Part of the price of visiting my blog involves cutting me some slack--humoring me--regarding my four grandchildren, Gracie, Wyatt, Owen and Henry.
Hey, it's my blog. Deal with it!
This video involves Wyatt in the love of his young, 10-year-old life: sports.
Great time had by all!
Monday, May 19, 2014
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Just in: Employment Training Results
[Just now I received the following report on the employment progress made by our most reent graduates from our "Build4Success" construction training program. I must say, it is very gratifying! LJ]
Patricia
Smith-Harrington
WorkPaths
CitySquare
Team-
On Wednesday,
May 7, 15 students graduated from the Build4Success
training. The goals for the class: enrollment 18; graduate 15 (80% of 18);
placement 13 (85% of 15). The placement update is as follows:
6-employed by
CLP/TrueBlue--they started on May 14th at $12.00 per hour
2-left the
program early for employment, one is employed by Garden Ridge Distribution
Center at $9.50 per hour; one is employed by On Stage at $11.00 per hour
1-is waiting
for the Clinic to perform his Department of Transportation (DOT) physical
for a truck driving job. We will provide you with salary as soon as he is
processed.
4 more
placements are need by the end of July to meet OAI requirements for funding for
2013-2014. We are very optimistic that in the next 30 days the other 4 will be
employed.
These are
awesome numbers for the week after graduation. Daniel and Joe worked as a team
and did an outstanding job assisting the graduates with placement assistance.
If you have any questions please let me know
WorkPaths
CitySquare
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Lost and Found
Somewhere I read about two neighbors.
Both grew up in a community of opportunity.
One neighbor lived a cautious, responsible life. He worked hard, saved his money and made his family proud--a real dependable guy.
The other, younger man lived in a more carefree manner. It wasn't that he resisted work, he just had a different vision for his life--a real restless guy.
At one point, the younger man left the neighborhood of his family. He cashed in his inheritance card with his father and set off to make his way in life.
Things didn't turn out so well for him.
He didn't use his resources wisely. He romped and played hard for a while, but he allowed his initial freedom to sour his heart.
He fell into poverty.
He knew, firsthand, desperation, hunger, homelessness, hopelessness, exploitation and oppression.
He violated all of the principles of his upbringing--he really left home.
When at the very end of his rope, he "came to himself."
He recalled his community, his neighbors, his family. He went back home with a speech all ready to deliver. "Please give me a job doing whatever is needed."
He threw himself on the mercy of his lost, but beloved community.
And, his community responded!
They welcomed him home, threw him a party and supported his quest for reestablishing himself in a respectable life. The community lived out of its strength to lean into the weakness and need of a fellow community member.
However, not everyone was pleased.
The man's older neighbor threw a fit, organized a public policy response and opposed the younger man's attempts to get reestablished. He urged the community not to assist the lazy, no good man who left and was now back expecting the community to help him out of a crisis for which he was responsible.
Finally, the white-haired mayor of the community confronted the older neighbor, "You don't seem to remember what sort of community we have here, a community we've worked hard to establish on principles of honesty, fairness, compassion and hope," the old mayor explained. "We've all been in tough scrapes at one time or another. We've depended on each other for support, second chances and the hope that comes from loyalty, understanding and high expectations. Just remember, your opposition to your neighbor is revealing the true nature of your heart."
The lost neighbor, relieved to be at home again among supportive friends, thanked one and all for his new lease on life. The last I heard he was working hard and making progress thanks to his new shot at a good life.
[This parable provides a contemporary--some might say liberationist--re-framing of Jesus' parable of the lost son found in Luke 15. This interpretation assumes the worst about a victim of poverty in terms of cause. Such a view is necessary to adequately display the radical, counter intuitive response of the poor man's beloved community.]
Both grew up in a community of opportunity.
One neighbor lived a cautious, responsible life. He worked hard, saved his money and made his family proud--a real dependable guy.
The other, younger man lived in a more carefree manner. It wasn't that he resisted work, he just had a different vision for his life--a real restless guy.
At one point, the younger man left the neighborhood of his family. He cashed in his inheritance card with his father and set off to make his way in life.
Things didn't turn out so well for him.
