Articles
What Can We Do
One of the more difficult questions that I believe we are dealing with is what can we do in the midst of a crisis of this nature to help others? It occurs to me that we have taken the first step to help others by being aware of their plight. This may be remembering that there are others who are not only struggling with our current crisis...but are continuing to suffer with the same issues they faced before the pandemic. Our awareness also is geared to what tools and talents we have in our personal inventory. We have many talents directly from God. Our next step seems to be obvious. That is to feel concern...I may know of a need I can fill from home...such as making a critical phone call, text, or email to a person who may be lost or lonely. So, both of the first two steps may connect together. We call someone, awareness of their status and needs are recognized and we immediately move our thinking to the concern level. We realize and understand that this human being is in trouble. We quickly create a plan. Perhaps this may be as simple as “rounding up” a group of friends to contact the person. It may involve multiple actions...getting food to a family and giving them hope. Finally, the last step is to be committed... this is getting the help for the person on a regular basis. It resembles our admonition to “pray without ceasing”, we cannot just make one effort only. To help others we include them in our prayers, add them to our list of people to contact and enlist them in the group to help the next person. When we help others, we not only give them strength...we do the will of God and also become stronger ourselves. Let us be aware, concerned and committed to action. That is what we can do.
