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We went to a wedding today at the suburban church where I first worked as a youth minister. The church had been rebuilt and was big and beautiful. The priest at the service mentioned a number of times about caring for the poor and those in need. I am not sure if I did not notice this concern expressed before at weddings or if this was put in the liturgy for this event.
I doubt if anyone there today was really poor and in need. I wonder how many there personally know someone poor and in need. I remember hearing many years ago President Jimmy Carter asking University of Wisconsin students if they knew someone in need personally. At that time I had only one friend in need and he had gotten a good job and was in process of joining the ranks of middle class. Now sadly and joyfully I can say that I really know persons in need. I say sadly because there are so many persons in need these days of economic depression. I say joyfully because these persons are a real gift in my life, not for what I do for them, but for what they do for me
In a garden the lowly worms and the large beautiful flower work together in harmony. In society we talk a lot about helping the poor in need but often do not know them personally and live in solidarity with them.
One elderly gentleman at the wedding celebration mentioned to me how surprised he was that most persons were doing well in this time of economic crisis. I am sure this is true for most persons he, and even I, know. But I know it is not true for many persons in the USA. As Michael Harrington wrote about in the 60’s, an “invisible land of the poor existed in rural isolation or in crowded slums where middle-class visitors seldom ventured.”
In this information age it takes more hard work to “hide the poor”, so often we need to resort to just ignoring them. I find this very hard to do. Today, because of other commitments made, some to persons in need, I had to say no to a few small requests from persons who needed a ride from me. This sad feeling of saying no when added to the stuff feeling of overeating and drinking at the wedding makes me painfully full of self.
We need to share what we have and do not really need with those in need not for the sake of generosity but for survival. The garden will not grow without nature, plants, animals and humans working together in harmony. Our lives will not grow unless we are with the poor and those in need. For we all our naturally poor.
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