Rural Homelessness
On this Sunday morning I'm thinking of various churches gathering around the U.S. -many of them I've attended or shared in with music, message and such in very small towns, rural areas, even house churches. I pretty well live in a Matthew 25 mentality mode (healthy food, water, clothing, housing, health care, the imprisoned) and the needs arise among both hugely and tiny-populated areas.
I'm thinking about the fact it's January and cold in most of the U.S. and the fact some folks attend Christian services to get in from the cold, grab a coffee or two, sometimes ifprovided, a bag of veggies or other food and/or stay for a fellowship meal after the service. Why? Poverty, hunger and homelessness isn't only happening in big cities or larger towns, it happens, we can even say "invisibly"- in rural areas of the nation.
Included here are links to a couple songs (among several) I've written, recorded and at times continue to play in solo sets as I'm out on tour trying to raise awareness of the issues.
WALK ON
I grew up in rural and very small-town areas of Wisconsin and my heart has never strayed from respect and love for non-urban life in America though the Lord called me to reside and do mission in inner-city Chicago over 50 years ago. I continue to gladly travel and at times serve in rural areas on a number of levels.
This morning I read several articles not written from mere political or cultural biases but plain researched and experienced reality about the situation in much of the U.S. re. these issues. I'll link one of them here that I think is worth a read, some thoughts and prayers and ACTION on the part of my readers.
This morning, just as I don't have to be Ukrainian or live there to consider the war, the cold and the pain of the people to care about them, the very same goes in my concern for the homeless in the small towns and "sticks" of the country I also call home. Our Cornerstone Community Outreach shelter and programs here in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood do it in our immediate urban setting but there are folks doing it (and more should be) in rural areas as well for poverty, homelessness and weather-related disasters strike all over, not just in cities.
URBAN HOBO
Things to consider as even professing followers of Jesus so often sadly figure "I can't do anything... or... it's not my problem". Brother's keeper? I think we can do far more than nothing.
As always, thanks for stopping by. -Glenn
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