Bloggers respond to a question worth pondering over during these difficult economic times: What can I do to eradicate poverty? I invite you to leave your comment...
This portion is from Friday's post:
"There is a kind of poverty, an indigence, that God does not want and that must be fought... a poverty that impedes people and families from living according to their dignity, a poverty that offends justice and equality and, as such, threatens peaceful coexistence." - Pope Benedict XVI, Financial Crisis Calls for New Economic Model, Solidarity, Jan. 1, 2009.
Veritas of Poetry, Prayer, Praise: I, like all Catholics I'm sure, welcome this message of Pope Benedict at the beginning of a new year especially after all the excesses of Christmas.It poses a challenge to each one of us, not to look to see what anyone else is or isn't doing, but to ask ourselves as individuals what we are doing, and can do in the future to alleviate poverty and bring about peace.
Therese of Aussie Coffe Shop: Your question is a good one. We donate regularly to different charities but I know we could do more. I think that attitudes need to change and we need to all live a simpler life. I think a big part of the problem with poverty is many people have too much. I have heard that if every person gave just 5% of their income there would be no poverty in the world. I think we all need to give money when we can and live simpler too.
Esther of A Catholic Mom in Hawaii: If you think your actions are inadequate to help the entire world you will never do anything to eradicate poverty. However, if you do just one small good deed, for one person, you are on your way. So, how do we eradicate poverty, with each person doing his/her part, one person at a time.
Marie of View From The Pews: There are many forms of poverty and having worked among those who live under the poverty line, is one major thing many do not know how to run a home. Women do not know how to cook simple, cheap meals, let alone sew or make their own clothes etc.
But the biggest poverty is the forgotten ones. Those who live long and lonely lives forgotten in nursing homes or within their own communities if they live at home alone and often frightened by the outside world.
We all live in straightened times so if you cannot donate money then give your TIME for that is indeed most precious and it is this that is needed the most.
It is not money the world lacks. It is love.
Kay of He Gently Calls: If you had asked "What can WE do . . . " it would be much easier to think that someone ELSE would be taking care of the problem. What can I do? Well, we have plenty of extra "stuff" we could pass on to the less fortunate. Most of us have WAYYYYY too much stuff.
The other thing that comes to mind is that our affluent society has made some of us rather lazy and soft. We don't want poverty but some of us don't really want to work very hard either. Our educational system encourages this by overemphasizing the value of "white collar" jobs and eliminating programs which teach life skills like auto mechanics, woodworking, agriculture, cooking, sewing, and other practical skills. I think it's important that we show respect and appreciation to those who keep our cars running, unclog our sewer pipes, trim our trees, repair electrical lines, serve us at restaurants, and check out our groceries. By giving dignity to jobs and skills that don't pay all that well and are not considered worth teaching in our schools, we can help ensure that in the future, there will be people DOING these jobs.
Our grandparents went through the Great Depression and that influenced their attitudes toward work, money management, and appreciating what they have. My husband and I would starve to death if we had to rely on a vegetable garden to feed ourselves.
As a society, we put too much emphasis on pursuing happiness by acquiring more THINGS while failing to realize that true happiness is found in nurturing the soul, giving love and friendship, and creating strong families and faith-filled communities.
John Michael of St. Bellarmine's Blog: "What can I do to help eradicate poverty?"
To fall in love with and to be thankful for the gift of holy poverty ourselves.
Micki of Holy Cards For Your Inspiration: I like Veritas's question asking what are we doing.
Hopefully we are praying. I don't own any companies to hire the unemployed but I can call on St. Joseph, patron of the workers, and beg his intersession. I can offer my communions for their behalf. I can seek ways to offer sacrifices that I can make.....fasting on their behalf comes to mind. I can trust in the Lord to lead us to help in any physical way by sharing my goods.
I recently read that the Lord gives to us, we should take what we need and give the rest to others. I think that says it all, stop piling up and share what you have.
Veritas of Poetry, Prayer, and Praise: Easter, it's great to see how one post can generate so much interest, and it's obvious that people do really care about the poor and less privileged.
And thanks to Miki for picking up on the challenge that faces us all as children of God.
We are the stewards after all of all that God has given in His providence, so we therefore are accountable for what we have - while others have not.
Nancy of Be Not Afraid: Therese brings up an excellent point, one that has been on my mind for several months...to truly live more simply. To help my children (and myself) to learn the difference between wants and needs and to encourage them to have a giving heart and spirit. I truly believe that my generation doesn't "get it"...but my children, well, their generation has hope!
Where true poverty lives, it makes it very hard to help as the rogue governments rarely do the right thing with the resources provided.
It's easy to just right a check and be done with it...but...I want my children to "be involved"...to touch, to feel, to smell...to experience fully what poverty is so that it will forever be etched in their mind. I am weak both in the body and in the spirit so I do not want to fail them here.
