I have been practicing a little ritual lately. When my house is super messy, dinner has yet to magically make itself and there is simply way more to be done than I’ll ever be able to get done in the 45 minutes before I have to leave for work, I take a breath and tell myself, “Just do something.” Then, I start; I make myself DO SOMETHING to improve the situation. In the not-so-distant past, I would have looked around at my own personal Everest and deduced that since it couldn’t all be done perfectly, I may as well not even try. Then I would have eaten Double-Stuf Oreos, watched Friday Night Lights and ignored the situation altogether. But now, well, I'm trying to turn over a new leaf.
When even the very normal circumstances of life seem huge and overwhelming, I continually have to fight my gut reaction to throw my hands up in the air and not even try to deal with them. I think I’ve pin-pointed the two reasons that I do this:
I have lived just outside of Reading, Pennsylvania for 9 years and I’ve always known that it was a poor city. In 2011, the US Census labeled Reading as America’s poorest city, with a poverty rate of 41.3% (since then we've moved up in the world - we are currently the 6th poorest city, with a poverty level of 40.1%). “That’s really a shame” I’d say to myself as I went about my life. It’s not that I was totally insensitive, it’s just that, well, my life is really busy with genuinely good things. I have a husband, two little boys, a job, friends, a home to care for, extended family to love-on, and responsibilities at my church. Busy, ya know? I didn’t know how to even begin to help, and I wasn’t convinced that my so-called help would make much of a difference. Plus, I was very comfortable serving my local church, and still am. I feel called to serve my church community; I didn’t feel “called” to serve my neighbors living in poverty.
But this past summer I got a gentle slap in the face and was awakened to my personal responsibility for my own city. I am called to help because I am a comparably rich, healthy, able-bodied lover of Jesus who should care for the voiceless because God commands me to.
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy”
Proverbs 31
Perhaps God was intentional in placing me, a former MK (that’s Christianese for Missionary Kid), near so many hurting people. But how in the world could I help improve the poverty in Reading? And what difference was my help going to make, anyway? Wait. No. Breathe. Just Do Something.
Because my husband is a wise man, he urged me to investigate what ministries our church offered for the poor/needy/destitute/voiceless. I was surprised when I found out that my church supports 4 different ministries in the city of Reading that I could be a part of: a crisis pregnancy center (unborn children = voiceless and their mothers = needy), a free clothing center (not able to buy clothes = poor), a men's homeless shelter (homeless = destitute) and Wisdom31, a ministry that provides nearly free English classes to immigrants (non-English speakers in American culture = voiceless).
Once I investigated the ministries, the decision became clear. I love to teach, I wanted a ministry that was very relational, I needed a ministry that fit into my family/work schedule and I could not possibly stand the thought of leaving my children at home since I suffer from condition called Working-Mother Guilt. So, I decided on Wisdom31 - teaching English as a second language (ESL). I get to go into Reading once a week and spend the morning teaching immigrants how to speak English so that they can become citizens, get jobs, and try on clothes at American Eagle (seriously) while my children attend a pre-school class with the students' children. I get to know them, learn their stories and hopefully show them the tangible love of Jesus while my kids play with their kids. That's it folks. I know, you were probably hoping that I was doing something more exciting...I'm not. I'm one of many ESL teachers and it's only been a few months, but stick with me on this journey. I hope that I get there (there = somewhere awesome). Right now, this is the very best I have to offer.
When even the very normal circumstances of life seem huge and overwhelming, I continually have to fight my gut reaction to throw my hands up in the air and not even try to deal with them. I think I’ve pin-pointed the two reasons that I do this:
- I don’t know how to help – “Where do I even start?”
- I don’t think that my help is going to make much of a difference.
I have lived just outside of Reading, Pennsylvania for 9 years and I’ve always known that it was a poor city. In 2011, the US Census labeled Reading as America’s poorest city, with a poverty rate of 41.3% (since then we've moved up in the world - we are currently the 6th poorest city, with a poverty level of 40.1%). “That’s really a shame” I’d say to myself as I went about my life. It’s not that I was totally insensitive, it’s just that, well, my life is really busy with genuinely good things. I have a husband, two little boys, a job, friends, a home to care for, extended family to love-on, and responsibilities at my church. Busy, ya know? I didn’t know how to even begin to help, and I wasn’t convinced that my so-called help would make much of a difference. Plus, I was very comfortable serving my local church, and still am. I feel called to serve my church community; I didn’t feel “called” to serve my neighbors living in poverty.
But this past summer I got a gentle slap in the face and was awakened to my personal responsibility for my own city. I am called to help because I am a comparably rich, healthy, able-bodied lover of Jesus who should care for the voiceless because God commands me to.
