Many retirees—even if admitting only to slowing down to a lower gear—have a difficult time finding rocking chairs that fit.
Some don’t even try. Count me in that group, with entry into my 89th year now but weeks away.
A credo for many is choosing to “wear out” instead of “rust out,” and a sliver of potential retirees insists on the continuance of productivity and a commitment as fulfillment of their biblical obedience to feed the hungry.
One such man is Joshua Potter, an educator who spent 30 years in a teaching and coaching career in Texas high schools.
He’s now involved in the mortgage loan field, but a growing passion is sharing a simple concept about feeding the hungry.
Feeding the hungry body
Josh and Karla, his wife of 36 years and also a retired teacher, have developed a food giveaway method they hope will be duplicated throughout Texas and perhaps beyond. They’re distributing “hungry bags,” kept in their vehicles at all times. Recipients typically are homeless people, hoisting “will-work-for-food” signs at intersections.
“Our ‘Hungry Bag’ initiative is not for everyone,” Josh explains. “An easy ‘out’ is to think these folks to be beggars seeking money for alcohol and/or drugs, and a few likely are. But a high percentage are indeed hungry.”
He went on to say he and Karla have seen hundreds of hungry students wherever they’ve taught across the years—Kemp, Brenham, Angleton, Jacksboro, New Caney and Van—somber evidence the poor are with us always.
Since late last year, the Potters, children Seth and Sarah and their mates, as well as four grandchildren, fill “hungry bags,” a family ministry of food for both body and soul.
Feeding the hungry soul
Their intent is to raise awareness of drastically increasing food deprivation. “How could it be any simpler than handing these folks a brown paper bag that includes Scriptures stapled to the top?”
One reads: “This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him” (Psalm 34:6-8).
Inside the bags are small Bibles, a 60-second meal called “Hormel Compleats” and bottled water. The project has been endorsed by fellow worshipers at Van First Baptist Church.
“I’m hoping and praying that retired educators will share this idea with their churches and begin in earnest,” Potter said.
He emphasizes common sense must prevail, and some people may not feel comfortable rolling down their windows to hand out the bags. He mentioned one alternative is to leave bags at vacant intersections. “They will be picked up,” he assured.
Who knows? Maybe entire congregations will see fit to help feed the hungry in this manner. One thing is for sure: They’ll always be with us.
That Josh has focused on this project is no surprise. I knew him and his brother, Jason—also an alumnus of Howard Payne University—during my tenure there as president.
Both “bootstrap pullers,” they were reared during most of their public school years in Cisco by an aunt and uncle. Both were outstanding student athletes, as they were later at HPU. Josh is the kind of Christian leader whose influence meant much to parents whose children were entrusted to his tutelage.
Teaching life first
Josh taught life first, ahead of subject content and football. I could not admire him more.
“Hungry Bags” could be filled and distributed by the tens of thousands, not only by retired educators, but also by others still in the work force. Maybe you should participate, and/or pass the idea along. The field is white already unto harvest.
Don Newbury, retired president of Howard Payne University, writes weekly and speaks regularly. This article is adapted from his regular column, ‘The Idle American.’ Newbury can be contacted via email: newbury@speakerdoc.com; phone: (817) 447-3872; Twitter: @donnewbury and Facebook: Don Newbury. The views expressed in this opinion article are those of the author. Published by permission.
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