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TODAY IS THE DAY
By Bob Chochola
Monday, June 22, 2009 Issue
National Examiner
The USA Today headline reads, “More Families Move-in Together During Housing Crisis” and at first glance passing the paper box it would seem this is not good news. After all, the new trend in American family togetherness runs counter to the fast-paced technologically-savvy road of independence most Americans have been rolling on for decades. Finish school, get a good job, and move out – often to another city, state, or even country. The fact that the American family seems to be returning to an earlier day when families stayed closer longer, may be the one good news story to come out of what most independent economic analysts now refer to as “the recession.”
Economic news has not been good in recent days (months – years?); regardless of ones party affiliation, the crunch has hit home for everyone and poverty doesn’t discriminate by color of state on an electoral map. The times they are a changin’ and everyone feels it one way or another.
Mounting foreclosures have pushed many families into desperate situations, and with property values at an all time low it’s hard to get out from under a lender’s thumb. And these issues are just the tip of the financial crisis’ iceberg. Home equity is disappearing; job losses now add-up to almost seven-million and unemployment continues to rise.
According to USA Today mounting job losses play a major role in family dynamics these days. In fact, relatives are forced to live under the same roof and pool their resources. Families who have lost their homes are looking to siblings for help and often shelter.
Family members are moving in together to help pay-off a mortgage and adult children who've lost jobs and homes are moving back in with Mom and Dad. Even divorcing spouses are putting off separation and living together because they can't sell the house.
The article states that many people who lose a home often have nowhere else to go:
“Many [people] live paycheck to paycheck: Nearly 61% of local and state homeless coalitions are seeing an increase in homelessness since the foreclosure crisis began in 2007, according to an April 2008 study by the National Coalition for the Homeless. Only 5% said they hadn't seen an increase. The survey found that more than 76% of homeowners and renters who must move because of foreclosures are staying with family and friends.”
USA Today
The Alternative
Hop on the number two bus in downtown Ft. Worth heading for the east side transfer center and you will see the other side of these tough financial times. The “alternative” (for lack of a better term) to family is the state of being alone and there are many who, for one reason or another, travel that road.
As the bus leaves the bustling (but quaint) red cobblestone city streets and towering glass hotel district just south of Sundance Square, past the convention center and under the I-30 bridge, it’s almost hard to believe Americans are suffering at all financially. Sidewalk café tables with smiling business-casual latte drinkers line the many store front restaurants and specialty shops, treetop twinkle lights illuminate a seemingly never ending stream of money-spending visitors exploring the trendy display windows, and as if all that were not enough, an occasional stretch limousine Hummer or pick up truck with tuxedo and gown clad passengers toasting glasses of Champaign peeking out the moon roof and a horn honk at every street corner. These are tough times, indeed.
When the bus crosses the I-30 interchange, however, the view dramatically changes, and so does perceived reality.
East Lancaster Street is where one goes when one has no place else to go in Ft. Worth. A little tucked out of the way place that most folks would just as soon ignore, but still others wish it all away. Union Gospel Mission, Presbyterian Night Shelter, Salvation Army, and JPS (a commonly used acronym for John Peter Smith Hospital – treats homeless and needy patients without money or insurance) are located along this desolate stretch of hot broken and pot-hole riddled black top. No red cobble here except for the pile of broken red bricks on a nearby vacant lot.
Nothing much in the way of business can survive in this part of town. If the lack of paying customer traffic doesn’t get you, the armed robbers will - repeatedly. There are a few old used car dealers (“pre-owned” if you must), pawn shops (surprise!), and convenience stores that sell mostly cigarettes and malt liquor to folks who cannot afford to buy either.
At any given point during the course of an average day, the bus passes several thousand homeless lining East Lancaster Street like they were camping out for Grateful Dead tickets. Carrying everything from filthy blankets to beat-up duffle bags on their backs, they have with them all of their worldly possessions. If they are lucky enough they can “appropriate” a shopping cart, but that is risky given that stealing one can lead directly to jail time.
It’s been said that this is a life of choice. This filthy lonely life on the street – fighting for a place indoors to sleep at night out of the elements and away from the danger that lurks about. Sleeping with one eye open so that the person sleeping in the cot next to you doesn’t steal what little you have.
So often is the case that there is no space available in a shelter and sleeping arrangements must be made outdoors – on East Lancaster Street, where any one of a dozen horrible things can happen. It’s no choice, nor is it a place for a woman, or small child. Yet they are there too, by the thousands. They face unspeakable danger; they’re running away from unspeakable danger too.
World Upside-Down
“As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.’ So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.
Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, ‘Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?’
When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Silence! Be still!’ Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, ‘Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?’”
Mark 4:35-40
The economic trip from downtown to East Lancaster Street is a short one in this recession. It can happen almost as fast as it takes the number-two bus to slip from one side of the bridge to the other. But all the news of this troubled time is not bad.
Something else is happening amid the tired, beaten, and discarded. Something of a miracle right here in a culture that so often puts self first.
Families are coming together; bitterness is healing. Friendships are being made stronger, because of the willingness to help a brother in despair. Marriages are given a second look and sometimes that’s all it takes to realize that petty differences are not worth losing a lifelong mate. And strangely enough, total strangers seem to be less alienated; people are willing to offer kindness free of charge.
Looking trouble straight in the eye is hard to do when a job, home, and dignity are lost. But everything happens for a reason.
It’s time to hold on to people – to become “fishers of people” – and to let-go of material things. Great economic strife often has a way of sorting out what is really of value and what is not; it will certainly separate the needs from the wants, and over time becomes a great teacher and disciplinarian.
In the meantime, make time to understand the “purpose” of the recession; what good will come out of it in your life?
Today is the day! Look to the One in control of all things and learn to trust in Him:
“…For God says,
‘At just the right time, I heard you.
On the day of salvation, I helped you.’
Indeed, the ‘right time’ is now. Today is the day of salvation.
…In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us… We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.”
2 Corinthians 6:1-10
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*SOURCE: USA Today, February 2009
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