Men and birds

Earlier this week I captured these images with my cell phone. 

One is of a homeless campground adjacent to the back side of our new property where we plan to build the "Opportunity Center."  Men bed down here along this fence row every night.  During the day, they stow their belongings almost out of sight from the street. 

Sad sight. 

I never get accustomed to seeing places like this.  The fact is this is "home" to several of my fellow citizens of Dallas, Texas. 

As I was thinking about the harsh reality of living outside through the brutal Dallas summer, something else caught my eye.  I attempted to capture what I saw in the second frame, but the distance and the limitations of my camera prevented as clear a view as I hoped for. 

What's there in the middle of photo number 2 is a small band of birds eating together on the street. 

Their meal? 

Bread crusts willingly shared by the inhabitants of the campground.

If the first image causes me to worry about the condition of these neighbors who'd scattered into the hot Dallas day, the second reminded me that they and I share the very same precious humanity. 

Men and birds. 

Not an image that I'll soon, if ever, forget.

Parent Academies at CDM

An exciting new initiative is now underway inside the Roseland Homes community. Operation Family Fresh Start "bundles" various Central Dallas Ministries resources and, in partnership with the community and its families, focuses everyone on improving and advancing the lives of all.

Health, employment, education, parenting, nutrition, recreation, leadership development, community connections, crime prevention--all of these concerns come together on the platform we're referring to as Operation Family Fresh Start.

An important component of our new effort is the Roseland Parent Academy. Participants meet on the third Thursday of every month from 6-8 p.m. Our first session (very well attended) rolled out on September 17.

Topics for the academy provide a hint at the quality and character of this aspect of the new effort:

Navigating the DISD System: Rights and Responsibilities of Parents

Homework has changed! Figuring out the "New Math" and

Other Strategies to Help Your Child with School Work

Nutrition for a Healthy Future

Understanding and Preventing Diabetes

Asthma and Other Breathing Problems

A Fresh Start: Informational Services to Individuals Re-entering the Workforce

The Job Talk: Steps to Take to Get Back into the Workforce

"At-ten-Hut!" Trade Offs: Building Success Even if You Didn't Go to College

Financial Literacy: Getting Your House in Order

Positive Steps Toward Home Ownership

Change: The Sky is the Limit

No doubt in my mind, we'll have some exciting outcomes to report this time next year.

Don't rely on appearances!

By now I bet you've seen Susan Boyle's performance on Britans Got Talent last Saturday evening.

The judges, the audience, everyone was literally blown away by this Scottish woman's vocal ability.

Why?

Everyone pre-judged her based on her appearance. No one expected anything from her. Everyone dismissed her with laughs and cat-calls.

We do it all the time, don't we?

We do it on the basis of class, race, looks, body size. . .the list goes on and on.

Shame on us all for not assuming the very best of each other and everyone we meet.

Thanks, Susan Boyle. We all needed what you delivered. Forgive us.

Forgive us, Lord for not believing in those things you've placed in us all.

Watch Susan again right here.

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Another inspirational story from Rick Reilly. . .

As I've said before, I love Rick Reilly. In my opinion, Reilly's weekly column in ESPN's magazine justifies the subscription price. When ESPN hits my mailbox, I turn to the last page inside the back cover.

Read his story about Matt Steven and tell me what you think.

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