October 2, 2011:

Ponderings of a Pilgrim PASTOR

“Hunger In America”

This powerful cartoon could have been drawn after we distributed food to the needy on Saturday, September 24. 84 families received food made up of 180 adults and 146 children. All the food in our Food Pantry is now gone but it is obvious that the need is growing greater and greater. Yes, with your financial help we will buy more food, but it is clear that food programs such as Pilgrim’s are only a bandaid on a gaping wound in our nation.

Reports show that a staggering number of Americans are living in poverty and are poorly fed or underfed. As we continue to bump along in what is clearly a depression and not simply a recession, more and more Americans are without jobs or have jobs that are not nearly sufficient to meet their needs. Of course, children and the elderly are most at risk for hunger and poverty.

State and national politicians continue their self-righteous posturing as they grub for support in next year's elections. Some have even gone so far to suggest that this is a sort of new-Darwinian "survival of the fittest" to weed out those who choose not to be responsible for themselves. That is cruel nonsense. And all this is happening in what is still the richest nation on earth.

It is time for decent and compassionate Americans to say "Enough!" I only pray that it won’t be too late.

Love,
Pastor Dave