Poverty Pierces the Soul

For my final post on poverty, at least for this class, I decided I would try and sum up a lot of what has been said and learned over the past three weeks. I have realized more then anything else that I am so lucky to live the life that I do and to live in the country that I live in. I was blessed into a good family, in a good country, and I have so much more then I could ever imagine. I never truly struggle with having food to eat or a pillow to lay my head on. That has never been an issue. However, far too often I have allowed it to remain just that way. That to acknowledge the world around me that is hurting, that is hungry, that is cold, to acknowledge that would be to acknowledge the many ways in which I choose to be consumed with myself. I think that when we truly begin to see the pain and hurt in the world around us, it becomes harder and harder to sit by and do nothing. Writing this blog has challenged me to try and see beyond myself. And not just that. It has also made me realize that there really has to be something greater out there. Because if this is all we have it really is pretty awful. I whole heartedly believe in a God who has a plan of redemption. And in the midst of seeing hurt and pain and death, I must believe in the redemption that He brings. Because if there is no redemption and if there is no healing at a later day, then what would be the point of living? Many of these people have never known the world that we live in so they do not know what they are missing. But they do know the feeling of hunger so great you will likely die, and diseases so severe you cannot move. They know what that is and yet they choose to go on living and fighting for all this life has to give them. Whatever little they have. So much of me wants to sit down and ask why. But until I have that opportunity I will continue to do what I can and fight in the areas in which I can fight.