January 2010

 Building Bridges

 The recent closing of the bridge connecting New York and Vermont over Lake Champlain and the many news stories about the hardships this has caused has made me think about how NCM in many ways is a bridge. I have often wondered while trying to help someone find ways to deal with their challenges, “What would happen if NCM weren’t there?”

Most of the coverage about the bridge stressed the distances people would have to travel and it reminds me how NCM makes many services available locally. It is a place nearby where people can share their story, get helpful information or direct services. Often we become the bridge to another agency or program.

Sometimes, by taking the time to listen effectively, we are able to help people sort out their complicated life and gradually build a bridge to a better life. I often find that, deep down, people know what they have to do but need support and encouragement to change or reach a new way of living. I’m reminded of several instances where people didn’t understand how a debit card works and faced hundreds of dollars in penalties from the bank. We were their advocates with the bank, helped them recover and organize their finances.

There are many people who don’t like to be dependent on others, who hate to ask for help. Often these people come to us as a last resort. In the worst cases they are facing eviction, or have sold their car or their tools. They may live without a phone or be putting their family at risk with an unsafe heating system. Their lives have become very complicated and without hope. There are usually multiple challenges for which they’ve tried to find solutions but failed.

Our challenge is to try to help them see possibilities, to give them hope. We are usually able to connect them to some short term solutions and hopefully find new ways to cope in the long term.

For many people in these rural areas we are a convenient local bridge of hope.

Much thanks to all those who helped build and maintain this bridge of hope to the people of this region.

I hope you experience the best of family times for Thanksgiving, Christmas and in the New Year.

God bless,

Brother Jim