If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? (James 2.15-16)

I am currently in Eastern Tennessee with 54 of my friends.  We are doing all sorts of things: repairing homes, visiting elder-care facilities, working in the Boys and Girls Club.  My assignment is the Boys and Girls Club.

The children we have been working with are delightful, undisciplined and some are very poor.  The club facility is really quite nice and is located in the midst of an old fashioned “Section 8” neighborhood.  The third day we were there I spent about 3o minutes on the front porch doing head checks (why I am qualified to do this is a story for another entry).  Six to nine children had head lice and had to go home.

The most heartbreaking of those who left were “Julia” and “James.”  They live in the same family unit with a single dad although they are not really related.  Julia would show up each morning at 10am so hungry she was lethargic.  I am no medical expert, but she demonstrated all the signs of malnourishment: sallow eyes, dull hair, extremely thin.  Our team started bringing “breakfast food” and making sure she (and others) ate right away and, sure enough, the children brightened up within just a few minutes and were able to join the festivities.

I get to meet “dad” and go shopping with J & J. tomorrow.  We are going to Wal Mart to get some school clothes and maybe some non-perishables for her to sock away so that she is not hungry during the next few days until school starts.

I am praying I get to share Jesus with dad.  He is leaving the children with his drug-addict sister so he can move to Florida and establish residency there (and then call for the children).  I can’t imagine there are too many jobs in Florida…maybe he knows something I don’t.

This summer I have looked into the faces of black children and white children who are hungry through no fault of their own.  It is becoming almost more than I can bear…it is more than I bear. 

I know I cannot change the world or feed all the children, but this thing I do know, I cannot ignore the need presented me, nor seek to stay so far away from the needs of those I may help so that I can bask in the comfort of the goodness I have known all my life.

I will not.