"Fulfilling their dreams" -- by Elaine Thomas

My son, Seth, is graduating from New York University this week. Never mind that he was on the five-year plan at one of the most expensive universities in the country or that he decided early on in his college career that he just wasn’t a good student (never mind that he was in the top 10 of his high school class) - hence the five years. He’s graduating, and the long trail of tears is about to end. As a high school senior, he did not apply to any other college. He has dreams of being on Broadway, and where better for him to study than in the Big Apple at one of the finest acting schools in the country?

My daughter also went to a college with Ivy League tuition, even though it wasn’t an Ivy League university. She received a well-rounded liberal arts education, which is exactly what she wanted. I decided early on that my job as a parent is to give my children every opportunity to pursue their highest dreams and aspirations, at least until they reached adulthood and launched on their own. Sending them to a school that would give them the best training and opportunity to pursue those dreams is part of that parental responsibility. So we’ve made the sacrifices we needed to make, and now both children will put to best use what they’ve learned.

On the other side of the globe, an earthquake buried a high school in the Sichuan province of China. Hundreds of young people are dead or injured and thousands more in the region are dead. In Myanmar, thousands more children have perished in the destructive force of Cyclone Nargis and many thousands more are homeless.

Who will provide for the dreams and aspirations of these children? What future does life hold for them? In both regions, it could well be years before a daily meal is assured or a roof over the head is routine. The countries in which these areas are located are not entirely welcoming of outside assistance, but there are organizations that are helping. Episcopal Relief and Development does marvelous work by developing partnerships with those on the ground to get help to those in need in some cases more quickly and effectively than government organizations. Through the efforts of all of us, relief will ultimately help with the worst of the devastation and we will eventually begin to see rebuilding efforts come to fruition.

But there will be no university for most if not all of these kids. There may not even be a full course of primary education, Goal #2 of the Millennium Development Goals. And without that, they will be left vulnerable to the worst effects of future natural and man-made disasters. As we bear witness to the devastation in those far flung places on earth, let us dedicate ourselves to pursue with renewed vigor the work of fulfilling the MDGs. It is the best hope for the young people of the world.

As for Seth, maybe someday you’ll see him on stage. Or maybe he’ll end up teaching high school English and doing community theater. Either way, he has been given the best opportunity for success that we can give. The children of Rangoon and Chengdu are equally worthy of our best efforts to fulfill their dreams. “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs (Mark 10:14).”

Elaine Thomas is a member of St. James in Lancaster, PA where she is a member of the Peace and Justice and Stewardship Committees. She is also the EGR and ERD Coordinator for the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania. Elaine works for Episcopal Community Services in Philadelphia, a social service agency whose mission is to help individuals and families with multiple needs overcome the impact of poverty.