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One cannot read the Old Testament and not hear God's concern for the poor, the widow, the orphan. The prophets are always telling the people of their time that what God wants the most is compassion for the outcasts and the left out people of society.
Jesus not only teaches love for the poor, but also sets an example by being with the poor and the rejected ones in society. He runs around with sinners, condemns the religious who put rule obeying above care for others, and loves children and widows. In his parable of who is really in the Kingdom of God, he mentions those who are out caring for others, visiting in prisons, feeding the hungry, and sheltering the homeless.
At Christmas, we start to remember that there are poor among us...as we want everyone to have a "Merry Christmas". This year we are doing three projects to help others: blankets and jammies for Project SHARE; adopting a grandmother and three grandchildren with the Salvation Army, and anonymously sharing a gift of cash with someone in need.
As I was prayerfully considering to whom to give our cash gift, I came up with several names of people whom I personally know. But what actually happened was my realization again of how isolated I am from the truly needy. We give money. food, and share volunteers with Project SHARE, so we aren't really ignoring the poor. We host CARES homeless shelter here for a month a year. We regularly give to local charities. We cook meals for Salvation Army.
About ten years ago, a group of us decided to give oranges and blankets to the homeless in that city. With the best of intentions, we piled into a mini-van and went on a hunt to find them. We only found one possible place that it seemed like people were living. We were a bit disappointed. One young man from the church who had been homeless explained our method of hunting was all wrong. The homeless don't have cars, and tend to be in places within walking distance of free meals. I felt totally stupid. I really didn't understand the lives of homeless and poor.
Then I realized that while I don't know many people in the poorer parts of Carlisle, okay, I admit that I don't even know where the poorer parts of Carlisle are, there are others who do know. There are pastors and churches in those communities who are often trying to minister with a minimum of funds. I want to get to know some of those people, and stand along beside them as they minister to our community.
I have two nieces who live in poverty neighborhoods of big cities. Both are making a difference, one through a community garden, and the other by teaching in the local school. I don't feel called to that...but I do feel called to see how much I can learn about my neighbors, the elderly, the ones in poverty, the lonely, the immigrant and those who can't find jobs. |
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