"Love God & Neighbor" -- Jesus |
But I get stopped when I try to understand the complexities of economics, politics, and relationships. I can see easily the inequities and problematic patterns of poverty , yet it's easy to justify my own inaction with relationships like family needs, politics that tap my self-interest, or fearing doing more harm than good in challenging economic realities.
So the question is this, "Is poverty a non-issue?" Because... it's not my fault...it's not my job...it's too big... or we've loved one-another so well that it's gone.
I would like to be able to give the "it's gone" answer, but that's not possible yet. I'd like to say I never answer in any of the other ways, but that wouldn't be completely truthful. Yet I would still like to work toward solving the poverty puzzle. That's why I jump start my action with faith and Circles, a cool national poverty initiative, supported by my church, that works to help people move from poverty to self-sustaining life; it makes aims to give everyone enough money, friends, and meaning in their lives.
That's why my wife and I work at living generously. Like the strangers who have received lunch from my spouse. Like, the tenth of our income that we plan to give away every year, as a minimum. So even when I fall short, I'm aware, growing, and, I hope, making a difference in my soul and for others.
How do you deal with poverty?
Thanks Dave, for the reminder that poverty IS a REAL ISSUE.
ReplyDeleteI can begin by acknowledging that I'm poor in some ways, and rich in others. Then I can move to being more open to receiving the gifts of others, and more available to being a gift for others as well...Circles has helped me on that journey.