I had to be at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Windsor, Colorado at 9:00 A.M. yesterday for a regional deacon meeting. I watched the balloon (pictured above) for most of my drive, and I marveled at the solitude the people in the balloon must be experiencing. My car thermometer said it was 18 degrees. What was the temperature at their altitude?
Our professional development portion at the deacon meeting included a presentation by two young missionaries from "Christ in the City." I was already familiar with this ministry, but it was fascinating to hear some of the personal stories of the missionaries. They walk the streets of Denver and minister to the homeless. It basically starts with acknowledging the homeless person and striking up a conversation. We bring the love of Christ to others by building relationships one at a time.
I learned a lot last year while I was running the homeless shelter in Greeley, Colorado for Catholic Charities. There are many factors at play in the life of the homeless person. Each individual has his/her own story. The dynamics can be complex and challenging.
As I reflected upon the stories of the missionaries, and pondered the current cold temperatures the homeless were enduring, I kept thinking about the societal factors that keep us from finding more effective solutions to the many social issues confronting us. Abject poverty, unemployment, drug and alcohol addictions, physical abuse, crime, and a laundry list of other factors complicate our ability to effectively care for our neighbor. I hope the difficulties encountered never prompt us to stop trying to improve these situations.
Current circumstances in our economy are exacerbating an already strained system of safety nets for the poor. Unfortunately, if this trend of inflation continues for a prolonged period, more of the middle class folks will see themselves sinking into the poverty category. A trip to the grocery store from one week to the next can almost provoke sticker shock. A 50 cent item I have purchased regularly for months is now 76 cents. One of my favorite frozen dinners went from $2.48 to $2.78 to $2.98 in a matter of a few months. That is not a small increase.
I want to share price increases (by percentage points) that I saw listed in another article. I did not verify these statistics independently, but I am assuming they are close to accurate. The wealthy will not feel the impact of these things, but the rest of us will.
It is quite expensive to own and operate a vehicle.
Gasoline cost is up 58%.
New vehicles are up 11.1%.
Used cars and trucks are up a whopping 31.4%.
Tires are up 11.1%.
Furniture prices are up 11.8% compared to a year ago.
Major appliances are up 5.5%.
Televisions, which had been falling in price for years, saw prices rise 7.9%.
Food prices are up in many categories. For instance:
Chicken 9%
Fish 11%
Bacon 21%
Eggs 8%
Coffee 7.5%
There are times I would like to have access to more information to really know the big picture of where our country is heading. Why are things being done by politicians in the manner that they are? What is the end game? Why were so many politicians heavily invested in the pharmaceutical companies prior to the "pandemic"? What did they know and when did they know it?
Am I skeptical about the truthfulness that emanates from bureaucrats? You better believe it. Am I disappointed that there wasn't a class in high school or college that explained the real nature of politics? Yes, I am. Why weren't we all encouraged to become a "public servant" at the federal level so we could pursue wealth with vigor?
Yes, there is a little bit of sarcasm in my comments. The cold, hard truth about contemporary society is too difficult to bear without a little levity. The reality is that we are facing some difficult economic times ahead if we don't change course soon. After nearly 22 months of chaos and upheaval in our world, more financial distress is the last thing we need.
As I watched the balloon soaring high above me, I will admit that I yearned for the opportunity to escape in some way. That will have to wait until another time. In the present moment, I have responsibilities which must be addressed in a productive manner.
Whatever challenges you are facing in life, please realize that you do not walk alone. On this Third Sunday of Advent, may your heart be filled with the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the power, communion and fellowship of the Holy Spirit!
Our professional development portion at the deacon meeting included a presentation by two young missionaries from "Christ in the City." I was already familiar with this ministry, but it was fascinating to hear some of the personal stories of the missionaries. They walk the streets of Denver and minister to the homeless. It basically starts with acknowledging the homeless person and striking up a conversation. We bring the love of Christ to others by building relationships one at a time.
I learned a lot last year while I was running the homeless shelter in Greeley, Colorado for Catholic Charities. There are many factors at play in the life of the homeless person. Each individual has his/her own story. The dynamics can be complex and challenging.
As I reflected upon the stories of the missionaries, and pondered the current cold temperatures the homeless were enduring, I kept thinking about the societal factors that keep us from finding more effective solutions to the many social issues confronting us. Abject poverty, unemployment, drug and alcohol addictions, physical abuse, crime, and a laundry list of other factors complicate our ability to effectively care for our neighbor. I hope the difficulties encountered never prompt us to stop trying to improve these situations.
Current circumstances in our economy are exacerbating an already strained system of safety nets for the poor. Unfortunately, if this trend of inflation continues for a prolonged period, more of the middle class folks will see themselves sinking into the poverty category. A trip to the grocery store from one week to the next can almost provoke sticker shock. A 50 cent item I have purchased regularly for months is now 76 cents. One of my favorite frozen dinners went from $2.48 to $2.78 to $2.98 in a matter of a few months. That is not a small increase.
I want to share price increases (by percentage points) that I saw listed in another article. I did not verify these statistics independently, but I am assuming they are close to accurate. The wealthy will not feel the impact of these things, but the rest of us will.
It is quite expensive to own and operate a vehicle.
Gasoline cost is up 58%.
New vehicles are up 11.1%.
Used cars and trucks are up a whopping 31.4%.
Tires are up 11.1%.
Furniture prices are up 11.8% compared to a year ago.
Major appliances are up 5.5%.
Televisions, which had been falling in price for years, saw prices rise 7.9%.
Food prices are up in many categories. For instance:
Chicken 9%
Fish 11%
Bacon 21%
Eggs 8%
Coffee 7.5%
There are times I would like to have access to more information to really know the big picture of where our country is heading. Why are things being done by politicians in the manner that they are? What is the end game? Why were so many politicians heavily invested in the pharmaceutical companies prior to the "pandemic"? What did they know and when did they know it?
Am I skeptical about the truthfulness that emanates from bureaucrats? You better believe it. Am I disappointed that there wasn't a class in high school or college that explained the real nature of politics? Yes, I am. Why weren't we all encouraged to become a "public servant" at the federal level so we could pursue wealth with vigor?
Yes, there is a little bit of sarcasm in my comments. The cold, hard truth about contemporary society is too difficult to bear without a little levity. The reality is that we are facing some difficult economic times ahead if we don't change course soon. After nearly 22 months of chaos and upheaval in our world, more financial distress is the last thing we need.
As I watched the balloon soaring high above me, I will admit that I yearned for the opportunity to escape in some way. That will have to wait until another time. In the present moment, I have responsibilities which must be addressed in a productive manner.
Whatever challenges you are facing in life, please realize that you do not walk alone. On this Third Sunday of Advent, may your heart be filled with the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the power, communion and fellowship of the Holy Spirit!
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