Being poor is a life sucker. It crushes the spirit, giving way to perpetual feelings of never being good enough in any way. It feels shameful. Isolating. Depressing. EXHAUSTING. Defeating. ALL. THE. TIME. We don't quite understand if we've never been there ourselves or haven't walked through it with someone we care about it. Misconceptions swarm the hearts and minds of those who just don't get it. Poverty takes on its own sick life to infect thousands every day, in our country and in our backyards. Many of our social and government institutions perpetuate this. Just sitting in traffic court alone is disheartening. The system is set up to miserably fail the poor - penalties on fines that weren't paid to begin with because groceries for the family had to come first. It's a racket. Good men and women go through rehab, complete programs successfully, but if they come in homeless and jobless and leave sober but with no money, good luck. No money - no home - no car - no way to get to a job. And, if they have a record, that's another strike against them. Then we're disgusted when they turn back to the old crowd and addiction of choice. Well, of course they did!
I admit to being ignorant of some of these things. I just didn't know. I thought I had grace and understanding, but it had limits. I still have limits and a whole lot more learning to do! I know I do not have all the answers. It is a problem that has multiple levels, causes, and solutions. When I read about the life of Jesus, he had such a beautiful heart for the poor. Maybe a good part of the solution is adopting a heart and mind like Jesus first and foremost. Can the collective Church be a place of compassion? Are we even interested in removing our heads from the sand? I absolutely do not claim to be a theologian but I'm having a hard time recalling Jesus ever sitting around a table talking about the dangers of enabling people. He simply acted. He saw needs and he reached out with compassion to satisfy them. I'm not implying that there shouldn't be prayer and wisdom involved. I'm implying that maybe we need to get deep down honest about our own poverty of the heart, mind, and soul. Our own lack. Because, to get honest in those places leaves no choice but to reach for the saving hands and the cross of Jesus Christ. When we come to terms with our own dirt and the beautiful glorious washing of Jesus, then we don't find the need to sit with our coffee mugs around the conference table or kitchen table discussing whether or not someone else's dirt is worthy of cleaning. It very joyfully WON'T MATTER. Now, that is the kind of glorious freedom the Jesus following collective Church needs, in order to be about the business of God! We need each other. And, the world is desperate for our love and compassion. Loose the chains! Entertain the stranger! Share your goods! Give away your coat! Love kindness!
Amen and Amen.
- Dee M. Kostelyk
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