“The Lord upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.”  Psalm 146:7

“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 2:5

A friend recently told me a family story.  She has a brother with autism, an older adult living in a group home.  Only recently she learned that years ago her parents had pooled resources with other parents of autistic children, to establish this safe and pleasant home for their children, and the future.  Her point being: in these frightening, bewildering times we are challenged to work together for the common good.

Besides the chronic poor – never enough, many are dealing with unexpected loss – jobs and income, market insecurity.  Hunger and displacement are cruel weapons of war.  It seems, as a nation, we have turned a corner heading down the street of “collective indifference”.  Desperate need no longer qualifies for help.  There must be something available to us in return, something to enrich us.  It is a time to follow my friend’s calling.  Starting a group home may be out of reach.  Traveling to a foreign country may be beyond our stamina.  What we cannot do alone, we can do together.

Recently while volunteering at Global Health Ministries, I opened a box of newborn kits, destined for Africa, lovingly assembled by others who care.  I noticed an introductory letter.  Below the closing was a Bible verse:  Phil 2:4 – “not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

“In the just reward of labor, God’s will is done.

In the help we give our neighbor, God's will is done.

in our world-wide task of caring for the hungry and despairing,

in the harvests we are sharing, God's will is done.”  Amen

(“For the Fruit of All Creation”, Fred Pratt Green)

Verla Olson

Ministries
Teaching Mission Party