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy”
Proverbs 31
Perhaps God was intentional in placing me, a former MK (that’s Christianese for Missionary Kid), near so many hurting people. But how in the world could I help improve the poverty in Reading? And what difference was my help going to make, anyway? Wait. No. Breathe. Just Do Something.
Because my husband is a wise man, he urged me to investigate what ministries our church offered for the poor/needy/destitute/voiceless. I was surprised when I found out that my church supports 4 different ministries in the city of Reading that I could be a part of: a crisis pregnancy center (unborn children = voiceless and their mothers = needy), a free clothing center (not able to buy clothes = poor), a men's homeless shelter (homeless = destitute) and Wisdom31, a ministry that provides nearly free English classes to immigrants (non-English speakers in American culture = voiceless).
Once I investigated the ministries, the decision became clear. I love to teach, I wanted a ministry that was very relational, I needed a ministry that fit into my family/work schedule and I could not possibly stand the thought of leaving my children at home since I suffer from condition called Working-Mother Guilt. So, I decided on Wisdom31 - teaching English as a second language (ESL). I get to go into Reading once a week and spend the morning teaching immigrants how to speak English so that they can become citizens, get jobs, and try on clothes at American Eagle (seriously) while my children attend a pre-school class with the students' children. I get to know them, learn their stories and hopefully show them the tangible love of Jesus while my kids play with their kids. That's it folks. I know, you were probably hoping that I was doing something more exciting...I'm not. I'm one of many ESL teachers and it's only been a few months, but stick with me on this journey. I hope that I get there (there = somewhere awesome). Right now, this is the very best I have to offer.
Look at these sweet women that I get to hang out with! Here's a pic of them and my two kiddos sharing lunch at our house. Having minimal-English-speakers around my table was way easier than I anticipated. Apparently, all it takes is a good meal and a couple of rowdy kids to lighten things up.
I am not here to tell you that I’ve figured it all out and that I am Mrs. Social Justice, 2013. Please believe me when I say that I’ve barely scratched the surface. I am on a journey - a new journey - of trying to discover how to have a heart for my family and my church and my impoverished neighbor. It’s overwhelming – there is SO much that needs to be done in my community, and maybe in yours, too. Well, if you need a little inspiration, I’ve got some for you: Just Do Something.
If you're a part of a church, go to your pastor or women’s ministry leaders and ask how your church is serving the poor, the needy, the voiceless, and then get involved. You don’t necessarily need to start a new charity or reinvent the wheel because chances are good that your church is already involved in the lives of the destitute, and they’d love for you to help!
If church isn't your thing, how about volunteering for The Salvation Army or the American Red Cross? You could become a Big Sister or serve at a Ronald MCDonald House. The YWCA offers exciting opportunities to help women and children in need, and don't forget your local soup kitchen and community center. Find charities that you love; then give and serve, often.
As our eyes are opened to the poor and needy in our very own neighborhoods, towns and cities, the “doing something” is going to look different for each of us, and that’s good. We all have unique strengths and gifts, given by the One who knows our innermost thoughts and passions. He loves each one of us so perfectly and wants that love to overflow to our families, our churches and the broken people around us. If you wonder what God’s will is for you in promoting His cause for justice, consider Kevin DeYoung’s words, “God is not a Magic 8-Ball we shake up and peer into whenever we have a decision to make. He is a good God who gives us brains, shows us the way of obedience, and invites us to take risks for Him.”
Just Do Something.
If you're a part of a church, go to your pastor or women’s ministry leaders and ask how your church is serving the poor, the needy, the voiceless, and then get involved. You don’t necessarily need to start a new charity or reinvent the wheel because chances are good that your church is already involved in the lives of the destitute, and they’d love for you to help!
If church isn't your thing, how about volunteering for The Salvation Army or the American Red Cross? You could become a Big Sister or serve at a Ronald MCDonald House. The YWCA offers exciting opportunities to help women and children in need, and don't forget your local soup kitchen and community center. Find charities that you love; then give and serve, often.
As our eyes are opened to the poor and needy in our very own neighborhoods, towns and cities, the “doing something” is going to look different for each of us, and that’s good. We all have unique strengths and gifts, given by the One who knows our innermost thoughts and passions. He loves each one of us so perfectly and wants that love to overflow to our families, our churches and the broken people around us. If you wonder what God’s will is for you in promoting His cause for justice, consider Kevin DeYoung’s words, “God is not a Magic 8-Ball we shake up and peer into whenever we have a decision to make. He is a good God who gives us brains, shows us the way of obedience, and invites us to take risks for Him.”
Just Do Something.
