Yesterday, at about noon I went to a church where almost all the people were new to me. Really different denomination (Pentacostal) to mine (Presbyterian). I helped them stuff bags of warm clothing and other essentials for the homeless. Today, we will go out in the cold and distribute these bags with some Christian tracts. Will we change lives in any manner? Doubtful. Will the homeless suddenly have homes? Only if there are some real miracles! What will happen is that a few strangers will be a bit warmer and healthier. And they will know that somebody (and/or Somebody) cares. It's not much, but it's enough for now. I've learned one thing from this and other experiences like it. It's that if we spend our time searching for and trying to enact the perfect and final solution for each individual case, we won't see it when it suggests itself. and thus never get it done. To really understand any social problem you have to put your hands in the dirt of it. Today I'm delighted to get my hands dirty for Christmas. And that's what I've always loved about Christmas.
AJ