Home Sweet Home?

Unless you have reason to drive near Fountain Creek, perhaps on your way to dinner or a show downtown, you might not think about Colorado Springs' "tent city" very often. However, Chapel Hills Church put some of the faces of the homeless on the big screen Sunday, where turning a blind eye was not an option. Several people from our church have been meeting homeless people for "More than a Meal" on Saturday mornings this month. In addition to food, this group of seemingly unrelated churches and people strive to feed the spiritual hunger that won't subside with one warm breakfast.

What surprised me was learning that nearly half of those one of my pastors met were women. Some were pregnant. While some struggle with substance abuse or mental illness, many more are afflicted with other illnesses or injuries which prevent them from working. Having been affected by an extended furlough (the airline industry's euphemism for being laid off) in our family and from working with families to stretch their budgets, I understand how many adults are just one missed paycheck away from disaster.

While political views come into play when solutions are tossed around, I am not convinced that this is an issue that government can solve, even if they want to. There is no easy answer to this complex problem. However, I know that we can each help in one simple way: pray. Pray for those who, by choice or not, are trying to stay warm on cold, wet nights like the ones we've experienced this week. Pray for the children, in foster care and unborn, who didn't ask for this. Pray for wisdom from those in a position to help: the city council, police officers, shelter operators, clergy, volunteers...and consider doing something to give those less fortunate "more than a meal."

Cari Pemberton is a Certified Family Manager Coach and Director of Outreach and Training for Family Manager Coaching. She is the CEO to one husband, two daughters, two cats and one Labrador who thinks he is a person. She blogs at TheClutterCutters.blogspot.com, and her upcoming events are posted at TheClutterCutters.net.