The paradox of lack in the midst of plenty.
10/10/06 22:58 Ministry
When I got done with
high school, I chose a career path that took me to an
Aviation Academy somewhere to the east of Uganda, in
a li'l town called Soroti. The reason for me was that
I'd get to travel...see the world, et cetera. Well,
with First Love, I have been fortunate to go beyond
AIPs, flight plans, sexy air stewardesses, and
expensive hotel rooms. I have seen the world in a way
I would never have seen it - thru the eyes of God.
Our travels have taken us thru' out Africa, Europe
and to over 40 States on the continent of North
America, and on our travels we have connected with
people from most all color and creed. We have seen
[esp. in North America], both the faces of obscene
prosperity and of desperate poverty, which brings me
to the some what touchy subject of this my first ever
blog.
Yesterday, under the auspices of Youth For Christ Florida, we were invited to sing to a group to teen moms in a predominantly African American neighborhood called Dyson Circle, in West Palm Beach. Only when we got there, the teen moms were conspicuosly absent. Instead, we had the pleasurable privilege of singing to an audience of 5-10 year olds and a few adults and as surely as sparks fly upwards, there was no desputing the fact that they [the kids] had fun. What touched my heart the most though was to look at thier surroundings; the rubbish strewn roads, the decrepit houses, the uncared for playing fields, the broken rusty swings and wholey slides, and then to see them have zest for life, to see them crack a smile, it warmed my heart. It spoke of a resilience and hope that can only be attributed to the strength that only God, and God alone, could and did place within the human spirit.
Now, I am a man who understands and cares little for politics if any at all but, I couldn't help asking myself "What is this paradox of lack in the midst of such bounty, and at the risk of torturing a cliche, why is it a predominanly African American problem? I thank God for people with servant hearts, organisations such as Youth For Christ, et al, who are reaching out to these seemingly forgotten communities, for when faced with overwhelmingly dire need, they have not faltered but have continued to serve. Also [if this counts for anything], I call upon those who care enough about God's people not to underestimate the power of 1 dollar. To one it might be just a can of Coke but in the hands of the right people, that one dollar goes a long way towards alleviating the suffering of countless people where ever they may be.
Sharpe Ssewali II
Yesterday, under the auspices of Youth For Christ Florida, we were invited to sing to a group to teen moms in a predominantly African American neighborhood called Dyson Circle, in West Palm Beach. Only when we got there, the teen moms were conspicuosly absent. Instead, we had the pleasurable privilege of singing to an audience of 5-10 year olds and a few adults and as surely as sparks fly upwards, there was no desputing the fact that they [the kids] had fun. What touched my heart the most though was to look at thier surroundings; the rubbish strewn roads, the decrepit houses, the uncared for playing fields, the broken rusty swings and wholey slides, and then to see them have zest for life, to see them crack a smile, it warmed my heart. It spoke of a resilience and hope that can only be attributed to the strength that only God, and God alone, could and did place within the human spirit.
Now, I am a man who understands and cares little for politics if any at all but, I couldn't help asking myself "What is this paradox of lack in the midst of such bounty, and at the risk of torturing a cliche, why is it a predominanly African American problem? I thank God for people with servant hearts, organisations such as Youth For Christ, et al, who are reaching out to these seemingly forgotten communities, for when faced with overwhelmingly dire need, they have not faltered but have continued to serve. Also [if this counts for anything], I call upon those who care enough about God's people not to underestimate the power of 1 dollar. To one it might be just a can of Coke but in the hands of the right people, that one dollar goes a long way towards alleviating the suffering of countless people where ever they may be.
Sharpe Ssewali II
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