Poverty

        Poverty is world wide. You can find it in the richest countries along with those countries whose economic base is very poor. The poor seem to always be with us. They suffer silently and beg or plead or give up and many, many lives are wasted. It would seem that the image of poverty and especially that of the children would touch the hearts of those who have much and that it would be alleviated or lessened to some degree, but that is not so. We have groups of people who suffer, we have individuals and families of all races and ages. Why must this be?

        We become hardened to the sight of suffering. We even turn our heads if we pass someone on the street. Many times it is not that we are without compassion, but that we are afraid. Perhaps there will be an attack or perhaps we will get emotionally involved so we move on without stopping. When there is an imbalance there is never harmony. There will always be those who have more and those who have less it seems but surely there can be a balancing so there is not such a distance between the two. Those who have the means fall into two categories. There are those who are self serving and think of themselves and what they can do with their money and those who use it wisely and enjoy the benefits of a gift as well as giving of that gift.

        Many people think that they have to be rich to give. Many think that if they give they put themselves into a position whereby they are at risk. They think of their financial security and though it would seem strange, those who have much are often the ones who are the most insecure, so they hoard or feel they have to have more and more. Those are the ones who are poor in spirit.

        We can speak of money and giving but we can also think of the poor in terms of receiving other than money. They need caring, compassion, and a chance to reach their potential. But what can I do you may ask? I don't have a lot of money, I am afraid to go to the poorer sections and put myself at risk, how can I help? If there is not an opportunity to give of the self on an individual basis, then one can give through a group. It is wise to check which groups are helpful because so often the money intended for the poor goes into other projects. Perhaps you can give things of the heart, or material goods, or work for them in ways that do not take you to a particular location. Perhaps you are one of the millions who don't really take time to look or think of the poor. After all, you're doing alright, aren't you? Yet sometimes, the smallest gift can change a life, can steer someone down a correct path which will help them in the future. It just takes a step, an action, to create an opportunity to offer help. When we are rich in our giving, we become richer and fuller in our souls. We grow with the experience and we have the satisfaction of doing what needs to be done. Perhaps we can inspire another or create an opportunity. Don't wait for others to do it, sometimes it's the smallest action that begins to build into a larger and larger plan of help unthought of at the beginning. Be a helper to someone, give of yourself.