When it comes to sports, I am not a person in the know. Before my younger brother has an opportunity to comment, I'll say it for him: "When it comes to anything, I am not a person in the know."
Until church a week ago last Sunday, I had never heard of Travis Kelse, tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs. Out of curiosity, I just checked to learn that his net worth is $40 million. That explains it; he is out of my league.
In the introduction to his sermon last week, our pastor mentioned Kelse's rise in popularity after September 24th when Taylor Swift sat in the box at Arrowhead Stadium next to Kelse's mother. The Chiefs were playing the Chicago Bears.
Subsequently, the sale of Kelse's jersey has increased 400%. For that matter, ticket sales to the Kansas City Chief's games have also increased. So, what happens if the relationship doesn't work out?
When it comes to the things that vie for our attention, how often does the less important become our focus instead of things that have the potential to impact many in a harmful way?
The October 7th indiscriminate and brutal slaughter of 1,400 men, women, and children in Israel committed by the Hamas Islamist militant movement of Palestinians has sent shockwaves around the world. In response, the Israeli government has "embarked on a war of still-unknown magnitude and character against the Palestinian militant group".
Over the past couple of weeks, I've thought often about the families on both sides of the conflict in the Middle East. With all certainty, they were not directly involved in orchestrating the killing fields, but now find their lives forever changed.
Like shattered glass - death, fractured family living, and the carnage of warfare have forever changed their lives. It seems overwhelming and surreal.
Our pastor briefly mentioned other causes of concern:
The crisis at the border
Refugee cities
Inflation and the National debt
The list goes on and on
We collectively shift our focus to the insignificant and ignore things that should merit our attention. We turn a deaf ear and a blind eye on the insurmountable faces of pain that can be witnessed on the news daily.
I'd be the first to admit that the complexity of issues is overwhelming. The plight of those in harm's way seems beyond the reach of most of us. For months I have been part of a group attempting to advocate for passage of H.R. 3852 – Create Accountable Respectful Environments (CARE) for Children Act on Capitol Hill. The legislation would allow the use of children's homes as resources for children who find themselves sleeping in child protective services offices, hotels, or other make-shift unlicensed emergency shelters.
Over the past eighteen months, Texas paid off-duty police officers 30 million dollars to provide security for children in the aforementioned situations.
According to research, last year over half of the states saw significant reductions in the number of available foster homes. In some states, there was a 61% decrease. Despite the crisis of available resources for children, not even one Congressman from Texas has yet signed on the co-sponsor the legislation that would provide more resources for children in harm's way.
Last week a friend from North Carolina told me that an eight-year-old girl from North Carolina was beaten to death by her grandmother earlier this year. North Carolina also has a significant shortage of foster homes available for children in harm's way. Children are being provided housing in the basement of an office building housing child welfare personnel.
The sad reality is that children in harm's way don't have a voice and they don't vote for people in the halls of Congress. We must be that voice for them.
All My Best!
Don
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