Keep Hope Alive

Trying to find a way to deal with some of the complex issues of urban America continue to be at the top of the list for most concern residents.  It is not an easy task to say the least, especially when there is so much that needs to be done in terms of providing better housing, reducing crime, making health care affordable, access to quality education, alleviating poverty, creating  sustainable employment and dealing with overt racism.  And this is just a partial list of issues to address...you perhaps have more.  There is more than enough to deal with that gives even the staunchest advocate a reason to pause and to take a deep breath every now and then. 

Each day the beat goes on and the challenges do not get any easier as the cycle of issues keep on repeating themselves regardless of who is running for the highest office in the land.  There is so much to do and for many people... their lives too often hang in the balance by the decisions and policies made by those in charge.  Finding real solutions to growing problems takes a lot of energy, vision, goodwill, collaboration and building strong community relationships.     

I must admit to you that being out on the front lines is a job that is not clearly understood or appreciated most of the time.  But people do know that it is necessary to have someone out there helping some of the most vulnerable people of our society deal with homelessness, domestic violence, mental illness and drug addiction.  If those issues are not addressed they can soon grow into something more.  There is a great need in our society to have people standing and fighting for equal rights, human rights and voting rights.  The sad reality is the fact that there are not enough people making that kind of difference.

Sometimes progress is slow and that sometimes good intentions are misunderstood, but it takes people who accept the calling to “be the difference” that keep things moving in the right direction.  I know that a lot of people just believe that it is someone else’s job and that they are not a part of the solution.  They would rather sit on the sidelines and become a part of something that requires less personal responsibility or to just do things for comfort sake.  But in the end and regardless of political views... “The needs are real and the people are real too.”    

We're Just Getting Started

It’s been quite an emotional rollercoaster ride over the past few weeks for most of us who believe in fairness, truth and the American Dream.  We also believe that a person should be viewed by the content of their character, by what they say and how they conduct themselves; than by the color of their skin, faith or gender.  But like a lightning bolt during this political season a lot of what we hold as basic values and common sense treatment was all but thrown out the window.     

Many Americans woke up on the day after the election in total shock and soon began to realize that many of the social gains made over the past eight years will soon be gone.  Each of us expect some change, but “racial change” is another story altogether.  It is especially more painful if it affects you and your family directly.    So regardless of who was going to win the race to be president of the most powerful nation in the world, we certainly did not expect this outcome. 

If this political cycle has taught us anything is that we can never take things for granted and to always cherish these special moments to participate in the political process.  We also learn how to not surrender our emotions to anxiety, complacency, fear and hopelessness.  This season has also taught us that we have to participate in the process, to not sit on the sidelines and hope for another day or look for more qualified candidates to appear.  Like my mother use to say… “This is what we got to deal with and so let us deal with it.”    

I know that this is going to be an interesting chapter in our American experience of presidential leadership.  But like all things that begin, a day will come when things will change again.  Our mission then it to keep focus on what we can do for there is plenty of work that remains undone in our communities.  So in the meantime, let’s see how things go, get more involved in the process and by all means let us continue to pray for better days.