He didn't use his resources wisely. He romped and played hard for a while, but he allowed his initial freedom to sour his heart.
He fell into poverty.
He knew, firsthand, desperation, hunger, homelessness, hopelessness, exploitation and oppression.
He violated all of the principles of his upbringing--he really left home.
When at the very end of his rope, he "came to himself."
He recalled his community, his neighbors, his family. He went back home with a speech all ready to deliver. "Please give me a job doing whatever is needed."
He threw himself on the mercy of his lost, but beloved community.
And, his community responded!
They welcomed him home, threw him a party and supported his quest for reestablishing himself in a respectable life. The community lived out of its strength to lean into the weakness and need of a fellow community member.
However, not everyone was pleased.
The man's older neighbor threw a fit, organized a public policy response and opposed the younger man's attempts to get reestablished. He urged the community not to assist the lazy, no good man who left and was now back expecting the community to help him out of a crisis for which he was responsible.
Finally, the white-haired mayor of the community confronted the older neighbor, "You don't seem to remember what sort of community we have here, a community we've worked hard to establish on principles of honesty, fairness, compassion and hope," the old mayor explained. "We've all been in tough scrapes at one time or another. We've depended on each other for support, second chances and the hope that comes from loyalty, understanding and high expectations. Just remember, your opposition to your neighbor is revealing the true nature of your heart."
The lost neighbor, relieved to be at home again among supportive friends, thanked one and all for his new lease on life. The last I heard he was working hard and making progress thanks to his new shot at a good life.
[This parable provides a contemporary--some might say liberationist--re-framing of Jesus' parable of the lost son found in Luke 15. This interpretation assumes the worst about a victim of poverty in terms of cause. Such a view is necessary to adequately display the radical, counter intuitive response of the poor man's beloved community.]
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Friday, May 09, 2014
Making poverty illegal
Sunday morning as I walked across a parking lot to my car after church, a gentleman approached me.
He asked if I could help him with a little money to help address his hunger. I have no hard and fast, set rule on whether or not to grant such requests. I almost always employ the time-tested "follow my gut" strategy.
On this day my gut was telling me I needed to talk to the man, but not take part in his collection offering. So, I began that conversation, or I almost began it.
Before I could really engage the man, two police officers rushed across the lot on bikes to intervene on the man and our conversation that almost happened.
One officer pulled me aside to ask if the man had requested money. When I replied that he had, the policeman asked for my name and phone number, both of which he promptly wrote on the palm of his hand!
As we talked, I noticed that a patrol car sped up to join the "apprehension."
At this point it seemed a bit like overkill in real time to me.
I tried to explain what I did on my day job, hoping to talk the policemen down a bit. They were professional and determined. They were not abusive toward the man, but neither was the man to them.
The guy is very poor.
He was very hungry.
He may be an alcoholic, though I had no inkling of that from his behavior.
Like I say, the guy is very poor with few options, save the charity of church-goers on a Sunday morning after worship.
Lesson learned at church last week: it is very clear that poverty is now officially illegal. You can go to jail for being poor, if you seek assistance from your fellows around you.
I mean there are laws to protect people like me from guys like him, and from having to face the fact that the Dallas dance just ain't playing out so well for lots of our people.
I don't guess you can get locked up around here for telling the truth, can you?
He asked if I could help him with a little money to help address his hunger. I have no hard and fast, set rule on whether or not to grant such requests. I almost always employ the time-tested "follow my gut" strategy.
On this day my gut was telling me I needed to talk to the man, but not take part in his collection offering. So, I began that conversation, or I almost began it.
Before I could really engage the man, two police officers rushed across the lot on bikes to intervene on the man and our conversation that almost happened.
One officer pulled me aside to ask if the man had requested money. When I replied that he had, the policeman asked for my name and phone number, both of which he promptly wrote on the palm of his hand!
As we talked, I noticed that a patrol car sped up to join the "apprehension."
At this point it seemed a bit like overkill in real time to me.
I tried to explain what I did on my day job, hoping to talk the policemen down a bit. They were professional and determined. They were not abusive toward the man, but neither was the man to them.
The guy is very poor.
He was very hungry.
He may be an alcoholic, though I had no inkling of that from his behavior.
