With our social outlets and daily news casts so dialed into to what is negative in our world, it is easy to lose sight of all that is good. True, racism, hate, and terror are all too regular a facet of the human condition and it seems almost impossible to escape our own leaders incessant bashing of each other and their systematic dismantling of character and values.
Yet, I also live in a world where so much of what takes place around me at a local and regional level is quite the opposite. In my world, I am witness to the care and support of cancer patients by perfect strangers. Regularly, I see volunteerism serving the homeless and feeding the poor. I am part of a professional community represented by all faiths, colors, and gender identities who work together in respect and dignity for one another in pursuit of helping promote children.
If my eye remained trained on CNN, Fox News, and my Facebook timeline only, I might fall into the trappings that our America and our world is falling apart. If I am to believe what are presidential candidates would have us believe, then I might be resigned to buy in to fear and in doing so, loose perspective where hope and love do have a strong foothold. No doubt, there is a lot wrong with the world today, but to embrace in the premise that so much is wrong and needs change diverts the attention from what is going so right. By building on all the good that is taking place, I believe we’ll conquer what is wrong.
Below are some of the many organizations that are doing great things in our world right here in Texas. Check them out and maybe even be a part of making a difference.
Community First Village
Community First Village is a 27-acre master planned community that provides affordable, permanent housing and a supportive community for the disabled, chronically homeless in Central Texas. A development of Mobile Loaves & Fishes, this transformative residential program exists to love and serve our neighbors who have been living on the streets, while also empowering the surrounding community into a lifestyle of service with the homeless.
Cancer Concierge Center
Concierge Cancer Center was created to provide a haven and a host of services for individuals that have just learned they have cancer.
Hope Stone
Hope Stone’s mission is to unlock the innate creativity of young people and adults through our arts outreach programs. They are dedicated to nurturing the creative side of communities through the positive, empowering experience of the expressive arts including the Hope Project, an arts outreach program that reaches children and adults in schools and community centers, serving students 2-18, the elderly, homeless youth, veterans, and physically and intellectually disabled youth.
Greyhound Adoption League of Texas,
GALT assists all greyhounds, primarily those that are retired from or affiliated with the racing industry; Facilitate placing greyhounds in loving, responsible, forever homes; Educate the public about the desirability of adopting greyhounds as companions and family pets in the home.
Good stuff!