Selections from Deuteronomy 8: 2-Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years...4 your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. 7For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land--a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills 9 a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing...10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord you God for the good land he has given you. 11 Be careful that you do not forget the Lord you God, failing to observe his commands, his laws, and his secrees that I am giving you this day. 12 Otherwise when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your sliver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt...17 You may say to yourself, "My power and sthe strenght of my hands have produced this wealth for me." 18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.
Althought I have only been living here for a month, whenever I travel outside of Church Hill to the West End suburbs or to Williamsburg, or elsewhere, I have to ask myself, "Do people really live like this?" It is strange to see such wealth and security juxtaposed to such need. I know I have been guilty myself of turning a blind eye. Now that I have a real relationship with those in need however, I cant imagine looking away. We have built our fine houses and all we have has multiplied, but have we forgotten where it all came from?
Something I have noticed about the culture of poverty is the tendency to share all fortunes freely with others. Whether it be food, money, or a toy, what one receives will most likely benefit all. This is so different from middle class culture. The middle class is much more individualistic. We look out for ourselves and our immediate family. We are taught to work hard for what we earn, and we believe we deserve and possess our material wealth. Our mentality is set to "mine" rather than "ours". Yet it is the middle class that often suffers from loneliness, lack of community, genuineness and openness.
This past week the kids of CHAT have shown me instances of such selflessness and generosity despite their lack of resources. One young man in particular pulled on my heart. His selflessness reinforced the message of the passage and my own self centeredness. I saw that between the two of us, I am the one in need.
The passage seems to say to me "Remember that you did not get to your current position by your own power. Keep in mind that it is because of the Lord your God that you are so blessed. God was the one who walked with you in the hard times, and raised you to this position of privilege. With that blessing comes great responsibility. " I will remember my lesson in selflessness from one young man. I know that because I have been given much, much will be asked of me. I also know that God will be there to lead me.
