FROM THE PULPIG: THE SUMMIT

The Summit has come and gone now. I watched the television coverage and read the newspaper accounts.

Ret. Gen. Colin Powell called together the living presidents of the United States for a summit.

Gen. Powell believes, along with many other persons in this country, that more Americans need to be in service, to each other, and for the greater benefit of all.

The idea is a strong one. One which, I believe, most of us support. As is the case with so many ideas and causes these days though, the summit was transmitted in sound bites, and short bursts of video.

Famous and powerful people from around the country spoke of their dedication to service, and it's benefits to the children of our country.

How have we come to this point? This point in our nation's history of having a national summit to focus our attention on caring for the children of this country.

Over the past few decades, the government has taken over many of the responsibilities of caring for the underprivileged and marginalized of our society.

Whether this is a good or bad thing really doesn't matter much. That's what happened.

Now we are refocusing ourselves on the situation at hand. People, especially children, are in need in our very midst.

How can we help? How can we make things better? By caring for each other. Not just the other persons we know, but all persons.

We can volunteer our time and energies in community agencies; food pantries, shelters and the like.

The church used to be the main source of support for these persons we are now so concerned about.

We cared for children, the less fortunate. Even the church is refocusing its efforts on helping those in need.

The world is changing, and we don't want people to fall through the cracks as it changes.

The summit is an excellent beginning, but it will take hard work by each of us to see results we hope for.

It's great that celebrities and politicians have publicly committed to service, but how about us, the people of Southeast Missouri? We need to commit as well.

Jesus said, "Love one another." This involves action, not just feelings.

Let us find new ministries in each of our churches which read out to and help those in need.

If the church doesn't help others, who will? The Jackson Ministerial Alliance helps many people every day, and its coffers are low.

There are many people in desperate need in our area. It's time to pitch in and help our fellow human beings.

Let us find places in our community where we can invest some of our time and money. The world will be a better place, and we will be doing our part to make it a better place. We will be loving one another, as Jesus taught us to do.