"Highlighting the Needy" is a very scary by-line - every news item seems to highlight more troubles - people short of food, homeless, carers needing support, the elderly and disabled needing help, children "in care", special needs education overlooked, the worldwide pandemic running amok, racial inequalities, ecological disaster …. and reporters looking anywhere for stories to capture attention - watch the TV and make your own list!

Even the mega-rich seem needy - the more they have the more they want, like alcoholics already drunk but wanting more. Perhaps these people are truly needy, not for money or material things, but for a spiritual direction, emotional support, maybe increased taxation.

Christian messages often start by praising the Lord and thanking him for forgiving past sins - then looking forward to heaven in the future. What about today? My own prayers are usually answered... a voice just tells me "The Lord gave you arms, legs and a brain; what are you going to do to make a difference?" Not reassuring, but a direct and clear answer.

So questions about "The Needy" divide into those we can do something about and those that are beyond our reach. Should we do something, start something, join something, donate something, sit on our hands or just wring our hands. We have choices.

Feeding the hungry is straightforward, immediate and real. But even then there is more to it. Mike was an early Food Bank volunteer in 2013. He had run a guest house, up North, from which he supported people needing help - much as happens in at least one guest house in Exmouth today. In the foodbank he provided a client with food, and then sat down with him chatting for about 40 minutes. As the client left the hall he called out "thank you" and closed the door. But then the client came back in again to say "…and thank you for the food as well". This experience highlighted that people needing food also need to be treated as people; on this occasion it was as important to be listened to and treated as a normal person as to collect food.

Homeless people are in the news, or people in danger of losing homes as rents become unaffordable or landlords restive. This problem is exacerbated by the pandemic and now by many wishing to migrate to the West Country and pushing up prices; but homelessness is not new. In East Devon we have reason to appreciate the EDDC staff helping the homeless, that does not solve the problem - but it does alleviate the symptoms.

Mental Health is also under strain - also exacerbated by the pandemic, and was already in overload beforehand. Poor mental health makes individuals vulnerable; vulnerable people are prey to drugs and alcohol which appear to offer short term relief, but in reality create longer term problems.

We need a revolution in funding and caring to eliminate these problems - just as we need vaccines to alleviate the pandemic. It is not a major revolution that is needed, but drip, drip, drip into the ears of elected politicians. Democracy generates governance to suit the majority; revolutions create dictatorships with corrupt leaders. Supporting the needy requires the majority to support disadvantaged minorities. This is not just Christian, many other faiths and cultures think the same way.

So we should start something, join something, donate something, sit on our hands, wring our hands, or just watch it all float by!