No, seriously. Is caring for the people who need us abnormal, in this modern, fast-paced world that we've all been pushed into—though, admittedly, at our own will. Has being concerned for other people been put so low on our list that we prefer not to be bothered by them? When I bring up this subject, I get the "usual"—homeless people are simply looking for free handouts, for money to buy their drugs, or that slaves aren't the norm for our society, that there simply can't be enough of them to make any real difference. But let me assure you, there are enough needy people—homeless, widows, orphans, impoverished, that it makes a difference, to do even one act of kindness. When you really open your eyes to the world's needs, you don't merely see people walking their dog down the street, or a group of teenagers hanging out in the mall. You see needy people, destitute people, mourning people, hurting people... people who need the message of hope and love and true life that you own. So caring for the needy in our society seems to be pretty strange, but caring for the un-needy? Even stranger!
So what do we do about our lack of caring, our lack of true, untainted love? We drive carelessly past a homeless man on the street, and within minutes forget about him altogether—if we really saw him at all. We get magazines about "giving a gift that can change a life," and instead of checking out the website and spending a few of our preciously wasted minutes looking at how to buy a cow for a family in Africa, the magazine ends up in the trash can. Yes, we changed a life. We added to the huge feeling of hopelessness that some kid who's dying of hunger is facing. It's not exactly the type of change we want to make, is it?
And yet, this is the "season of giving." If not now, why not never? Look around you right now. More than likely, you are surrounded by many material things, good things, comfortable things. Things that may have cost you a lot of money, but you really don't need them to survive. And yet, with all this... this stuff, we can't save the life of an impoverished child. We can't support a ministry that's trying to bring kids out of slavery. We can't even give a couple dollars and five minutes to get a burger for the guy standing on the corner, holding a cardboard sign. So I ask again:
Is caring about the needy abnormal?
I definitely know what you mean -- and it's so sad that it's to the point where if you give Christmas money towards a donation to a charity, you're instantly a saint. Um... okay? I was just CARING about someone out there who is starving! Sorry about my little rant, but truly, people (obviously me included) can be so selfish sometimes.
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