I occasionally visit the Christian Activity Center in East St. Louis. They are doing remarkable things for kids growing up in tough circumstances. When I say remarkable, I mean… 90% of the kids who go there finish high school – compared to less than 50% who do not. Awesome.
Yesterday, a 7-year old said this during prayer time, “Lord, stop the fighting and shooting. And stop them from jumpin’ me.”
This small phrase says a lot. Not only about what is happening to him personally, but also what is happening in his community in general.
Part of this is that bullying is on the rise. Is it on the rise because kids are not as tough as they used to be.. or is it some other reason? Too, kids can be bullied face to face just like always, but now there are indirect ways like Twitter and Facebook too – creating more opportunity for kids to be mean to each other. Wonderful. (hear the sarcasm?)
Another part – and I think the biggest part – is a poverty of spirit. It is an elusive virus that manifests itself it about 1,001 ways. If a parents and adults are infected, children will eventually get it too. Some of the symptoms are:
- Inappropriate levels of self-confidence – either too high or too low
- Despair, hopelessness, anger, fear, depression, jealousy
- Lack of responsibility for self, family, neighbors, others
- Inertia, lack of activity or forward movement
I don’t know the exact circumstances of this 7-year old. But I have seen enough to know that the solution can be complicated. Not one single program will be able to answer his prayers. It will take a holistic, comprehensive, no-holds-barred kind of approach.
Whatever the solution – I would bet that this one isn’t exactly right. For one thing, the race of the children depicted on the building does not match the children they are serving. Also, the words “at risk” are on the front of the building! (I hate that term anyway.) What impact do you think that sign has on the children who enter that building every day? Ugh…
All of this kinda makes my brain hurt. It’s overwhelming for sure.
But, if enough of us band together, we can knock this virus out of our world forever. We can’t do it alone. There is a light that is IN us that if we play our cards right, will sustain us for the work ahead. If that works, then the light that is IN will come OUT- all on its own. Weird how that works, but it does.
Noun Town 