Contrasting Priorities & Common Sense

I'm grateful for internet access as it allows us to stay connected to people and to our world in NC, and yet the recognition of what's going on in NC sometimes makes what we see here from the mission field in southern Chiapas, Mexico even more profound.

In yesterday's online version of the Winston-Salem Journal, I read that the City of Winston-Salem has advised First Baptist Church that it cannot begin its overflow homeless shelter program until it meets safety requirements for those providing overnight housing. The church voted earlier this year to open their gym as an overflow homeless shelter for the cold months of the year. Now, at first blush, the safety regulations seemed like a good thing - that the city was saying, "Just because you're housing homeless people doesn't mean that you can ignore their safety needs. You have to be sure they'll be safe before you allow them to stay there." But when you read further, you realize that the requirements may result in people not being helped at all! The church may be required to install a sprinkler system, handicapped access to its shelter area, and meet other code requirements....all to the tune of as much as $100,000!

Flash to Mexico...
Today, on my way to the market, I drove past a crowd of people on the side of the road. They were listening to someone in authority and were all gazing upon about 50 small piles of raw meat. The meat had been evenly divided into portions that were separated and laid out on a large piece of black plastic. While I couldn't be sure, it appeared that the meat would be distributed to those waiting, and since there's a viable meat market within 1/2 mile, I assume the meat was being given away, not sold. The meat was raw, sitting in the sun and obviously not packaged or refrigerated. By the time I returned from the market less than an hour later, the people and the meat were all gone. All that remained were the turkey vultures and dogs going after the remains.

Somehow we've got to find a way to get our standards in perspective. The sale of raw, unrefrigerated, unpackaged meat in Mexico is typical. It happens every day in smaller towns that don't have supermarkets (like ours). Safety and sanitation requirements are a good thing, and it's been hard for me to get used to buying the meat at the local meat market. But I do it. I did it while I was out today, and I'll cook it tonight. Certainly the people in Ocosingo who received the free meat will be cooking their meat tonight too, while the homeless facing the first frost of the season in Forsyth County will not find comfort at First Baptist Church. Yes, we need to be concerned about the safety of those in need, but not to the extend that we keep them from being helped by those willing to help them.

Common sense tells us that the City should compare the risk for homeless people to experience cold temperatures, bitter winds, cold rain and snow with their risk for getting burned up in a gymnasium. If there are two things homeless people have it's street smarts and common sense. Something tells me, the homeless would take their chances in the gym.