How can people be so heartless?
How can people be so cruel?
Easy to be hard
Easy to be cold.
How can people have no feelings?
How can they ignore their friends?
Easy to be proud
Easy to say no.
And especially people
Who care about strangers,
Who care about evil
And social injustice.
Do you only
Care about the bleeding crowd?
How about a needing friend?
I need a friend.
I have always found the song “Easy To Be Hard” from the musical “Hair” haunting. It’s a beautiful song that breaks my heart. It makes me ask myself, do I really love people or do I love the idea of loving people? Am I so concerned about the good of mankind that I overlook the person right in front of me? What’s the truth and what’s a mask?
Sometimes, even thinking about helping people overwhelms me. I just don’t feel like I have any resources left; love, time, money, energy or whatever. And the older I get the more I come to realize that everyone is hurting and everyone needs help. Everyone needs a friend. Sometimes I harden my heart. And sometimes it becomes a habit.
That’s why it’s so great to rub elbows with people who are rolling up their sleeves and doing what it takes to be a friend to those in need. At our dinner on Saturday that focused on Haiti we heard from two people from Aslan Youth Ministries, Doug Eagles and Mecca. They talked to us about what Aslan was about both locally and in Haiti. In general and in specific about their upcoming mission trip where young people from New Jersey will be going to Haiti to be friends to the Haitians.
Doug showed us a slideshow about Aslan’s Haiti work which was fantastic but I was especially impressed with Mecca. She was confident and poised. We asked a ton of questions and she answered them all. She knew what she was doing and why she was doing it. And she’s only fourteen! It was beautiful.
I want to send out a million thanks to everyone who’s been working to make our summer themed potlucks special and focused on different parts of the world that Vince is visiting and we reach out to. The food has been fantastic. Great activities. Camaraderie, sharing and fun.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Peace, Dave
Posted by imperfect mommy on July 14, 2010 at 9:08 am
Mecca was a very impressive young lady! I know I wasn’t that sure when I was 14…and most days I’m not that sure at 27!
I think that when giving becomes a habit–you should stop. Take a break and get some rest. Do something for yourself. I think that when it starts to become a habit, that is one of the first signs that you are starting to get burned out. You are right; everybody is hurting and needs helps. But to come to the realization that you can only do so much is the key. You can only do what God has groomed you to do.
Posted by cyandag on July 14, 2010 at 10:13 am
Yeah. I am so tempted to try to take God’s role and do EVERYTHING. I don’t want to do that (nor can I). But I do want to be willing to take risks and exercise my faith. You can’t fly if you never jump off the branch. But then sometimes you plummet! It’s a puzzle.
Posted by Cindy on July 21, 2010 at 10:02 pm
That’s actually a good piece of advice and something I learned of myself this past year. I’m still stubborn by I am learning to slow down and take some time for myself. When I have been able to rest I found I’ve been a better friend, spouse, co-worker, etc. and have been more focused on what needs to be done and where.
There are times when I wonder when I’ll get that rest and wouldn’t you know it, when I pray about it to God the rest seems to come my way without me trying to free my time.
Posted by Dave on August 11, 2010 at 2:13 pm
Well, Cindy, you know I think we have a lot in common! I really wish that I were getting more rest these days. It just doesn’t seem feasible. Too. Many. Things. To. Do.