Is There Blood on Your Hands?

A friend of mine once said, "My greatest fear is that on the last day, the books on my shelf will rise up in judgment against me."  What he meant by this was that he was responsible for the knowledge he had gained through the books he had read.  We are responsible for what we know.  Jesus puts it this way, "but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more." (Luke 12:48 NASB)

Yesterday, I went out to do some home visits for my job.  Some of the families I work with don't have working phones, and it's necessary to go out to the home to meet with them and let them know when they are required to come to the office.  I got to experience the feeling of driving through the worst part of town.  The poverty was mind blowing.  The houses people were living in should have been condemned.  I know what it's like for those people.  That makes me responsible for it.

I've long felt a desire to work closely with poor urban communities.  That desire took me to Child Protective Services, and it has brought me to juvenile probation.  Both jobs leave that desire unfulfilled.  I love my job.  I want to make that clear.  However, there are things about my job that make it impossible for me to really connect with people in these neighborhoods.  The same badge and handcuffs that guarantee compliance from the young people I work with serve to ensure I will be seen as an enemy or at least an outsider.

I was talking to a good friend about this yesterday, and we came to the conclusion that the only thing that will change the inner city is when people care enough to get their hands dirty.  We have to see the problems and do something to help.  We have to be involved in the daily lives of people who live in these poor communities.

I guess if you've read this far, you are now responsible for this as well.  I almost feel like I should apologize to you for that.  Still, there is a great need, and if you are motivated to act by reading this, then I feel like I have done something to help.

I have a few questions that I'd like to end with:

1.  What are the things that you are responsible for?  What is it that you have knowledge of but do nothing about?

2.  What is a practical way that you can make a difference?

3.  Do you believe that  a group of ordinary people can change the world for the better