I was in class yesterday afternoon where we started talking about the economic situation in the United States. There were 3 of us in the dialogue: 1 from the US (me), 1 from Peru and 1 from Indonesia. Their perspective on the situation was really eye-opening for me. "This crisis for Americans is the way I've lived my entire life. So what's the big deal?"
I sat with that statement for quite some time, especially in light of the fact that my husband, the founder and director of a non-profit social service agency is really feeling the cuts being made everywhere. As people lose jobs and banks stop lending, social service agencies are among the first to be pushed out. As the rich realize that they'll be short a million or two, there's yet another child going without food, yet another family forced to live on the street, yet another teen caught in the trap of street to jail.
Is bill paying the worst that can happen? No. Is losing a job the worst that can happen? No. Worst than the current economic situation we face is the blighted condition of our faith. At risk is not the financial situation of the world. At risk is our souls. Placated for far too long on the fat of injustice and social ills, our souls have become wastelands -- toxic.
For my part I can no longer focus on my IRA, lack of savings, pay freeze or overdue mortgage. I must refocus on God and what God has asked me to do. Now is the time to witness my faith. Now is the time for us to join one to another and "devot[e] [ourselves] to the teaching of the apostles and to communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers." Acts 2:42
It's true, all this may not seem like a "big deal" to someone from a culture where poverty is the usual state of affairs. But to those who have never known such a state of affairs, it IS a big deal. It means learning to live in a whole new way.
ReplyDeleteSmall example: visiting my daughter in Honduras some years ago in a very hot and dry period, I felt one afternoon that I'd kill for a cold soft drink. If I had been there for weeks instead of days, I would not have felt that way. I'd have gotten used to not having that want satisfied.
I was surprised at my own blindness and the assumptions I made. I am grateful to him for the courage to speak out and help set me free from my own prejudice.
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