Preach What You Practice

I’ve taught wholistic Biblical worldview for years now. I have been involved in international relief and development for even longer. I have seen the needy and funded others to care for the needy, but have had a growing longing to invest my own life in the needy. Thinking back, there are numerous cases of where my wife and I have been able to invest in the lives of hurting people. But somehow caring for “the needy” seemed to be yet another segment of society. It was an illusive group. James speaks of them as widows and orphans. Others talk about those who suffer injustice and Jesus referred to a group called “the least of these”. That was the group I sensed I have not invested my own time, effort and love into. In fact, I didn’t know how to find them nor did I know what I should do in the event that the opportunity arose. So all of this became my request to God.

It is time Lord that I did something. Within a week of that prayer an unsigned flyer was left in our mailbox. There is a recovery house in our neighbourhood for addicts. ”We don’t want our children exposed to those kind of people. We don’t want the type people these addicts attract hanging around this house and bringing drugs onto our streets. Come to City Hall and voice your opposition.” Having two younger children at home, some of that messageresonated but so did the question as to whether or not these people may be part of the solution rather than the problem.

My wife and I went to the meetings at City Hall. We also researched the operators of this particular rehab house in advance. We listened to emotionally charged statements around the issue but little direct knowledge was shared about this particular house. During that meeting we learned that this group of nine men had been instrumental in identifying a grow op and crack house just down the street. They had fought to have it closed down.They lived a very regimented lifestyle with many supervisory controls. They genuinely longed to break their habits and assume productive lives. The list was wonderfully long. Not all rehab houses have as admirable a group of operators and occupants. This one did.

As I listened I realized that this particular group was part of the solution. I was concerned about the well-being of my children and the long term solutions for our city. It was critically important to address the root issues and not the symptoms. Organized crime and grow op’s were a far greater threat. By not providing safe places for individuals to go when they long to break strongholds in their lives simply means that they will most likely stay in addictions, continue to break into homes and steal vehicles. We don’t avoid the problems by avoiding the issues.

It takes courage and at times sacrifice to accept the right course of action, especially when most would prefer to not have in their own back yard. It was there that I recognized that it was time for me to live what I believe and possibly more importantly, believe what I taught.I spoke up on behalf of this home that night. I encouraged people who were fearful of these men to actually go and visit them. These men will respond in much healthier ways to encouragement rather than accusation. My wife that week baked pastry and she and I with our two youngest children went to the home for a visit. We had a wonderful time listening to their stories and the realization came that they were an answer to my prayers. They could teach me how to both identify and properly care for those who are reaching out for help in a fearful community.