On the turning away
From the pale and
downtrodden
And the words they
say
Which we won't
understand
"Don't accept
that what's happening
Is just a case of
others' suffering
Or you'll find that
you're joining in
The turning
away" Lyrics by Pink Floyd
“Hungry for love, He looks at you. Thirsty for kindness, He
begs of you. Naked for loyalty, He hopes in you. Homeless for shelter in your
heart, He asks of you. Will you be that one to Him?” Mother Theresa
Ponderings from Leslie:
Last week I noticed that a bamboo wall was being erected to cover the chain link fence that runs along the canal road opposite the 12th St. area. New buildings, gas stations and mini marts are opening on this road and it was obvious that someone on the Subic Bay Freeport Zone wanted to protect the customers from having to see the slums and the poor that live in the shacks and shanties. I was so angered and saddened by this. Is it part of the "Turning away"? I started thinking about this reaction, and wonder why we do this. I'm not writing this to upset you, or because I think I have any answers, but I would hope to open a dialogue in our minds/hearts about our reactions. I don't want to get all "Shane Claiborne-ish" on you, (but highly recommend reading anything he wrote) =), but hope to provoke each of us to examine how and why we feel like we do when confronted with POVERTY.  |
| the new fence! |
 |
| Looking across the canal to 12th St. |
Although I should be immune to these feelings because our work is focused on the poor, there are still times when it jumps up and slaps me in the face! In the last few days I've had three close encounters with the" poor and downtrodden" and had to make a decision regarding my reaction. The first was after church Sunday night when I encountered a mentally ill man rummaging through a garbage can for food just outside the hospital. My next encounter was when my husband parked our car outside the music store and I observed three youth sleeping (passed out?!?) on the sidewalk, many people just walking by. Then, a little girl with extremely skinny arms and rotted teeth kept tapping on the car window and repeating "Gimme money, gimme money". (Her "begger boss" or parents taught her well). How do we react to that? Do we turn away? Do we run and hide because we feel there's little we can do to turn the tide? Does it hurt so bad we can't look? Can't respond to the person and affirm their humanity because it might cost us something?
 |
| youth sleeping on the street |
I certainly don't have the answers. I did what I felt compelled to do about each situation. Each of our responses might be different. Again, I'm just hoping to provoke some thought about this.
I have been encouraged lately as I've observed a few others and how they react. They haven't recoiled from the sights/sounds/smells of poverty. They didn't hold back the hugs or not play with kids because of head lice, scabies, TB or other health concerns. They fully engaged with the poor in the middle of the slums! My new friend, Mila (visiting from Calcutta) not only had intelligent observations about the poor and responsibilities of the rich, but she joined our volunteers and 12th St mothers after the feeding and washed dishes with them. They enjoyed having her there! Andrew and Brittany (local teachers who volunteer with children's ministry every week) have a gift of treating each child and parent with respect and bring joy to all who interact with them. Recently I watched my daughter Vanessa as she was mobbed by little kids in the fishing village and put smiles on their faces as she treated each with kindness and took the time to listen to them. It is so encouraging to see what a difference a person can make in the life of another!
Please don't turn away.... you CAN make a difference.
Ok, enough... any comments or questions? you know where to reach me... I'll just leave you with this:
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come,
you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared
for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me
something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a
stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick
and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see
you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did
we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth,
whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for
me.' Matthew 25:34-40
