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Plight of the Exiles
So many of us are constantly asking Jesus Christ what He can do for us. There has to come apoint in our Christian lives when we start asking, "Lord, what do you want me to do for you?" Jesus Christ did not die for us just so we might go through life merely receiving. God created us so that we might know Him and invest our lives in giving. During this time of Lent, my thoughts turn to the plight of the "exiles" by asking the following questions:
We who are so richly blessed in the goods of this world, can we begin to explore the possibility of shedding some of our possessions?
Saint's Place needs donations of household items, furniture and finances. We need metal or plastic shelves to store donated clothing. A previously donated warehouse is no longer going to be available to us. Do you know of an empty building that we could use?
How can we live in solidarity with those in need, offering them hope?
Setting up housing for people who have none, offers a start that otherwise would have been impossible. Strangers to our country are less lonely and afraid when we extend our hands to them. Their self confidence increases when they are treated as human beings. None of us have more right to live than anyone else. Soon, there will be amputees arriving from Sierra Leone in need of medical care. We will be right there waiting to welcome them to America. After all, this could be any one of us, our children, our brothers and sisters.
Are we willing to risk change in our daily lives?
Donating material things is easy; giving of our (precious) time is more difficult. We have displaced families living in unfamiliar territory with strange food, language and customs. They had no vote in many of the decisions affecting their lives. Can you spare the time to befriend them? Can we stop the blur of rushing and running?
.... Think about what you might do to be more closely united with the exiles, the poor, the imprisoned, the refugees, the homeless...
Our most critical needs this week:
- New underwear and socks for men, women, and children of all sizes
- Men's winter coats and boots
- Additional volunteers to help out in our clothing closet sorting donations as they arrive
Our Newsletter Committee is looking for a few good writers to join our team. Our goal is to be able to publish and distribute a Saint's Place newsletter four times per year. Please call Colleen Knauf @385-6860, if interested.
