[Superman]

I was walking to the store during a visit to my mother recently and noticed a shoebox-sized house with a GIANT flat-screen TV. Now, perhaps my thinking is effectively similar to many of you, but in my mind it doesn't take the form of criticism so much as it takes the form of wondering why. In my mind, for some people, this lifestyle might make sense. Let's say some single guy was a Sheet Metal Worker whose work days are never less than 10 hours and usually six days per week. Outside work, his home life would be preparing for sleep or getting dressed, with Sundays for serious REST. Tiny house. Big TV. Makes sense.

Now, I know that's not what you found. You found a "needy" family. And now you wonder what they really "need." Last night I watched Pursuit of Happyness with Will Smith. I had seen it before. Unusual, inspirational story of a man with superhuman tenacity, finally getting the break he needed. I kept thinking "now THAT'S the kind of guy I want to hire."

You're thinking this family needs something other than a handout. I'd agree. And maybe simple job training would not be enough. I can't help thinking that some folks fail to climb out of their hole because they don't see a connection between things like frugality and hard work.....and success. Much has been said in criticism of the "hope" message we've heard lately, but I honestly think that some people have hope (a real expectation, a clear vision, of success) and others simply do not make that connection. They're not so much lazy as they have simply lost hope. They have given up. They lack tenacity because they lack proof, or a belief, in the connection between effort and success.