“I recall one of our brothers describing a long prayer walk he took on the mountain paths surrounding our Little Portion Hermitage. The brother asked God, ‘Why do you allow poverty?’ After a long silence, God answered the brother with a still, small voice that shook his soul: ‘Why do you allow poverty?’”
– John M. Talbot, The Lessons of St. Francis
Every time I start this story I can’t even get through it without tear-filled eyes. My eyes begin to water and I look up trying to keep them from spilling down my face. Then, my eyes close and I feel in my soul God asking me that same question: “Why do you allow poverty?” At the same time my heart starts swelling and I feel my soul shaking.
I honestly do not know how to answer Father’s question. I don’t even know where to begin on this call to “make poverty history.” Even though Jesus said the poor will be with us always. Where do I begin? What do I do? Tithing has been weighing heavy on my heart and I have read several articles and listened to many podcasts concerning this issue. Right now I have come to the realization that the organized church in America has been stealing. By stealing I mean they have taken that which is not rightfully theirs. In new testament - all that we have belongs to God. Are we not put in charge of where these things should go? Will we not be held responsible for what we have done with the things we have been given. “God the great Almsgiver will regard it as a theft on my part, if I do not give what I have to someone who needs it.” – Francis
God wants all things good for us...this does not mean money. Over and over Jesus condemns money. So many times we say we have been blessed because of a situation where we receive money. Whether it be from a raise at work, a relative that left an inheritance or just because we have nice things, houses, clothes, vehicles. After coming back from Africa and sharing the things that I had seen so many people said to me, “It really makes you realize how blessed we are.” and it makes realize how screwed up we are. It makes me want to cry.
What if blessings are found in living simply? What if blessings are found in community and not cable television? What if blessings are found in an anonymous gift to a family in need and not in fancy lights and big screens in the worship room? What if blessings are found in rumors about you rather than rumors started by you? What if blessings are found in eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and not in spending another 35¢ to super-size it? Do you think blessings might be found in spending time with your spouse rather than playing a video game every night with friends? Do you think blessings might be found in talking with a lonely person rather than talking to the most popular, powerful, beautiful, funny person? What if blessings are found in deleting an email that could be hurtful and mean rather than passing it on? I have been and will be guilty of these things as long as I live, but I must keep trying - if it means not playing that video game, if it means eating off of the 99¢ menu rather than ordering a combo meal, if it means talking to the autistic girl that so many times is made fun of, if it means that I do not fight to protect my image, if it means that I will not be recognized by the church, if it means scaling down the amount of clothes that are hanging in the closet.
I’ve talked about blessings, but what about poverty, what about the poor? “Become the change that you want to see.” – Gandhi Maybe being these things so that others may see will be a start. But the fight against poverty continues.
“Father, give me new eyes to see my life as you see it. And give me a new heart to sense the difference between my wants and my needs. Give me compassion for the suffering of the world, and a willingness to help those who are hurting. Amen.”
– John Talbot
– John M. Talbot, The Lessons of St. Francis
Every time I start this story I can’t even get through it without tear-filled eyes. My eyes begin to water and I look up trying to keep them from spilling down my face. Then, my eyes close and I feel in my soul God asking me that same question: “Why do you allow poverty?” At the same time my heart starts swelling and I feel my soul shaking.
I honestly do not know how to answer Father’s question. I don’t even know where to begin on this call to “make poverty history.” Even though Jesus said the poor will be with us always. Where do I begin? What do I do? Tithing has been weighing heavy on my heart and I have read several articles and listened to many podcasts concerning this issue. Right now I have come to the realization that the organized church in America has been stealing. By stealing I mean they have taken that which is not rightfully theirs. In new testament - all that we have belongs to God. Are we not put in charge of where these things should go? Will we not be held responsible for what we have done with the things we have been given. “God the great Almsgiver will regard it as a theft on my part, if I do not give what I have to someone who needs it.” – Francis
God wants all things good for us...this does not mean money. Over and over Jesus condemns money. So many times we say we have been blessed because of a situation where we receive money. Whether it be from a raise at work, a relative that left an inheritance or just because we have nice things, houses, clothes, vehicles. After coming back from Africa and sharing the things that I had seen so many people said to me, “It really makes you realize how blessed we are.” and it makes realize how screwed up we are. It makes me want to cry.
“Live simply so that others may simply live.” – Gandhi
What if blessings are found in living simply? What if blessings are found in community and not cable television? What if blessings are found in an anonymous gift to a family in need and not in fancy lights and big screens in the worship room? What if blessings are found in rumors about you rather than rumors started by you? What if blessings are found in eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and not in spending another 35¢ to super-size it? Do you think blessings might be found in spending time with your spouse rather than playing a video game every night with friends? Do you think blessings might be found in talking with a lonely person rather than talking to the most popular, powerful, beautiful, funny person? What if blessings are found in deleting an email that could be hurtful and mean rather than passing it on? I have been and will be guilty of these things as long as I live, but I must keep trying - if it means not playing that video game, if it means eating off of the 99¢ menu rather than ordering a combo meal, if it means talking to the autistic girl that so many times is made fun of, if it means that I do not fight to protect my image, if it means that I will not be recognized by the church, if it means scaling down the amount of clothes that are hanging in the closet.
I’ve talked about blessings, but what about poverty, what about the poor? “Become the change that you want to see.” – Gandhi Maybe being these things so that others may see will be a start. But the fight against poverty continues.
“Father, give me new eyes to see my life as you see it. And give me a new heart to sense the difference between my wants and my needs. Give me compassion for the suffering of the world, and a willingness to help those who are hurting. Amen.”
– John Talbot
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