Month: February 2020

Each week at the nearby elementary school, I work with a 1st grader who struggles to read. I’ve written many times about the sad stories from my time with him. But lately, he’s done great. He’s been happy and all-smiles for the last 3 sessions. What’s the difference?

His dad broke up with his live-in girlfriend. In the interim, dad needed a place to stay and moved in with my little friend and his mother.
Mom and dad were together again! Dad even slept in his room at night!

What 6-year-old wouldn’t want mommy and daddy back together? How fun would it feel to have slumber parties with Daddy each night?!

But my little friend was distracted and depressed today. The tears began flowing.
What changed?

Daddy reunited with his girlfriend and moved out his things last night. So tonight, my buddy will sleep alone in his room. And, next weekend, he will spend a weekend in a home where he feels unwelcomed by another adult and her older children.

In a few seconds this morning, I switched from ‘Tutor’ to ‘Listener.’ I listened to big feelings pouring from the lips of a little body. Once again, he has to adjust to the new ‘normal’ in his parents’ lives. With mental chaos like that, something’s gotta give.
This morning, what ‘gave’ was his ability to focus on academics, or even differentiate the letter b from the letter d. He couldn’t concentrate and he couldn’t hold back the tears.

I’m not an expert on Illiteracy, Poverty, or the academic disparity between socio-economic groups and races. I’m just a volunteer who spends 30 minutes each week showing a hurting boy I care. I can’t change the world. I probably can’t even change this little boy’s world. But I can change his mental “count” of how many adults care about him. With me, he’s got one more grownup in his corner.

You can do the same for the hurting children in your neighborhood. Call your nearest public school and ask, “how can I volunteer?”

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 1 Corinthians 1:3-4

Christian friends,
In light of this very political climate, here’s some Biblical reminders.

You are called to:
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.” Proverbs 31:8-9
You are NOT called to:
Speak up for the rich, who can speak for themselves using their own powerful platforms.

You are called to:
“Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” Isaiah 1:17
You are NOT called to:
Defend the powerful and plead their case.

You are called to:
“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.” Psalm 82:3
You are NOT called to:
Defend your preferred political party and uphold their candidates’ platforms.

You are called to:
‘deny yourself and take up your cross and follow Jesus.’ Matthew 16:24
You are NOT called to:
Follow political parties or their candidates.

You are called to:
“Make disciples of all nations” Matthew 28:19
You are NOT called to:
Make disciples of your preferred political ideologies.

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Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean we can’t do both. But it means we prioritize our actions, our time, and what causes we vocalize.

Obeying these Biblical commands doesn’t necessarily require avoiding Politics (often, it means the opposite).
We may believe implementing our preferred political party’s agenda is the best way to obey these Biblical commands.
We may believe our preferred political party best aligns with our Biblical interpretations.
But may we NEVER believe any political party fully aligns with God’s Kingdom.

May we always obey our divine Calling before spending time on our invented political parties.

May we pray for our leaders before criticizing them (and pray for guidance before endorsing them).

May we live as good citizens of our earthly country, but never at the expense of our Heavenly Kingdom.

May we remember our political posts online aren’t likely to change anything; yet spending time in-person to help just one hurting individual could, for them, change everything.

Our time is short. Choose well.