Where Children May Safely Play

        Tucked away in the little Old Testament book of Zechariah is a beautiful image of old men and women walking around the city of Jerusalem with canes while children play in the streets with laughter and joy.  It is a prophecy of life the way it is supposed to be—life in the Kingdom of God.  Dr. Eugene Peterson  in his presentation of the Bible called “The Message” shares the verse this way:  Old men and old women will come back to Jerusalem, sit on benches on the streets and spin tales, move around safely with their canes—a good city to grow old in. And boys and girls will fill the public parks, laughing and playing—a good city to grow up in.

        This is our hope for this community and every community.  But sadly, in a world of great evil and many manifestations of darkness, it is not safe for children or adults to be in many streets for fear of gunfire, bombs, or even a chemical attack.  The heartbreaking images of the bodies of innocent children in Syria are impossible to erase from our minds.  We are devastated by such horrific events and we want to respond, to do something—but what?  I don’t know what the answer is, but I don’t believe it is found in missiles and airstrikes.  When will we learn that a violent response to violence only perpetuates more violence?  I want to “study war no more!”

But violence is not confined to the Middle East.  Gun violence in Chicago is an epidemic with over 500 homicides last year and already over 300 this year.  Over 30 percent of the victims are teenagers and children.  Where is the blame?  Gangs, drugs, poverty, inequality?   All of us?   What is the answer?

        As much as I would like to help the suffering in Syria, Chicago, and other faraway places, there is little I can do.  But I can do something about the suffering in Lexington and Davidson County.  Around 45 percent of the children in Lexington live in poverty.  A couple of years ago the Southern Education Foundation ranked the Lexington School District the 66^th worst in the south in extreme child poverty.  Twenty-one percent of its students were living below 50 percent of the federal poverty level.  Most of these children are not laughing and playing in the streets. Many go to bed hungry. 

        Where do I start?  I begin by making a difference in the life of one child.  There are a number of community agencies, programs, and initiatives through the school systems that give you an opportunity to help children in need.  Mentors, tutors, encouragers, leaders, and helpers are needed.  They need financial support and administrative skills. You can get involved directly or indirectly.  The Backpack Program, Communities in Schools, Smart Start, The Boys and Girls Club, Project Potential, the YMCA, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, the 4-H Program, CHILL, Special Olympics, and a host of other programs make a qualitative difference in the lives of children.  Call your local school or an agency to see how you can help!

        You can even make a difference in the life of a Davidson County child by attending next week’s Davidson County Agricultural Fair.  Every summer around 180 deserving children are selected by the Department of Social Services to attend a week of summer camp where they can safely laugh and play.  Since 1946, the Lexington Kiwanis Club has operated the annual county fair to raise the revenue to operate Kamp Kiwanis.  Your $7.00 admission to the fair next week will help some child attend summer camp next year.  Have fun at the fair and help a child!  Now that’s a win-win!

        The needs of our world and even our own community are often overwhelming.  We cannot meet all of those needs, but we can meet some.  If everyone reading this column would do something---get involved in a program, make a financial contribution, volunteer your services—we can turn the lives of many children around and give them hope for the future!  And in the process we will be building the Kingdom of God, creating a community where children may safely play.