Is our society whacko or what? Why do ball player's people make so much money, and people who care for our kids make so little?

The salaries of today's baseball, football, basketball, hockey players are out-of-this world, aren't they? Millions and millions of dollars per year.

Hey, I hope everyone makes as much money as possible so this is not about the have's and the have-not's. I think society is whacko -- because of what we value.

What do we value? Only what we are willing to pay for. It is as simple and as complicated as this: Do we value baseball more than the health and welfare of our children?

If you think our kids are in great shape, no problem there, then let me invite you to your local organization (yes, there is one where you live) that helps kids and families who cannot help themselves.

I just visited the Judson Center, with a powerful, noble mission -- "to help children and adults reach their fullest potential." They "provide permanent solutions for children from abused backgrounds, families in crisis, and persons with developmental disabilities."

Hey, I don't know about you but I think Judson's mission is better than 10 seconds of baseball, football, basketball, or hockey. How much do you think someone who works for an organization like Judson Center -- someone who is changing lives for the better, changing our world one person at a time -- makes per hour?

Would you believe $8-12? You can imagine the rate of employee turnover. I want to be clear, this is not just a Judson Center issue, it is an issue for each and every organization that is trying to make a difference with kids and families.

Somehow we need to change our priorities. Somehow we must learn to place a value on work that nurtures children and families. Maybe we need a world series for neighborhoods, an all-star game for case workers, a championship for abused kids. When we re-align our whacko values -- our neighborhoods will be the winners.

What if each ball player adopted and financially supported an organization like the Judson Center? What if stadium owners did the same thing? What if each lonely person became a friend to a traumatized child? What if each retired senior citizen mentored an abused teen? What if each and everyone of us financially supported a local agency, not just at Christmas but all year long?

As a society, we will stay stuck in patterns of abuse and neglect, as long as we continue to place our values elsewhere. Isn't it time to end this vicious pattern?

I wish I was a ball-player -- but I am not, and you are probably not either. So let's do the best we can to make a difference, right here, right now.

Visit your local organization and find out how you can help -- it's what life is all about.

© Becki Balok, May 24, 2000