I recently read Lee Hull Moses’ book, More Than Enough.  You can find the book here:

Buy the book here

I enjoyed the book a great deal.  While the reading was easy, casual almost, the concepts and challenges were profound.

Ms. Moses tackles ideas about child rearing, spending, food sources, gratitude, poverty, calling, and more.  I found myself at the end of the book quickly and wanting to discuss the insights I’d drawn from the reading.

One quick thought though is this:  Jesus was an advocate for the poor.  We know this.  Jesus was a champion of the disenfranchised.  Certainly documented.  Jesus believed in people and gave them hope.  Certainly.

But what Jesus did not do is abolish poverty itself.  Jesus did not eliminate systemic disenfranchisement triggers.  Jesus worked for the poor and the disenfranchised within the system he had…or that we had…

So one thing that had never dawned on me was that God could, if he wanted, with him being Omni Powerful and all, could totally abolish, eliminate poverty.

But he has allowed it to continue……..since ancient times.  He urged us to care for the poor, to bring in the widows and the children.  To provide for them.

 

So I’m thinking.  A lot.  About this.  In a democratic but modified free-market society, what is my role as a tax payer, and as a Christian? 

Do I march and rally to provide more to the SNAP program?  Do I spend more time with the widows or the disenfranchised/marginalized?

I don’t know yet.  I just am asking at this point.  And what does all this mean in light of a new President heading into office in January?  How will our environment change?  What will the most immediate, the intermediate, and the long-term needs be? 

I wonder if God hasn’t basically challenged us, as intelligent life, to find a solution for these systemic problems?  Maybe God has said “the world is complex, let me have these beautiful, intelligent being that I’ve created, solve this problem?”

Am I working on the complex problems as God’s beautiful created being?  Am I doing my part?  Am I being my best self and working on ways to help others be their best selves?

I challenge myself these days on these areas…..

More is needed.  Whom shall I send said the Lord?  Whom shall I send?  Will it be me Lord?