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Day 22
Wednesday, March 18
“‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the LORD your God.’ ” Leviticus 23:22
Most of us reading these words don’t know the extremes of desperate poverty. Our family has been on mission trips and seen people living in huts and cardboard boxes, but we don’t know what that’s like. It’s like seeing a movie on the French Revolution. We can observe, we can think, but we’re not the ones using the chamber pots.
That said, I write this cautiously knowing that I don’t know. But, I have to care.
The U.S. is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, and it is important to note that our ‘poor’ look like kings to some other people around the world. But, in this current time of social distancing, it’s important that we consider the ripple effects in our community and world effecting our most vulnerable brothers and sisters.
There has been a lot of talk about the school closings and child hunger. I’m glad…this is important. But, I hope we widen the conversation. How do we support those working for low wages or tips in service industries, small businesses and other vulnerable neighbors? The ‘non-essential’ things that we’ve likely skipped in the last week will mean the loss of precious income. The FDIC reports that 29% of Americans have less than $1000 in savings. When crisis hits, all the rocks show… that means that not only are we facing a health crisis, but we are going to see lots of other societal issues come to the surface.
I know I’m not a lot of help… I don’t have a prescriptive answer.
What I do know is that we live in a culture that is very me-centric; the antithesis of how Christ calls us to live. Our spiritual walk is a slippery slope, if we only focus on ourselves. So, be generous – with your prayers, with your understanding and with your resources. It’s safe to say that every non-profit is worried right now. At Vera Lloyd, we have to keep taking care of our kids – our doors don’t get to close. Our country needs service organizations to bridge the gap more than ever.
I pray that we can all open the doors of our hearts and focus on walking together.
Prayer
Holy God,
You have always taken special care of the least of these among us. From ancient days, your scripture has made provisions to support those who cannot support themselves.
In days of comfort and days of chaos, give us ears to hear the cry of the needy and your spirit of compassion. Unite us as your people who love, share and serve in your name. ... See more
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