I woke up this morning in my own bed. I was still tired but duty called. Well, actually, duty whined that it was time for our morning walk. We stepped out into the warm morning, Dusty pulling at his leash, anxious to find the right fire hydrant or bush or tree. As we walked I looked around my neighborhood. I am safe here. I am far from gunshots. I am far from homelessness. I am far from poverty. The homes I pass have two cars in the driveway. They are 2-3 bedroom homes, with 2 bathrooms. They have air conditioning. They have plenty of food in the cupboards and the refrigerators. Most have two parents inside. There are pools and toys strewn on the lawn.
Yet during this past week I have seen apartments with broken windows and apartments with no furniture. I have seen children looking for a loving hand. I have seen people looking for enough food, some decent clothing, a place to land if only for a short time. I have seen bullet holes in stained glass windows and graffiti asking for a stop to the violence. But I have also seen hope. Hope in the eyes of all the other volunteers we encountered. Hope in the eyes of the parents and children who came to VBS. Hope in the eyes of my "Awaken the City" friends and partners. Hope in the eyes of every intern at Hyde Park.
I have so much in my life, so much that I often take for granted. My part in this story is to carry on. To be a light to those around me. To see a wrong and do what I can to make it right. I will not always be successful, I will not always see every wrong. But with God on my side, I can do something. And if I do something, then my path will be straight and true.
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