FROM THE EDITOR

“Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord…”

—Proverbs 20:23a, EVS

Recently I had the thrill of watching a trapeze artist walk a high wire from one side of a circus tent to the other. She held a long beam in her hands that offered stability and helped maintain the delicate balance so critical to her safety and success. She was part of a group act, but in that moment, she was on her own, with no net to break a potential fall.

Her solo performance seemed to last forever. I thought, will she hold steady? I would have loved to know what was going through her mind. When the young woman finally reached the other side, exuberant music played, colorful lights flashed, the crowd roared, and I breathed again.

In every aspect of our lives, balance is key, from managing our personal finances to cultivating our relationships with family, friends, and colleagues; from sustaining the ecosystem to supporting a global economy. Seeking balance when it comes to equity, justice, and harmony is important to us and to God.

Today, we are experiencing an economic imbalance in society unlike anything in recent years. So, in this issue of SAconnects, we’ve focused on what The Salvation Army is doing to help address income inequality in “Gleaning and Giving.”

Other stories explore how a food pantry in Pittsburgh, Pa., is addressing a community’s lack of healthy food choices; one man’s perspective on how we look at people who are incarcerated and diagnosed as mentally ill; and how a group of students on a college campus in Kentucky are balancing their pursuit of academic rigor with their need for spiritual renewal.

When we see someone attempt the difficult balancing act of providing for their families—taking each step carefully like the trapeze artist above—we feel compassion, sympathy, and empathy. We understand what it’s like and watch with bated breath.

If you feel today as if you’re walking a high wire through life without a net, read the stories inside for hope and strength and know that God’s got you.

— WARREN L. MAYE, Editor in Chief