I am attending a Conference in Winnipeg on Food Security ... there have been a wide range of issues from Bio-fuels, through to justice of charity, to Community Gardens ... many words have been spoken, many ideas have been raised ... but over and over and over we hear that the reality of our world is THERE ARE JUST TOO MANY PEOPLE LIVING WITH INADEQUATE FOOD, SHELTER, AND CLOTHING, IN THE MIDST OF A SEA OF IMMEASURABLE WEALTH!!!!As I have listened to the speakers and considered the work I've taken on, and the many challeges we have before us, I've realized that perhaps the issue is not that the problems themselves are too big to be addressed ad changed, but perhaps we need to change our perspective ...
Instead of asking - "what can we do about global poverty?" perhaps we need to be MORE mindful of what we as individuals can do in our neighbourhoods and communities to address the poverty we see every day ...
Instead of saying - "Our Governments need to do more," as we demand MORE tax cuts, perhaps we need open our eyes to just what our taxes bring us, and ask that MORE taxes be used to look after the poor and marginalized ...
Instead of throughing up our hands and DOING NOTHING, or worse looking through the lenses that place the blame for the problem on the VICTIM, perhaps we should alter our attitudes and begin to ask ourselves what WE WOULD DO IF WE FIND OURSELVES IN THAT PLACE ...
and most importantly of all - instead of just talking about the problem and how big they are and how hard it is to change the systems, perhaps we just need to start doing more on a day to day basis to leave a positive impact in the world ... Instead of being selfish and looking out for only ourselves, we need to reorient ourselves to be global citizens who live lives of compassion, care and openness ... embracing the values that so many whisper to us, but that are lost in the rabble of a culture that has simply lost its way ...
We need to change the world ... and that begins by seeing the people who rest by our gates waiting for compassion ... the rest is easy ... it starts by opening our eyes, reaching out our hands and generously sharing our wealth of time, talent and treasures ...
It's THAT simple ...
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1 comment:
A few years back my family and I went on a trip to Washington DC. We spent most of the time walking the streets viewing the various museums, the White House and the other opultent place where our government officals reside. I took a lot of pictures of the offical buildings as any siteseer does. Then, just around the corner from our White House, I saw a homeless man sleeping in the corner between two buildings, a little beyound that, there was obviously a homeless man's "house" which had a pot belly stove, a rolled up sleeping back and a raggedy back back. I took pictures of both the homeless man and the "home." My daughters just looked at me and asked why I'd take a picture of such things. I simply replied, "I want to always remember that just around the corner from vast wealth, lives poverty that nobody is really concerned about. Both of you should always remember that as well."
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