Blog

Gotta keep it real, brother. Didn't like that one. At all.

Grace and Peace.

Well don't hit and run. Tell me why.

Sorry bro. “Hit and run” is kind of my MO nowadays.

OK. Think of it like this: “Starving children don't need us as much as we need them, because they reveal something to us…”

See my problem?

I truly get what you are saying. The poor do have it worse in some ways and they do need us. But what I think Mike (and Rich) are trying to say is that in some ways those who have wealth have a much different kind of poverty.

Much of the original conversation was Mike exploring what it meant to be in touch with the poor. He was reminded that our travels over their ARE selfishly altruistic. And when we go over there we think we're doing it for them and in the end we're not. Sometimes the poor are serving us by reminding us that wealth is not what it is cracked up to be. It's a different kind of oppression.

I hear that. Still don't like it. I guess when I hear “poor,” I tend to think of those who, try as they might, can't feed their kids every day. And if I start to think about how they might be a benefit to me, as I throw away my leftovers, by revealing to me my own spiritual brokenness, well, then, I might just puke my guts out.

That might be just me, though.

Peace.

Here’s what I like, though. When Jesus says “give to everyone who begs from you” he doesn’t mean “if you think it will really help them.” It’s not about that. It’s about cultivating a posture of compassion and generosity toward those who are struggling–and ultimately thinking less about yourself. So the whole business of not giving to the poor because they won’t spend the money wisely is missing the point entirely. And I think that’s right. In an odd way, making it about me helps make it about them.