Why Build a Fence..?

This Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday were Mighty Oak’s Fall break. I have talked in the past about how important it is to rest, to enter into a Sabbath and allow yourself to recuperate mentally, physically, and emotionally during these breaks. For our students that is what the break was, but a few of us spent time building a fence, buffing floors, and cleaning sidewalks. Why spend time doing these things? Why work on these improvements, instead of resting; these projects that, if they had not been done, would not have been noticeable amidst the boarded up buildings and precarious houses that are all throughout our neighborhood? Because these projects are just as important. We see that importance if we look back through history.

There were many powerful empires throughout history, Babylon, Assyria, and Persia were some of the dominant empires seen throughout the Old Testament of the Bible. These empires conquered the land and people of Israel, inheriting both as they would jostle for power. When Persia conquered the land, they allowed people to return to their homelands and worship their own beliefs in order to drum up loyalty. Nehemiah was an Israelite who worked for the Persian King at the time when Persia rose to power and Israelites began to return back to the land of Israel. In the book of Nehemiah, we are told that he heard reports of the state of Jerusalem’s walls. Damaged with broken and missing gates, the Isralites were “ashamed” of their walls, of the place that they lived. The very thing that was supposed to serve them, to keep them safe, protect them, became a great source of shame for them. So, Nehemiah was able to return to Jerusalem and orchestrate an effort to enhance the walls and bring back the pride that they were intended to create. Nehemiah knew that God wanted the best for his people, and that they deserved the best.

We believe the same, our students, all of the children and families of our community deserve to have the best. They deserve to be able to look around and be proud of the things in their community, of the history of our community. Sometimes, when volunteer groups come they do not understand the differences and impact that the area beautification projects create. They get caught up in the labor. One group we recently had was beginning to get discouraged as we worked hard to clean up an old brick sidewalk that had begun to get overgrown. The sidewalk is right next to the recess area of Mighty Oak. The unfamiliar group of people attracted the attention of our Kindergarten and First Graders. They ran over to the fence, and called over, “Mr. Ethan, what are you all doing?” I told them we were making the sidewalk look beautiful again because that is what they deserved. The young Kindergarten girl dropped her mouth in shock, looked at the volunteers, and said, “You all would do that for me?”

That is why we spend time building fences, why we clean sidewalks and buff floors. Our students deserve it, this community deserves it. The walls of this community have been beaten and battered over the course of its history. But we, like Nehemiah, know that is not where the story ends. Where some hung their heads in shame, Nehemiah saw potential for restoration. And we will continue to strive to steward what we have been given well, bringing restoration and beauty that our students and community deserve.

Ethan

Lady Lions HOME Game Monday @ 4:30!!!

Our Lady Lion’s Volleyball team takes on MAVA in their first Home game ever. It will be played in the Mackin Gym next Monday 9/25 at 4:30 PM.

Fish Fry SPECIAL Today 11am-7pm!!!

Come try out some hickory-smoked Baby Back Ribs, here for a limited time. Get a Half Rack for $7

Donate Today!

If you are interested in volunteering or to find out more information about supplies needed please email: info@lovecityinc.org or call (502) 272-078.