Do you know the poor?
I have still been dealing with a large amount of “culture shock” since returning from the Dominican Republic. I feel like God used my fellowship experience to prepare me for something big but I’m still waiting to see what exactly that is. I face constant stress thinking about when I will return and how I will raise money to support all the projects I have on my heart (especially in the recession). I have noticed some positive changes in my life since I returned though. For example, I have been a lot more self-disciplined and focused in my work and that mostly comes from appreciating all the resources I have around me and not wasting what I have around me. Also, I have been able to fight off the desire for “stuff” (although I can’t stop browsing the JCrew website). Even though I am suffering financially in this recession and working a variety of part-time gigs to get by, I still feel much more content with my life. In fact, I have never been this happy in my life now that I am becoming spiritually mature and learning to be content with how things are.
Anyway……
One of the reasons I believe this past trip to the DR has impacted me more than other trips is because I became equals with the poor. They were my friends, my neighbors, my coworkers. In fact they fed me when I was hungry and gave me their beds to sleep when I was tired. I experienced more generosity in a day from the poor, then in an average year from some of my friends back home. Its not that my friends back home are not generous, but rarely do we serve each other in a sacrificing way with no strings attached or debts to repay.
Most people become self-righteous when they serve the poor. They want people to see how kind they are and give them glory for having such a “big heart”. Anyone who works in the development department at an nonprofit organization knows this well. Often, in order to get big donors and sponsors for one’s special events, the organization must promise web and print recognition as well as verbal recognition during an evening.
I think there is a difference between serving the poor and working in partnership and relationship alongside the poor. Serving the poor through volunteer activities is a good thing but there still is often a “us” and “them” vibe going on. The relationships are short-term and often shallow. When you work alongside the poor, their burdens become your burdens, you share together the triumphs and the tribulations of life. In fact, the people you intend to serve often end up serving you in ways you never imagined.
To my friends in the D.R……
Thank you, this summer was a privilege.
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