Work boots - hand-out or hand-up?

Our PACT meeting yesterday took an interesting turn! 

Every month we host* the PACT (Parole/Probation and Community Team) meeting. 40+ parolees/probationers and 20+ providers, churches, non profits and individuals have breakfast together.
For the Ex-offenders this is a mandatory meeting. For the rest it is voluntary. They came to 'welcome home' the men and women and offer their services for successful reentry.

We opened the Bus Boutique and several people took the clothing they needed. A young man was looking for a pair of work boots because he had an opportunity to work.

One of the community members overheard the conversation and said: "let's go and get you some boots" and 3 of them went to the store to buy a pair of boots so this young man can go to work.

I was trying to sort through it. If you know me you know that I will seldom do hand-outs and yet, it felt right at that moment. We can't say we want to help and not support him to take the opportunity of a job.

A pair of boots can make all the difference for this young man and it feels like we did what Jesus commanded us when He talked about giving a cup of cold water, clothing the naked and feeding the hungry.
But there has to be a balance because the Bible also talks about people needing to work for their pay.

We believe that "Everyone no matter how rich has a need. Everyone no matter how poor has a gift and that is why we build and celebrate community." so men, if you have boots you don't wear, pants that don't fit, and shirts that are out of fashion... bring them to the Bus Boutique because that might be the only thing that stands in the way of an ex-offender making it.

And for the young man... I look forward to seeing him again and asking him to give back to the community (he might clean some gutters, paint a wall, or give a shirt to someone in need). I hope that this encounter will bless him and he will see that there is hope that there are people who care, that there is a God who is big enough for these divine appointments.


* Gateway Community Church has been providing breakfast for these meetings for over 2 years now! Special thanks to them, Elden, Fred, Jim and the other volunteers.

The big nail on my desk keeps reminding me...

Every year before Easter I pull of out a big nail from my cabinet as a reminder that justice is not free.


In my work with people, from small to big, I encounter the issues of justice. The little ones when they experience the consequences of their actions... "it's not fair.." the men and women that want to be treated fairly but only by their standards; the grown-ups who often don't want moral responsibility until it affects them personally.  


In my own personal life I think 'it's not fair'. I often complain when my personal standards are violated. Just yesterday I could have spit fire for o so small an issue that was just not 'right'.


We all have a moral compass, a right and wrong. God made us that way, and no matter which culture you encounter all have rules and guidelines for life. Society cannot function without them. Some things are just wrong and need to be punished! 


God has guidelines as well. Rules that need to be followed and when they are not obeyed, there too needs to be a punishment. 


And while God demands justice, He also knows that the punishment for us breaking His moral law would be impossible to bear. So He made a different way! 


That is why I have the nail on desk, as we reminder that the price for my disobedience (sin) was paid and that it was not cheap. As a reminder that I don't have to live under the guilt of my disobedience and that I don't have to worry about the punishment. 


With this comes freedom. Like a prisoner being pardoned, like a mistake forgiven, like a soul set free. 


This Easter, I want to soar in the knowledge that God has made a way so that God's demand for justice has been satisfied! 


Thank you Jesus! 

I experienced injustice yesterday!

I got the run-around yesterday when I was trying to help someone with their rent. I was going to write a check directly to the company (but they don't accept checks or cash, or Visa or ATM) Only Cashier's Checks are accepted. So we went to purchase a Cashier's Check only to find out that places don't allow you to use your Credit Card, ATM or checks. 

711 store offered that I get the cash out at their ATM and then purchase a Cashier's Check. In the end I was thankful that my bank was able to write a Cashier's Check without extra cost. 

 

I realize that this is really one more injustice for people in poverty. Because of trust issues the management does not accept any other form of payment, making renters have to carry cash (and/or pay extra for getting it out of an ATM) and then have to get a Cashier's Check which also costs money. For me the whole event took about 1 hour.. and I had a car. 

 

Personally at home, we just pay via electronic check and it takes less than one minute, no travel, no extra cost, no hassle. 

 

It reminded me again how difficult life in poverty can be and how many extra steps have to taken. It saddened my heart and got me angry at the same time. 

 

Micah 6:8 states that we are called to 'act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God'. I wonder how acting justly works when it comes to paying rent..... just a thought.