These helpings, that come from a variety of different people, may seem small, but they are not. They, like the nail in the proverb, are crucial. For want of them, a concatenation of calamities may cascade down upon us, ending our ability to effectively minister to and aid others. Yes, we try as much as possible to be entirely self sufficient, but as yet, that cannot be.
An aid then, even of something seemingly of no more significance than a nail, can make a big difference.
For instance, we paid the taxes on one of the sober living homes today. One down, one to go. This payment was courtesy of Josh Klingman! (That's Josh Klingman of Custom Vision Painting, where those in the know go for ALL their painting needs!) That's half a weight off of us, as September 1st is rapidly coming up and the tax collector waits on no man!
Is that a nail - or more like that whole horse! - that "saves the Kingdom"? Well, yes and no. It is true that had it not took place, that we'd have clearly been pursuing a variety of other options. It is doubtful that we'd have faced utter collapse. But in sparing us that particular calamity at once, it ripples out and allows us to use the effort that we'd have used on that crisis to avert other potential crises instead.
See, we've been undergoing a financial hit, as this is the second Friday in which we've two beds empty. Anyone knowing of a person who is in need of a sober living home should call us at once!
However, it would have been far worse, save for Brian Davis. (That's Brian Davis of Davis Cleaners, where those in the know go for ALL their dry cleaning needs!) Brian did electrical work in the basement earlier this year that let us accommodate two more guests, so instead of the financial hit being two down out of four, it's two down out of six!
Shout out to - well, she hates being mentioned, mores the pity. But she aided a while back in a non-glamorous way. Everyone likes to see their help do this or that specific thing, something that you can point to later and say, "See, that was me!" Or, well, at least I like being able to show them something like that!
But this lady heard of a debt we had that needed paying and gave us the funds to take care of that. Non-glamorous, but crucial. Not only did the debt need paying, but this means that any future windfall can go to more "glamorous" things, and so we're one step closer to other goals! She's also busily seen to it this summer that we had a breathalyzer and a lawn mower and a window A/C, three disparate items that nonetheless have each helped!
Speaking of help, (names redacted, I'm sensing they'd rather I not mention it again!). Oh, I gave them a shout out before, but their fixing of the car has made a world of difference. Not to mention their keeping the van going longer! As the French philosopher Bastiat once said, "there is what is seen, and what is not seen".
What was seen was the fixing of one car. What was not seen, though the effect was as large as any consequences Bastiat ever described, was the blind lady who got to her doctor's appointment, the sober living home guest who got to work on time, the single mother and her kids who got moved in a timely fashion, a man who needed a ride to a possible job, and a man who needed a ride to a hospital.
And while this is a still in progress help, there's the Springfield First Seventh-day Adventist church! They're graciously letting us participate in their upcoming food distribution project, so we can aid in reaching many who could use a supplemental bag of groceries during tough times. That's proceeding at measured pace, and as soon as a pantry is built, the application will be moving forward!
Now, all this does not mean that more nails aren't needed! It's a non-profit, and as my wife and I are fond of telling each other, "We put the 'non' in 'non-profit'!" There are the property taxes on the main sober living home, the 501(c)3 application fee and a project involving tuck pointing the foundation of one house, preliminary to painting both houses. Not to mention four windows and some more gutters - yes, one house down, gutter-wise, one house still to go!
For the immediacy of the moment it's about the property taxes, though. $886 due September 1st, we're obviously busy trying to throw money at that, and will be doing so for the rest of this month. Had we six beds filled - which we hope to have happen soon - then things would be fairly okay. As it is, any boost would aid for the moment.
Thanks!
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