God’s Presence
God Who Is Present in the Darkness, let me feel your presence when I shut my eyes. If that cannot happen at this moment, send someone to me; give me words in a book,...
Life’s Curve Balls
Sometimes life just throws you a curve ball. You are expecting certain schedules, happenings, relationships. Your well-considered plans simply cannot materialize. The weather may not allow you to go on the hike or bike...
Poverty Quiz 2015 Questions 11-15
Answers to questions 6-10: 6.a; 7.c; 8.a; 9.b; 10.c 11. Which of the following items may be purchased with food stamps? (You may choose more than one answer.) a. Diapers b. Comet cleanser...
Dilemma
This ran as a guest editorial by me in the Greenville News on Sunday, December 14, 2014. I have worked in the poverty field for more than thirty years. I am passionate about all...
Angelika’s Christmas
Here is an excerpt from Angelika’s Journal. She and her mother and brother are now staying in a shelter. December 20 Today was our last day of school before the winter break. I’m sad...
Is College for Everyone?
I was asked recently asked by someone who is mentoring an at-risk youth, “Is college for everyone?” She wondered about how valid it was for her to push the idea of college for someone...
Same Words, Different Meanings
Certain words have different meanings for people who have resources and those who don’t. One of the words is the word “money.” Those of us with resources use “money” to mean “security”—home, food, education,...
Just As They Are
Simone Weil wrote in Waiting for God: “I have the essential need… to move among of every class and complexion, mixing with them and sharing their life and outlook, so far that is...
That’s Understanding!
This week I was in Roswell, Georgia,to present workshops to both Roswell Presbyterian Church and to nonprofits who partner with the host organization, HomeStretch, a vital nonprofit that works with families for 12-18 months...
Who said it?
Some people believe that it’s only the liberals who want to change the world for the better for people who live in poverty. I know people from all along the faith and political spectrum...