In Another Pair of Shoes

Growing up in Monticello, GA, there were some plights highlighted in other cities that we didn’t worry much about. People sleeping on the streets, homeless shelters, soup kitchens and clothing giveaways were brought to our attention on the evening news or some television special.

Many times if we wanted to encounter these experiences first hand, we would have to drive into an urban area, most notably Atlanta and see it for ourselves.

Let me be very clear, that although homelessness and panhandling are not prevalent in Monticello and Jasper County that does not mean the city is perfect and free from its own set of issues.

Yet, for just a moment, please consider this reminder: we may be blessed to have a roof over our heads and deal with life as it comes, but all of us are just one step away from being in another pair of shoes.

If you are an investor in the market, one decision full of risk could have you in another pair of shoes. If you are a single parent and just trying to make ends meet, an unexpected emergency could have you walking in another pair of shoes.

It is grace and mercy that steady the hand of life’s circumstances and keeps them from consuming us.

I have a challenge for you this week. I’m here in Fayetteville, N.C. and in a neighboring city, there’s a ministry called the Durham Urban Ministry. They have a nationally acclaimed web challenge called SPENT. It sets up a scenario where you have lost your job, you’ve lost your house, and now you are down to your last $1,000 in savings. You will have to make hard choices, and you will be able to see how hard it can be in another pair of shoes.

Please access the challenge at www.playspent.org. Share your experience with your family, friends, church family, and friends on social media. We must have a heart for “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40)

IN ANOTHER PAIR OF SHOES!