Like I say, the guy is very poor with few options, save the charity of church-goers on a Sunday morning after worship.
Lesson learned at church last week: it is very clear that poverty is now officially illegal. You can go to jail for being poor, if you seek assistance from your fellows around you.
I mean there are laws to protect people like me from guys like him, and from having to face the fact that the Dallas dance just ain't playing out so well for lots of our people.
I don't guess you can get locked up around here for telling the truth, can you?
Thursday, May 08, 2014
Richardson, Texas, circa 1955--my hometown!
I spent many a Saturday afternoon in the old Ritz theater right there on Main Street in "downtown" Richardson, Texas! The center of town back then didn't enjoy the benefit of paved streets.
The population wasn't over 2,000, when someone snapped this photo.
Everyone knew everyone.
My dad served as City Secretary at the time. City Hall was a white frame building that co-located with water utilities, police and fire departments.
It was a different time, for sure!
Sunday, May 04, 2014
A forgetful God!
The God Who Forgets
Matthew 28:1-10
At Providence House Sister Elaine liked to tell
a story about a bishop
who made fun of an old woman
because she claimed that when she prayed to God,
God spoke back.
a story about a bishop
who made fun of an old woman
because she claimed that when she prayed to God,
God spoke back.
Now the bishop had devoted his whole life
to the study of God,
and he was sure that if God spoke to anyone,
it would not be to such as she.
But she insisted.
“It’s true. God speaks to me.”
to the study of God,
and he was sure that if God spoke to anyone,
it would not be to such as she.
But she insisted.
“It’s true. God speaks to me.”
“Prove it!” said the bishop.
Arrogant. Almost angry.
“Ask God what are my greatest private sins.
If you return knowing these then I will believe
that God speaks to you.”
Arrogant. Almost angry.
“Ask God what are my greatest private sins.
If you return knowing these then I will believe
that God speaks to you.”
The woman agreed to do so and they parted.
The following day she returned
and the bishop greeted her with a smirk.
“Well, did you ask God what are my most secret sins?”
“Yes,” she replied. And the look on her face
was so intense,
so knowing
that the bishop hesitated but asked it anyway
“And what did God say?”
The following day she returned
and the bishop greeted her with a smirk.
“Well, did you ask God what are my most secret sins?”
“Yes,” she replied. And the look on her face
was so intense,
so knowing
that the bishop hesitated but asked it anyway
“And what did God say?”
“God said….”
The old woman spoke softly but with assurance.
“God said . . . he couldn’t remember them.”
The old woman spoke softly but with assurance.
“God said . . . he couldn’t remember them.”
The Easter message:
God forgets!
God forgets!
Every time a woman arrived at Providence House—
in her prison-issued trench coat
$20 in her pocket
a curious blend of exhaustion and bewilderment
and hope on her face—
she was almost at a point of Easter.
She had passed her Maundy Thursday with its dark betrayal
passed the judgment and even the crucifixion
and now she waited . . . waited . . . waited
for the stone to roll away
for freedom from the tomb
for resurrection.
in her prison-issued trench coat
$20 in her pocket
a curious blend of exhaustion and bewilderment
and hope on her face—
she was almost at a point of Easter.
She had passed her Maundy Thursday with its dark betrayal
passed the judgment and even the crucifixion
and now she waited . . . waited . . . waited
for the stone to roll away
for freedom from the tomb
for resurrection.
Such a stone is heavy and not easily removed.
Easter is sometimes much more than three days coming.
But every time a woman arrived,
prison lingering in her eyes,
she mysteriously brought us a whiff of Easter.
Easter is sometimes much more than three days coming.
But every time a woman arrived,
prison lingering in her eyes,
she mysteriously brought us a whiff of Easter.
She carried good news
of the God of forgiveness
and new beginnings
and hundredth chances.
The God of resurrections.
The God who forgets.
of the God of forgiveness
and new beginnings
and hundredth chances.
The God of resurrections.
The God who forgets.
Kayla McClurg lived in the community
of Providence
House in New York for five years. Their work has inspired resurrection for thousands of women.
By:
Kayla
McClurgSeason and Scripture: Easter A, Matthew
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