There was so much that needed to be done on my new home and I had such a short window of time when I would have people to help me move and get the necessary repairs done that I was very much focused at the ground level. One day, though, after I had been in my new home for a couple days, when I came home, for some reason, I stopped for a moment before I went in my back door. It was then that I finally looked up. What I saw was a very beautiful view of the mountains. So focused on trying to get everything done while I could I hadn't taken note of what was around me. It was the God moment I needed at that point; it brought joy to my fatigued spirit. It was then that I started to feel blessed to be in my new home, and it started to feel like it is my home.
The 7th grade essays on radical community care hopefully will help us to look up and see what is around us and respond. If we look up and don't see a beautiful view like I did that afternoon then we need to be the ones who bring that beauty for others to see. We need to do the things that Alex talks about in his essay. And, most importantly, we need to do as Alex says and do this even for people we don't know (or maybe, don't really like). God bless you for bringing beauty into our world. And remember to look up.
Radical Community Care
by Alex Nielsen
One way of being radically helpful for the community is by giving money to the poor. Another way is when we pick up bottles or trash. When we are nice to a stranger, people we don't even know, we are also care for our community.
One way you can put your care into action is if there is a fundraiser, you could donate money for the people. Another way you can care for people in our communities is by donating clothes you no longer wear. You could give your clothes to a clothes drive. And if you don't finish your dinner you could give it to a poor person.
When I show the 7th graders a video each week it's a faith reflection time. They are to watch the video with eyes of faith and tell me how they saw God in the short clip. God is everywhere and blesses us with everything and being able to see this is a gift that needs to be cultivated for us to fully appreciate what our Lord does for us. Last week the video I showed the 7th graders was of the Golden Bridge in Vietnam that opened up this summer. This beautiful bridge is held up by two giant stone hands and is most awe-inspiring. It was no contest, all the 7th grade's quick write slips were about being in God's hands, feeling protected, and that God was lifting them up to heaven. Take a look yourself and be inspired also. The video they specifically watched was from Jul 28, 2018 Mega World - A giant pair of hands lift Vietnam's Golden Bridge into the sky (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-UN0MHl6ik), but any pictures you Google will show you how beautiful this bridge is.
Thank you. Mrs. Alhadef