A new week is here and with that, a new schedule for Lubbock Impact’s programs! Change is usually easy for me because I tend to like life to be flexible and fluid. The last month of changes and challenges, however, have honestly been very tough. As we have been prepping for and implementing the move of the Lubbock Impact offices to the program side of the building, many challenges have been presented at every turn. The movement and additions to all the IT, cabling, fire alarms, security systems and so on has presented many unexpected problems and new hoops to jump through.
As we have worked through each of these bumps in the road and asked the necessary questions, it has reminded me multiple times how it must feel for the participants we walk alongside. Daily there are challenges that are unexpected and that require multiple steps that are out of their control. It requires asking for help and hoping someone has time to listen and then provide assistance or a solution.
We have a participant that has been in a very challenging situation, having her home condemned and being forced to move. She has been a regular participant off and on but has leaned in to ask for help to navigate how to get necessities like housing, a job, food and clothes. We were able to take each piece and help her get the resources that would help. She secured a job and was living in her truck until she finally got into housing after her first paycheck. To make the most of her first paychecks from this new job, she utilized Lubbock Impact’s resources, shopping at the pantry for food and hygiene, the clothing closet for clothes for work and coming to Community Meal. Though all the stress and life changes took a toll on her health and led to some setbacks along the way, I’m thankful we have been able to stand in the gap with her to figure out all the next steps to getting her life back on track. Her recent circumstances are an example of how one unexpected event with no financial backup can lead to a multi layered effect on someone walking through poverty. She is continuing to move forward with a new lens of hope.
The Lubbock Impact office move does not compare to the participant’s journey, but they both have one common theme: people rallying around you in your time of need. What we are walking through may be new, overwhelming and challenging but when people come alongside us to encourage and help us figure out the next steps the burden doesn’t seem so heavy. Most importantly, confidently remember Psalm 68:19 “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” My prayer is that as we walk alongside each other every week that we are helping bear the burdens of those we are called to serve. It sure makes life easier!
Blessings,
Becky Robertson
Executive Director