charity begins in the hometown

Charity begins in the hometown

By Joe Renna

ACommunity thrives on the goodwill of its businesses and its people. The resources that are derived from an environment must be replenished. It is nature's way. The ecology of society is a delicate balance between the benefits that are obtained and the return of resources that are needed to sustain it.

The resources a community needs, more than any other, are virtues. The rest are superficial. Location is just a stage where lives are played out. The essence of those lives is a constant. Though the rain forest of Costa Rica is extremely different than urban America, the needs of the people are similar. Not the physical needs. Those are relevant to the environment and can actually differ from one neighborhood to the next. Every degree of socioeconomic change redefines the material needs of a community. It's the emotional well-being of the individuals in that setting that should be of concern.

Suffering is a symptom of a sick society. In most cases, there are enough resources to provide for everyone in a designated locality. Put aside the global implications of these ideas for a moment and apply them locally. Think of your family. Think of your neighbors, people you know or may not know. Can anyone stand to see anyone of them suffer? The answer is sometimes disturbing.
With prosperity comes independence. Relationships become less important. Self reliance replaces social interaction. The upwardly mobile in our culture have little use for community. They are callous to the needs of others since they feel they are without need. These egocentrics believe they are immune to suffering. They may be able to afford every possible amenity, but they are bankrupt spiritually. Eventually the consequence of their disposition will be revealed in some type of dysfunction. They say "charity begins at home" but that is a crutch to support a selfish lifestyle.

You don't have to look too hard to find people in need. It is true that it is part of life. There are haves and have-nots. There are hardships out there that are unfathomable. Natural disasters or just random inflictions can cause pain to people on many levels. It is the responsibility of the community to console that individual. The community of Peterstown wholeheartedly embraces this belief. It can be seen in practice at every turn.

The attitude exhibited in Peterstown is oddly labeled "old school". Is it an old world idea to care for the elderly, to help the sick and encourage sharing? It is easily explained away as being a product of a needy people going through similar hardships. If that were the case then who could explain the phenomenon that is happening in Peterstown, where the good of all comes before self comfort.

In Peterstown, charity does begin at home. That home includes everyone. When a life can be touched, residents of Peterstown will reach out. Whether it's a next door neighbor or a homeless child back in the old country thousands of miles away