This next Sunday, November 11, 2007 is Veteran’s Day and since I am a veteran, I felt compelled and thought it appropriate to post something on the subject. I know that many churches will take time to honor and recognize our veterans. In the November 8, 2007 issue of the Dallas Morning News there was an article about the number of veterans who were homeless. It caught my attention so I thought that I might share some of the information with you.
The article stated that 1 in 4 homeless in this country are veterans. In 2006 nearly a half a million veterans spent some time homeless. There are 50,000 in California alone, the most of any state. The lowest state was Vermont with 30. In Texas less than one percent of Texas, veterans were homeless in 2005 according to the Veterans Administration.
It is not only older veterans or the often stereotyped Vietnam veterans, who are homeless there is a growing number from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Veterans Administration has identified 1500 homeless Veterans from current wars. “Over all 45% of participants of VA’s homeless programs have a diagnosable mental illness and more than 3 out of 4 have substance abuse problems, while 35 % have both.” The VA spends $265 million annually on homeless-specific programs and about $1.5 billion for all health care cost for homeless veterans.
The eleventh hour, the eleventh day of the eleventh month was set aside as Armistice Day (later renamed Veterans Day) following World War I (the “war to end all wars” as it was called). We now know that the designation “to end all wars” was an overly optimistic view of the future of mankind. The simple fact that one would refer to it, as the First World War is proof of this point, since if there is first then there must be at least a second. The Treaty of Versailles (the peace treaty that ended this war) itself led to bitterness and hatred, which in fact contributed to the next world war. “Wars and rumors of wars” have existed since the beginning of human history. Current wars are frequently a result of or continuation of a previous one.
We honor and memorialize our fallen veterans, as I believe we should. Yet, what of the survivors? The ones who must deal with “survivor’s guilt, “post traumatic stress” and substance abuse as well as addiction. What, if anything, do we owe these men and women? More important for me, how should the Christian community respond to this segment of our society (the homeless in general and veterans in specific)?
As a veteran I am thankful for the public recognition in our assemblies. Which is much better than the public humiliation many of my brothers endured during the Vietnam era. However, as a veteran, the article referenced above and the current condition of so many of my “brother’s in arms” troubles me. I am, however, even more troubled by the seeming lack of attention by Christendom in general to such a large number of “lost and troubled souls.” I do not only mean veterans.
I do not want to appear judgmental, because I know that even “a cup of cold water” given in the name of Jesus is a blessing and will be rewarded. We design, promote and implement church programs to collect food on Thanksgiving and give gifts baskets at Christmas. Yet, I wonder what about the other ten months of the year?
It seems to me that if we really wanted to be more like Jesus. Then maybe we should be investing more of our time and money in those whom society marginalizes. What are we doing the other 300 days of the year? I realize that there is a limit to what we can do. I recognize that we cannot help everyone. I would urge us not to use what we cannot do as an excuse not to do what we can. I cannot help but wonder what it says about the Christian community when we spend most of our resources (time, money and effort) on ourselves to the neglect of the “down trodden and oppressed.”
I imagine a Jesus who would be visiting the homeless. I picture a Christ who would be reaching out to the outcast, castaways and cast offs of our culture. I am sure that I could be wrong but, as I read the Gospels that is the Jesus I see. Is this not what it really means to be a Cruciform Community? When we reach down to the broken, are we not then truly that Transformed and Therapeutic Tribe of Abraham? Do our actions reflect the Redemptive, Radical and Real Reign of God (kingdom of God) in our hearts?
This year on Veteran’s Day (the eleventh hour, the eleventh day of the eleventh month), I will as usual reflect upon my fallen brothers, and I will not forget the survivors. It is my desire that we would also seek ways to invest some time and resources in the survivors and especially those who exist on the “ragged edge” of life.
Just some things to think about along the way. See you all a little farther on down the road.
Bob
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