Power and Poverty

I don’t believe that the “average” person understands how much “power” they actually have, and how that power can change local “poverty.”

I think many  are waiting for someone else who seemingly has the power to do something about it.  We are not owning the issues in our own community.

People in the church are waiting for the pastor to lead the way.

People are waiting for the government to do its job, or for the non-profit, or for the wonder grant.  Perhaps it is some miraculous agency.  But certainly not “us.”

But, my message really is that it is indeed “us.”  I am not waiting or depending on anyone else but the average person.

We are restructuring everything “friends without homes” in our county.  We are bringing in the political, the institutional, the agencies, street outreach, everything already existing – with a big dose of “you.”  I don’t think anything will be successful without an educated, trained, grass root force.

And, let’s bring another thing up and front – an empowered and trusted group of street friends to participate in the county wide merge.  I am currently working with a local farm to see if we can build an empowerment project where friends from the streets or recently housed can inform and lead us?

Average people can do amazing things.  A group of nobodies who knew nothing started the Pershing Park meal sharing and that became my entrance into understanding local homelessness.  (well, some people knew something on that team, but not me!)  That meal sharing educated me, primarily through listening to the stories of street friends, which led to partnerships with local agencies, recruiting churches to help, and Doctors without Walls joining – all of which brought me here – front and center in working to solve homelessness.

Solve it?  Why not?  Aim high.

You see, I think it is solvable if we take it on as our communal responsibility.  Jesus teaches that we are in a sense connected to all our neighbors – we should treat them as we would like to be treated.

I don’t want to sleep outside.  I want friends.  I want healing.  I am hungry.

So, yes – each one on the street has choices and responsibility too.  But the truth I find is this – many have been damaged, many need new and faithful community – loving new support systems to become better.  This is something you can do – be a part of a new support system.  Become a long term learner.  Hang in there through all the difficulties.

You have power.  Use it.  Your use or lack of use of power does influence the local scene of poverty.

I sat with some local West Side kids this week who did art projects to illustrate the West Side story.  One young man shared that it was valuable to keep him out of trouble.  You can do art projects with West Side kids.

I went to West Side Kids Club Wednesday and played soccer with two guys and was schooled.  You can play soccer one hour a week with West Side kids.  And the benefits – I got to sit at a table with a group of West Side kids and eat some fruit loops (it was supposed to be an art project – I failed)  You get to be a kid again

Your have power for good.  There is a very simple scripture – “overcome evil with good.”  That is your power fully available now – to put into practice doing good in culture now.

The other options – 1) Hand your power to someone else  2)  Be powerless  3) Expect poverty to just go away

Delusional.

I move forward expecting you will show up and be powerful.