Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Wednesday February 24, 2010

Over the course of my adult life I have participated in life to somewhere near the max. I honestly believe that Jesus meant it when He said "I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly." By living to the max, I do NOT mean a party life, but a life of overcoming challenges, of climbing or attempting to climb the highest mountain. At least figuratively. I have never seen the value of climbing a mountain simply because it's there.

A note from a longtime friend whom I met when we both were under humiliating circumstances set me to thinking about a group of people who face a very high mountain with steep, slippery slopes. And the deck is stacked against them.

In his note to me he reminded me of an article I had written several years ago on the ineptness of a "Charity" with the high sounding name, "Volunteers of America." In my opinion this group causes the "Acorn" group to look like rank amateurs. I referenced the group primarily on their supposed "help" to prisoners attempting to make entry back into civilized society.

My friend who is a successful businessman who had an unfortunate experience with the federal government, but managed through family and friends to keep his business during a time of imprisonment has given much help to other less fortunate prisoners to get reestablished in outside life. His remark concerning the article reaffirmed my opinion as Jerry had tried to help via the aforementioned "Charity."

"Your article reminded me that most of the prison programs are profitable for about everyone except the prisoners.

The truth be known, helping men and women coming out of prison to assimilate into regular society is a tough nut to crack for several reasons. One major hindrance is the high failure rate experienced by sincere businessmen who have had bad to very bad experience with programs and people involved in helping attempts.

Most of you reading this will think, "What on earth can I glean from this piece by Lilly?"

Nothing and everything. Each of us can and must learn that the more we profess faith the higher the bar concerning integrity. If I am giving a man or woman a chance, I still owe them a relationship with a high level of integrity. If I am receiving a hand up, I owe the giver an even higher level of integrity. Until integrity is on the table from both parties, not much is going to be accomplished.

A lack of integrity is the missing ingredient in American life. Tis a shame indeed.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2010 Use with credit

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