Keys.
I have a key for my desk, my office, my home, my car, my suitcase, my post office box, and even for the lockbox in my home.
There are locks on my windows and the gate on my backyard fence. I lock my car doors. Always.
No, I’m not a fearful person. It’s just the way I live…and I expect you live as well.
You may even have an alarm system for your house or car. The security and safety industry in the US is booming! If current trends continue, the home security industry is expected to grow to $34.46 billion by 2017 … in America alone!!
If you feel safe as you read this post (as I do writing it), consider that to be an enormous blessing! Until recently, I never really thought about the security I receive in my community, state and nation. I just took law enforcement and criminal justice systems for granted… even as an expected right of citizenship.
I now recognize the gift. The feeling of safety creates a relaxed home and a healthy community. Contentment. The ability to learn, to grow, and to earn a living flourishes.
What if…
What if someone told you that you were no longer safe? Isn’t that the premise of nearly all movie scripts and novels? Most of us would call those plots nightmares if we had to live them!
What if unchecked violence happened every day on your street…
What if you had no locks on your doors…
What if a 911 call brought corrupt police and further victimization…
What would you do??
Sadly, this is the reality that four billion people live every single day. I recently became aware of this crisis among the global poor when reading The Locust Effect. They too are just trying to earn a living and raise a family but are vulnerable to assaults, abuse, and enslavement because their community lacks functioning justice systems. Hope is lost.
I am deeply burdened by this victimization of the least of these who are among us.
My little part in this fight against global poverty is to use my voice. This week is an important week for the book, The Locust Effect. It’s launch week. I really want to encourage you to read this book…and then encourage you to encourage others to read the book. As it rises in the best-seller lists, the message of Gary Haugen and the International Justice Mission will grow!
WARNING: it’s not an easy read. The Locust Effect includes heart-wrenching, true stories of lives shattered by violence. Statistics and global reports also fill the pages. But stories and stats of hope also spotlight glimmers of hope that change can happen!
There is nothing more precious than hearing “you are safe.” Let’s increase these words around the globe!
Your Turn
1 – Get the book! You can buy The Locust Effect at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
2 – Read and learn about the issue of violence against the poor. Not only does it undermine other development efforts of health, education, and housing, but it violates the very core of human rights.
3 – Use your voice and social media connections to spread the word about The Locust Effect book. Share this post on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest to encourage awareness AND book sales.
4 – FREE book giveaway!! Leave a comment below about this post and your name will be entered in a random drawing for a free copy of The Locust Effect! Drawing to occur in mid-February.
Posted by Sharon R Hoover
Photo Credit: fstoaldo via photopin cc
