On Being Poor
This past weekend I was poor. Well, at least I was treated like I was poor. Okay, maybe it was just all an act but I got the picture.
I finally participated in Mission Waco's Poverty Simulation. Ever since I moved to Waco and heard about this unique experience I have wanted to attend. I want to learn more about the plight of those who are living below the poverty line. So, for the weekend, I was a single mother raising three children on a very limited income. Very few material goods were allowed in my possession. Basically, I owned my own pair of tennis shoes, a blanket from Kmart, a pillow with no pillowcase, a shirt from the voucher store, and a long skirt also from the voucher store.
Of the many lessons that I learned this weekend was that there are choices in life for everyone, even the poor. I had to decide what items I would keep and which ones I would do without. I had to choose whether or not to "buy" breakfast, if I was going to pay a large price to sleep inside, where I was going to find lunch, and who I was going to trust with what I did own. I guess I mistakenly thought having limited resources meant life was simpler and there were less decisions to make because many things are already decided for you. As I observed and from the knowledge gained this weekend, people in poverty have lots of decisions to make. Some make very bad choices like spending their entire paycheck on alcohol and/or drugs. These are the ones we (I guess I should say "I") shun. These are the ones that I use to characterize most of the poor walking the streets of the city. But the frustrating thing is that there are people in poverty in this country that make good choices and they are still suffering because of the screwed up system! I tried to make wise decisions with what I had but I still ended up hating the lifestyle and being miserable. I choose to skip breakfast and lunch ended up being nothing but a few peanut butter cookies and chex mix. I couldn't afford to sleep inside both nights and slept terribly on the hard ground as I froze during the windy night. This is not a life anyone would choose.
One of the most emotionally moving times of the weekend was Saturday evening's dinner. It opened my eyes and heart to the problem of poverty around the world. It is unbelievable the percentage of poor people around the globe. I was overwhelmed to see it illustrated. The staff in charge of the meal divided our group of 50 into the various areas of the world - South Asia, East Asia, Africa, Europe, Central/South America, and North America. I sat on the floor with a large number of people as we represented the East Asian population. Right next to us, sitting at a table with fine linens, lit candles, and a large meal was two people representing the population of North America. As I ate my fried rice with chopsticks, I kept scanning the room. Every group was eating something common to the culture that they represented. There was also a beggar that went from group to group. He was treated as trash, pushed around and beaten. No one was allowed to share food with this person. My eyes weld up with tears as I thought of the many around the world that are treated the same. I caught myself staring at the American table. The young boys had no idea the despise I had for them during the meal. As the beggar approached they might as well have turned their chairs around to avoid looking upon him. Instead they did as many Americans do, they ignored him, eating their steak and potatoes without any care as to the starving neighbor at their feet. Americans are rich! Have we always been so selfish with our resources?
I came away from the weekend with a greater love for the poor and larger heart for the Church. Something tells me that these two must come together, there is no separating them. I pray that believers will notice the poor and take action.
The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:40
I finally participated in Mission Waco's Poverty Simulation. Ever since I moved to Waco and heard about this unique experience I have wanted to attend. I want to learn more about the plight of those who are living below the poverty line. So, for the weekend, I was a single mother raising three children on a very limited income. Very few material goods were allowed in my possession. Basically, I owned my own pair of tennis shoes, a blanket from Kmart, a pillow with no pillowcase, a shirt from the voucher store, and a long skirt also from the voucher store.
Of the many lessons that I learned this weekend was that there are choices in life for everyone, even the poor. I had to decide what items I would keep and which ones I would do without. I had to choose whether or not to "buy" breakfast, if I was going to pay a large price to sleep inside, where I was going to find lunch, and who I was going to trust with what I did own. I guess I mistakenly thought having limited resources meant life was simpler and there were less decisions to make because many things are already decided for you. As I observed and from the knowledge gained this weekend, people in poverty have lots of decisions to make. Some make very bad choices like spending their entire paycheck on alcohol and/or drugs. These are the ones we (I guess I should say "I") shun. These are the ones that I use to characterize most of the poor walking the streets of the city. But the frustrating thing is that there are people in poverty in this country that make good choices and they are still suffering because of the screwed up system! I tried to make wise decisions with what I had but I still ended up hating the lifestyle and being miserable. I choose to skip breakfast and lunch ended up being nothing but a few peanut butter cookies and chex mix. I couldn't afford to sleep inside both nights and slept terribly on the hard ground as I froze during the windy night. This is not a life anyone would choose.
One of the most emotionally moving times of the weekend was Saturday evening's dinner. It opened my eyes and heart to the problem of poverty around the world. It is unbelievable the percentage of poor people around the globe. I was overwhelmed to see it illustrated. The staff in charge of the meal divided our group of 50 into the various areas of the world - South Asia, East Asia, Africa, Europe, Central/South America, and North America. I sat on the floor with a large number of people as we represented the East Asian population. Right next to us, sitting at a table with fine linens, lit candles, and a large meal was two people representing the population of North America. As I ate my fried rice with chopsticks, I kept scanning the room. Every group was eating something common to the culture that they represented. There was also a beggar that went from group to group. He was treated as trash, pushed around and beaten. No one was allowed to share food with this person. My eyes weld up with tears as I thought of the many around the world that are treated the same. I caught myself staring at the American table. The young boys had no idea the despise I had for them during the meal. As the beggar approached they might as well have turned their chairs around to avoid looking upon him. Instead they did as many Americans do, they ignored him, eating their steak and potatoes without any care as to the starving neighbor at their feet. Americans are rich! Have we always been so selfish with our resources?
I came away from the weekend with a greater love for the poor and larger heart for the Church. Something tells me that these two must come together, there is no separating them. I pray that believers will notice the poor and take action.
The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:40
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