One of the best parts of my work at the Centers is receiving the "bad" kids--I mean, kids who have made poor choices--and are sent on timeout from after-school programs at Humboldt Park.  I love those kids.  Last week, just a few moments into our afternoon, I was visited by a roomful of three middle schoolers, all refusing to write their Parts of Speech poems.  Asked to write a poem about their block that began with an adjective, all three middle schoolers responded with the enthusiasm of a speed bump.  Pencils never touched paper.

"Ok, it's your choice," I said, taking out the Discipline Policy papers.  "Write the poem and get a timeout for disrespect, or take a week off for refusing to follow directions."  This choice pushed seventh-grade Adonis* over the edge.  He was on his feet instantly.

"All these women here telling me what to do!" he shouted, eyes filling with tears.  "Ya'll can't just leave me alone!  I'm just trying to come in here and stay safe because my block is bloody and there's people being killed all over the place and I'm not writing about that!"

Other kids sent out.  Office door closed.  Adonis understood.  Peace restored.

Adonis wrote a new poem on the stipulation that it still not be read out loud.  His poem read, "Bird, flying."

"Is 'flying' an adjective or a verb?"

Oh, dear ones, we at Centers also do not want to write about Block, Bloody.  We want to write about Kids, Flying.  Families, Restored.  Communities, Beautiful.  The amazing fact that Adonis stands  in my office instead on the streets proves that they can do it; even now, in small ways, they are flying.

Join us.  We pray for no less than miracles, transformations, and restorations only God can bring about.  In the practical side of that, we also offer the opportunity to join us--to give.  On April 17th, New Life Community Church is collecting an offering for New Life Centers, and all funds collected that day will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $20,000 total.  On April 17th, join us in believing the blood can stop and our kids can fly.  Give online April 17th at nlcenters.org.

God's greatest blessings to you and yours.

*Name and photo changed to protect the one who didn't want his poem read aloud.

Things are going well for Urban Life Skills!  As the warm weather starts up, we begin our busy season!  Thanks for your continued support and prayers.  We couldn't do this work without you!  Here are some things that God has been doing among us.

Hilton Hotel
2855 North Milwaukee Ave, Northbrook, IL 60062
 
March 25 & 26th 2011
Friday opening: 7pm / Check in: 4pm
Saturday closing: 4pm / Check out: Noon
 
Early bird cost: $60 until March 18th

Regular cost on March 19 & 20: $65 

SIGN UP ONLINE!  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE!

For more information, contact Mike Berry at mikeb@newlifechicago.org 

 

Courage

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.  But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

-Matthew 14:22-27

Courage met me on the 1400 block of North Harding Avenue in the form of Ms. Irene Finn.  She wore a brightly colored “America” t-shirt, a tourist-looking City of Chicago hat, and carried a small bag. Elderly and looking every one of her years, she stopped my family and I on the sidewalk and asked if we knew what block we were on.  My first regrettable thought was the thought of most city dwellers—the woman wants money.  But as we tried to gently point her toward the address she gave, it became clear that she was severely disoriented; to get her home, I would need to walk her the entire way.

Ms. Irene and I spent the next blessed half-hour arm in arm, shuffling slowly along the streets and alleys of Chicago’s west side.  This wandering elder could not see as far as her own feet. Her “broken” knee could lift her foot no further than an inch in the air.  Her anemia made her cold on an 85-degree morning.  Yet that morning, Ms. Irene had left the hospital from visiting one of her many grandchildren, knowing well that she had to feel her way home by memory.  Predictably, she had missed her bus stop; ours was the second stop she had tried this morning, and she was still far from home.  Blind and exhausted, this beloved one was wandering Chicago without a soul knowing where she was.

O, the courage and love of this woman!  What kind of soul leaves the safety of her house without sight or sureness of step, all for the sake of a grandchild?  What kind of strength perseveres in asking strangers kindly for direction, inconveniencing no one as she treks slowly in the dark?  What grace repeatedly calls down blessing from our Father for me?

“The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to show himself strong for those whose hearts are completely His”  (2 Chronicles 16:9).  Our God cares for his orphans and widows! Out of the whole vast city, my God saw his lost beloved and me, His servant. It is no mistake that our paths crossed.  Saints, when God looks for a helper, does He see you?  Can you be Christ, ready to stand as His hands and feet?  In your own city, there are courageous, faithful ones waiting for God to come.  There are Ms. Irenes wandering your streets.  There are believing children praying themselves through abuse.  There are faithful mamas longing for incarcerated sons to come home.  God sees their courage; He is coming to them.   Is He coming through you?

This post is guest-dictated by AJ, 13-year-old dear one at Humboldt Park.

"Violence is the only option because if you walk away from them or don't say nothing to them, they gonna keep bothering you.  If you knock they lights out, they gonna learn their lesson.  If you just say stop, they gonna keep goin and they gonna think you a punk.

[To people who say our city's too violent] "I say oh well, move out of it then.  If there's too much violence, why would you be here?  [Violence] is the key to the world."

Returning the to the author:

Clearly we have an issue here.  Can someone propose a way for AJ to solve the problem of the kid who keeps messing with him?  We're requesting solutions. 

And, by the way, the Centers is the only place where AJ hasn't been in a fight.