We are called to be the light of the world.

The ancient Greek philosopher Diogenes, aka Diogenes of Sinope, who died c. 320 BC, literally brought light — the search for truth and honesty — to his world.

Will you be one of the ones to add self-sufficiency,  “outspokenness” — an uncompromising zeal for exposing vice and conceit and stirring men to reform?

Why do we have homelessness?
Most people become homeless due to circumstances that have overwhelmed them combined with the lack of a family support structure. Others, particularly teens, often lose their housing due to an actively hostile, perhaps even hazardous, abusive, or non-supportive family environment.

My suggestion to the churches who have homeless encampments in your city – have representatives from your church visit the encampments and after visiting ask the people to nominate a person to represent them and organize these encampments to fight the city and the council people who represent the town.  Homeless people have rights too.  Homelessness is a cause which has been established by the Democrat left to put these people in dire situations throughout the U.S. and  cause chaos to bring our country down.

Look at the cities, all run by Democrat mayors – Houston, TX; Austin, TX; San Antonio, TX; Chicago, IL;  New York, NY; and Los Angeles, CA, and really the whole state of CA.

There is not only homelessness;  but, these are also sanctuary  cities who are not using the Constitution and are causing death and destruction to people by allowing crimes and putting the criminals back on the streets.

Today, you or your children could be a victim.

Help the homeless unite and give them a voice.

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9 ways you can help the homeless

Give of your time, money, resources or skills to help make a difference in the life of a homeless person.  Again, help the homeless unite and give them a voice.

Jenn Savedge

January 3, 2015, 12 p.m.

There’s so much you can do — from donations to volunteering to just offering respect — to make a homeless person’s life a little bit better.

If you are one of the lucky ones, the world of a homeless person is completely foreign from your own. But without the support of friends and family, how many of us could survive something such as the loss of a spouse, a debilitating physical illness, or the loss of employment? Many of the people living on the streets today were struck by a personal tragedy and lacked a support system to get help when they needed it. But you can help right now. By giving of your time, money, services or skills, you can make the difference in the life of a homeless person. Here’s how:

1. Educate yourself. There are myriad reasons why a person becomes homeless — lack of affordable housing, loss of a job, divorce, illness, substance abuse, domestic abuse, et cetera. One of the first steps you can take toward helping the homeless is trying to understand how they got there in the first place.

2. Show some respect. Don’t treat a homeless person as if she were invisible. Say, “good morning,” when you pass or strike up a conversation on a park bench. Many people experiencing homelessness say that the loss of dignity that accompanies their situation is harder to bear than the actual loss of physical things.

3. Donate. Clothing is a big one here, as are shoes and food. Non-perishable items are always in short supply at food pantries and homeless shelters. Other items that might be needed include blankets, coats, books and small kitchen items, such as cups and utensils. If you are donating to a homeless shelter or another organization that helps the homeless, consider donating office supplies, electronics, appliances, phone cards or other items that might help those who help the homeless. If you see someone who is homeless in winter, offer blankets, food or tarps (if you can’t convince them to go to a shelter).

4. Volunteer. Sign up to work an evening shift at your local homeless shelter. Answer phones, sort mail, serve food, wash dishes, distribute clothes, babysit kids, clean floors, fix a leaky toilet. Find out what they need and how you can help.

5. Teach. Put your skills to good use by sharing them with the homeless. Organize classes through your local shelter to teach typing, accounting, plumbing, carpentry, child care, nutrition or even a new language. Those skills can help a homeless person find work and maybe even a better life.

6. Reach out. Invite a homeless person to your place of worship or a local community event. Organize an outing to take homeless kids to the movies or an ice skating rink. Offer moral support when you can.

7. Seek out job opportunities. Encourage your church or community center to hire a homeless person to paint, clean, type, answer phones or any other work that might fit. Many homeless people want to work but can’t find regular employment.

8. Get techy. Use your smartphone or other gadget to help the homeless. In San Francisco, download the app HandUp to read the stories of homeless people in your area and donate directly to those in need. In New York, the WeShelter app can help you learn how to get involved. And in Atlanta, every post you upload on the Luv4wrd app equals a coat, blanket or pair of gloves to someone living on the streets. Live somewhere else? Use a Google search to find a homeless app to help the people in your community.

9. Advocate. Call your local homeless shelters to find out what items are needed, then contact your local scout troops or civic organizations to organize food drives or other fundraising events to pull those items together. Follow local politics and speak up at town council meetings on issues of homelessness and programs for the homeless. Write editorial letters to your local newspaper about the issue of homelessness in your community and what people can do to help.

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Called a familiar figure in Athens by none other than Aristotle, it is said Diogenes would wander around the streets of Athens carrying a lighted lantern in broad daylight in search for just one honest man.

Forced into exile from Sinope with his father, Diogenes adopted a life of asceticism in pursuit of moral excellence, and made it his mission to to expose falsity.The program for life advocated by Diogenes began with self-sufficiency, or the ability to possess within oneself all that one needs for happiness. To self-sufficiency Diogenes added “outspokenness” — an uncompromising zeal for exposing vice and conceit and stirring men to reform.

Diogenes’ followers positioned themselves as watchdogs of morality. (Encyclopedia Britannica)

Isaiah 58:8-11
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed;
your vindication shall go before you,
and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,
you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!
If you remove from your midst
oppression, false accusation and malicious speech;
if you bestow your bread on the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted;
then light shall rise for you in the darkness,
and the gloom shall become for you like midday.
Then the LORD will guide you always
and satisfy your thirst in parched places,
will give strength to your bones
And you shall be like a watered garden,
like a flowing spring whose waters never fail.

Have the courage of your convictions!

Speak out!

Be a light to the world.

And may the peace and love of Jesus Christ our Lord be with you,

Always remember, HAPPINESS IS AN INSIDE JOB.

kommonsentsjane