Hunger and homelessness are two unnecessary plagues in America, afflictions that shouldn’t exist in the richest country in world history. The government has recently taken some bold steps, strengthening its commitment to rid our society of these two social ills.
During his 2008 campaign, President Obama announced an ambitious goal to end childhood hunger in America by the year 2015. A couple of weeks ago, while in Washington D.C., I had many conversations with David Beckmann. David, who is the President of Bread for the World, was recently was awarded the World Food Prize for his anti-hunger work. When we talked he seemed convinced that we have all the resources we need to end hunger not only in America, but internationally. He was convinced it was just a matter of priority: is ending hunger a major priority in our country or not?
In addition to this national push against hunger, the government is also intent on eradicating homelessness. This past week, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) laid out a strategy to prevent and end homeless within the next 5-10 years. These goals include:
- Ending chronic homelessness within five years.
- Preventing and ending veteran homelessness within five years.
- Preventing and ending homelessness in families, youth, and children within ten years.
So, combining these initiatives, it seems that plans are in place to eradicate, to the furthest extent possible, homelessness and childhood hunger in America within the next 10 years.
While I’m skeptical of the government’s bold goals, I don’t question our Lord’s relentless pursuit of justice in these areas. Hope in Him sparks me to imagine, “what if?” What if the Church, the government, the business world, and private citizens combined to end these plagues? What if our hearts broke for these injustices the way that God’s heart breaks for them? What if we made them a major priority?
What is sure is that whether it takes 5 years, 10 years, or 1 million years, these ills will end. Goodness will prevail, and all tears will be wiped away. The homeless will have homes, the hungry will feast at a grand banquet, and wholeness will exist forever. May we usher in the justice of that Kingdom.