I've been thinking a lot about poverty lately. About socioeconomic classes and welfare.
About people and systems.
About human dignity.
About what works and what doesn't.
And I've been having a few conversations with friends and acquaintances about the political field and who will win our American Presidential race and who should win and should or shouldn't all candidates be held to the same standards?
I really enjoy these conversations. So many of my close friends disagree with me sharply on political issues, yet we love each other. How is this? Why would I choose to be close to and share life with those whose views seem so different?
Simple. We all want the same thing.
One current hot topic is public assistance. I was a little shocked the other day when I told one acquaintance, "I really want to see people coming off the welfare system." It seemed obvious to me that I was implying that I want to see enough good jobs for everyone who wants one to be able to work and feed their family well and have a decent house in a safe neighborhood. I really believe this is possible.
The recipient of that comment, however, was appalled. "That's what I'm talking about! You want to throw my grandma out on the street!"
It took me a minute to realize what had happened. When I said I wanted to get people off welfare, she heard me say, "I'm sick of paying for your grandma's Medicaid" instead of, "I want your grandma (and you, when it's time) to be able to live a dignified, safe, valued life without taking away from your grandchildrens' financial or psychological ability to do the same."
We both want the same thing: for every child to know she's loved. For every adult to know he's created and put here for a purpose. And for God's kingdom to come to earth, a little bit at a time.
What I want to think about is what if...
What if, instead of depending on the government to find answers for problems, we worked together, conservative to liberal and back again, to find answers for our country?
What if, instead of being afraid of those we don't know or understand, I went to them to find out more about them?
What ifwe are careful to see people for what they DO have, what they do well, instead of what they are lacking?
What if we realized that each one of us lives in our own personal poverty every day, and what if we were honest and open about that?
What if I thought through the unintended outcomes of giving money away before I gave it? What if I spent more time talking with people I wanted to help instead of talking to or about them?
We are all human. We have to stop dehumanizing those who think differently from us. We need to remember that everyone is good at something and has something to teach, something to contribute to society's good. We need to remember that every human is a beloved child of God.
More on this later...probably. Right now, I know for sure that focusing on our differences is doing nothing good for anyone.
