Stand Up

My life at present is somewhat stressful with dealing with my dad as we transition him into a senior complex. I love my dad but because of his dementia and roller coaster emotional outbursts he isn’t the easiest person to help. As I continue to see God open doors and teach me about relating to my neighborhoods I see the lesson that I am learning with my dad is patience and persistence. I can’t stop caring and allow distractions to stop me from doing what’s right.

God has blessed me with some great examples in my neighborhood of people who are standing up for the truth and doing real community development work. The challenge is that this slow, hard and frustrating. One of my heroes is Fay who is a long term resident in South Phoenix. She is involved with so many different things but what stands out is that she is quick to speak the truth in love to help people see the difference between a quick fix and a real long-term solution. She is slow to give out ‘freebies’ and would rather see people step up and stand up for themselves with Jesus’ help. She is a true partner who I am coming to appreciate and see my need to watch, listen and learn as I to walk in our neighborhood.

I have another new friend, Cynthia, who also is a long term resident in South Phoenix. Her parents had birthed a ministry of helps in their home 30 plus years ago. Cynthia is caring out their passion to see the neighborhood transformed. She too wants to walk with me as we learn together about community revitalization. I am learning that grassroots efforts and word of mouth are the better way to impact a neighborhood. I see the need for connecting with the people who have a heart for the community and through them learn more about the needs that are crucial to address. The challenge is learning how to connect with the people who don’t care and see God motivate and transform them to be different.

There is real evil in these neighborhoods that is always looking at what we are doing. It is a spiritual force that at times can be oppressive and even overwhelming. The good news is that Jesus is greater than any of them. The opportunity is to ask God to help me start praying for them, loving them and being open to learn about life from their perspective. I am still the outsider coming on their turf wanting to take over. So what we are doing threatens them because this is a war. I know that this is going to be a battle that can only be fought and won with spiritual power.

I write this just to give thanks to God who continues to introduce me to the right people who are in the right places. So open your eyes to find the Fays and Cynthia’s in your neighborhood or workplace.