Turning on the news and hearing concerns that there is a 1 in 10 chance AI and computers could destroy the world in the next 10 years feels like stepping into a sci-fi movie. Compound this with news of war, children being killed by it, the rise of climate-related disasters, the cost of living and increased poverty, and the future can feel very bleak. What makes this feel even darker is the realization that, intended or not, each of these things is a product of someone’s work. It is easy to think of “work” as something we just have to do to make money to pay the bills – but in reality, our work creates the culture, community, and world we live in.

Recently, the City of Wheeling announced the creation of a “Homeless Task Force” and, more recently, announced that Rabbi Joshua Lief would serve as chair of the committee and as one of several faith leaders. This is a very helpful lens to bring to conversations about homelessness for many reasons, especially when the stigma of being “homeless” often comes with being dehumanized for lacking one main material thing – money. But it is not money that gives human life value – or at least it shouldn’t. 

There are two notable references to the mustard seed in New Testament scripture that feel relevant to this Street paper and the world right now. One passage, which uses a metaphor for Heaven (Matthew 13:31-32), describes a farmer who plants the smallest of seeds, and yet it grows into a big tree that holds all the birds of the air. The other reference states that faith, even the size of a mustard seed, can move mountains and accomplish the seemingly impossible.

I have found…that seeds of faith need two things: to be planted, and time to grow. This has been the story with Mustard Seed Mountain street newspaper.