want to stop crying, as the founder of World Vision said, “Our hearts must be broken by the things that break the heart of God.”

How will you “root for the home team”?