redemption

i was between two worlds. to my right stood beautiful row homes with white fences, clean sidewalks, and trees with the greenest leaves i've seen in quite some time. it looked as if a southern californian gated community invaded the broken city of camden, surrounded by an impenetrable bubble that kept the impure out of their attempt at renovation. this, you see, is not the camden i know, nor is it the camden that the majoirty of the children at urbanpromise know. this is the city's attempt at covering its mistakes, neglect, and corruption. instead of digging into the real issues that are the root of injustice, the government simply built right over them. you see, they did not just tear down an ugly building. they tore down years of memories, pain, laughter, joy, sorrow, and struggle. as i stood in the middle of the street, i glanced over to my left and was reminded of the injustice in this city.
these buildings literally stood across the street from the freshly remodeled, vibrant homes that attempted to hide the issues in camden. when i see these condemned homes, my heart is filled with sadness. i think of the families that once lived there. i think of the moments that they were faced with a struggle of making ends meet or when they rejoiced because a son or daughter passed a test in one of the corrupt and disheartening environments in this city known as a high school. i think of the laughter of the children who sat on these front porches, unaware of the terror their parents faced as they played. i think of the mothers who buried their husbands, sons, and daughters because of gang violence or drug trade. i think of children who will grow up without a parent, bitter and hardened toward the world and God because both did not protect the one they loved so dearly. you see, when i look at camden, new jersey, i do not see a broken city that has no hope for redemption. i see people with stories waiting to be told. i see injustice bursting at the seams, waiting for an advocate. i see hope. i recognize that there are individuals who may be settling, but i truly believe that they are given no other option. when day after day, they walk the streets seeing house after house boarded up, how are they to believe that there is another life? i cannot imagine how it feels to walk by a house that i once lived in, seeing it labeled with "Public Works," knowing i will never be able to set foot inside once more. there is so much more than camden's appearance. i challenge people to look beyond the exterior and read between the lines. i have been challenging myself to do the same, wondering what i am actually doing to benefit this city. i realize that i am one person in a huge world, but i do not doubt the potential impact that i can have. i dream big. i see redemption in this city. i see a community working together, empowered by their own strength and determination, to improve their circumstances. i look into the faces of the kids that i have been blessed to work with, and i know there is hope. i see the twinkle in their eyes as they sing of how great our God is. i see their joy and excitement despite their circumstances. i strive to be like them. it is because of the role each of them have played in my life that i choose to take up the armor of God and fight injustice, for when you put a face and name to an issue, you cannot help but be passionate.

i received a text this morning from my dear friend that truly broke my heart. she said her car broke down on broadway, one of the main streets in camden known for prostitution. while on the street, she saw a woman, beat up, bloody, and broken down, on the side of the road. the most heartbreaking part of it all is that no one stopped to help her. this is the second time my friend has run into this situation; on the fourth of july in philadelphia, she saw a woman who had been robbed and beat up on the sidewalk. philadelphia is very busy on independence day, but on a day that exemplifies the rights we claim to have, a woman was overlooked by hundreds of citizens stuck in traffic. they simply drove right by. how is it that we can walk, drive, or pass by our brothers and sisters in need, simply turning our faces the other direction? this is NOT the life God had told us to live. isaiah 61 describes how we are called to bind up the brokenhearted, comfort those who mourn, and release them from darkness. we cannot do this if we are looking the other direction. do not make assumptions. do not see people as low lives who gave up the fight for a better life. instead, look them in the eyes. ask for their stories. hear their hearts. after all, we are all people attempting to find our purpose in this life. if we are going to struggle, we might as well do it.

TOGETHER.

"this is what the Lord says: do what is just and right. rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed. do no wrong or violence to the alien, the fatherless or to the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place."
jeremiah 22:3