It pains me to think how easy my life is and just how smoothly I live through it. I have bumps in my own life, but rarely do they stop me or send me off course. As I drive around and I live my life I see people’s needs but they rarely unsettle me either. But as I think about the World I am slowly exposed to its harsh realities; to the suffering and struggles of people every day. When I contemplate the vast extent of the need in this World; I realize I should be shaken and it should be difficult for me to live as I do.
I am learning more and more that there is OBVIOUS need and INDISCREET need.
Obvious = We see it & can’t escape it. It slaps us in the face as we live our life; we soon become Numb to it!
Indiscreet = What you can’t see; can’t hurt you! Hidden, rarely thought of and hardly ever considered.
In many ways our role as the Church should be to make the INDISCREET —> OBVIOUS! In the poorest area of our town we are acting to do this; first through our Thanksgiving Big Give and now through ‘Project Angel Tree’. We have identified 30 families (around 66 kids), in one area of the City, where at least one parent is incarcerated and we are seeking to make their life that little bit easier at such a commercial and expensive time of the year!
We are throwing them a Christmas Party; providing them with groceries, Christmas decorations and a gift for each Child. As I rang around and spoke to Parents I began to realize the difference this will make. It’s eye opening to realize that not all people approach Christmas with excitement and not all people expect anything special!
As I asked Parents what their Children would need/want I was shocked when a number asked for ‘sleeping bags’ or ‘diapers’ instead of shiny toys or video games. We rarely appreciate the NEED around us. We are blind and ignorant to what people go through! But we must learn to SEE NEED; not just blind ourselves to it. And we must learn to see the NEED as the CALL.
‘Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed.
Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.’ (Isaiah 1:17)
We must seek to make the NEEDS of this World Famous and we should Fight to do something about them!
The Bigger Picture 