Cathy of A Bit Of The Blarney: What can I do to eradicate poverty? I consider this often. Ron and I sponsor a young lady in the Philippines through Cristian Foundation for Children and Aging (a Catholic Sponsored Foundation). Our Parish has a sister parish in Haiti. There is a young man there that we sponsor. We contribute to Mercy Corp International. Our parish also started a thrift shop about 6 yrs ago to help the needy and defray the expense of housing the Newburgh Food Pantry, It's called Mother Theresa's Treasures and we volunteer monthly. We contribute to Catholic Charities and The Little Sisters of the Poor and Maryknoll.
When I composed this list in answer to your question I thought this will appear boastful and prideful. And so it might to some. To me it reminds me that if I am doing what I can and others are doing the same why are there still homeless, hungry, illiterate,sick people in this world. The truth is, I am NOT doing enough. Why do I not offer to tutor a child having difficulty reading? Why am I not volunteering at the nursing home. These are profound and personal questions I need to resolve. I am grateful to you Easter for daring me to do more! I think Isaiah says it very well (Is 58: 6-14) It needs to be taken SERIOUSLY to heart. Certainly, I need to take it to heart! Cathy
Anonymous: There's nothing wonderful about being poor. I find most people have a romantic notion of it and have never lived it.
For the past 18 years I have known total poverty. I was not raised in a poor home. I would never ever have chosen this for myself. We have money for the bare minimum and that's it. If we get sick, get a toothache, need shoes, warm clothing, new coat, etc. - too bad! If one of our appliances goes or if something goes wrong on our 35 year old trailer - too bad! One word it took me years to get used to telling myself was "No".
We have no luxuries, nothing extra, no television, nothing new and the only reason we have this computer is because it was given to my husband. I can't subscribe to any Catholic publications. Can't buy any books (and this kills me because I'm a true blue bibliophile!). There's nothing romantic about being poor nor is poverty an easy cross to bear. But Deus vult! I try to offer it daily in atonement for my sins and the sins of the whole world.
One more important thing to remember - Our Lord said that the "poor you will always have with you." This world was not meant to be a paradise on earth. Each of us has to earn Heaven.
Aspiring: Dear Anonymous, As you do, I intimately 'know' longer-term poverty. I also intimately 'know' longer-term plenty.
Easter's question, "What can I do to eradicate poverty," has been with me ever since she raised it, just short of haunting me. Much comes to mind and heart within my reach and much beyond my reach, too.
What is the answer? What is the answer for each of us? I may be wrong, and I don't mean to presume on you, but I think you know.
p.s. Dear Anonymous, I emphasize I really do not mean to presume on you. Only this: please tell us all, if you can.
Easter: Dear Anonymous, you have been in my thoughts and prayers. I do know poverty and a bit of affluence. My husband and I both had great paying jobs, but we also lost them in the early 90's when the country was experiencing some economic crises. My husband got a job after a year and has kept it since. It hasn't been easy for my family these days because of company cuts and the need for relocation.
Would you consider leaving a P.O. Box address here? I could invite bloggers to send you materials about our Catholic Faith. Have you tried the local library? You'd be amazed to find a variety of books there that relates to our Faith. You also seem to have a good command of the English language. Is there something you can do to use that skill in getting a job or a better one? I am with Aspiring when she asks you to tell us more. I thank you, Anonymous. I thank you for leaving your comment here. I do hope to hear from you again.
Anonymous: Dear Easter,
Please do pray for me - pray that I make good use of the crosses that Our Lord has been kind enough to give me. Pray that He gives me the graces not to become bitter and resentful and angry. I know that this is for my eternal good.
No, I do not have a post office box. I live in the Pacific Northwest which is not a very Catholic area. Our library is not "Catholic friendly" unless, of course, the books portray our Church in the worst possible light.
You all will understand my reluctance to post more personal details on the internet.
Easter: Hello Anonymous. I thank you once again for visiting with us here. I have been blessed by your presence through your words that remind me that God loves the poor and the suffering. We are all poor in certain ways, and we all have varying degrees of suffering. That makes us all, each one of us, a living aspiration to love and care for.
I understand your need for privacy. This is what I can do for you: I will take you to every Eucharistic prayer and adoration I go to. But most likely, what you are going through, your very life, is a more powerful prayer than I could ever hope to offer you.
Hugs to you, Anonymous.
Marian: Thank you, dear Easter. I am surrounded by such coldness that I am easily touched by your warmth and sincerity. God reward you!
Easter: Hello, dear Marian,I am here pondering, praying, waiting for words to say to you...
Thank you for YOU!
Heather of Saints in the Making: wonderful post, Easter. Thank you for helping me to focus on giving with the talents I have. Sometimes it's just prayer and it's nice to be reminded that with love and prayer we can make a difference.
