Facing Up to Poverty

Ever notice how, when one has been faithful in personal devotion, joyful in corporate worship, and practiced acts of love and justice, that something often comes along to kick you in the teeth?

That something this week was the report from the U.S. Census Bureau announcing that 1 in 6 Americans is now living below the poverty line. Released Sept. 13, the report shows that the overall poverty rate rose to 15.1 percent of all Americans, or 46.2 million people. The official poverty level is an annual income of $22,314 for a family of four.

Compare this number to the 49.9 million Americans without health insurance, and the persistent 9 percent unemployment rate, roughly 30 million citizens without jobs. It makes you wonder what goes on in the minds of those who think that people who subsist on food stamps, unemployment checks and Medicaid deserve their misfortunes enough to applaud at the prospect of their dying.

TPC's Take: Since religion has become a major issue in the presidential campaign, we strongly recommend that votes confront the candidates – all the candidates, mind you – with some of the helpful scripture and theology from Bread for the World. Its page, "The Economics of Love for Neighbor," is an easy-to-read and easy-to-use rebuttal to the brutal and barbaric politics currently being supported.

Susan from 29's blog post at The Daily Kos, "That Was My Brother's Death You Were Cheering, You A$$holes," offers another excellent refutation to the concept that people without health insurance deserve what they get.

Even with all this gloom, let's not lose sight of the fact that scripture assures us God loves the poor and needy, which in some ways includes all of us, even when politicians don't. Let's remember Jesus' admonition from Matthew 25: even the smallest act of kindness is sacred.

* * *

Thanks to Mary Ann Brussat of Spirituality and Practice for posting the following note on Facebook:

"Starts today 8 pm ET: 24 Hours of Reality, a worldwide event that will share the reality of the climate crisis. From Tonga to Cape Verde, Mexico City to Alaska, Jakarta to London, people living with the impacts of climate change every day will tell their story. The event features a new multimedia presentation created by Al Gore. Streamed live at: climaterealityproject.org"

TPC's Take: 'Nuff said.

* * *

A final word on the 10^th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States:

Kudos to President Obama for reading Psalm 46 during the New York City ceremony at Ground Zero. A great way to remind us all (are you listening, Mayor Bloomberg?) that we are not mere creatures of flesh and bone, but are spiritual beings that seek meaning from life's events. If only we would remember this more often!

Today is cloudy in Dallas, and there's actually a smell of rain in the air. Pray that it falls here to nourish the parched earth. Keep the faith, and fear not!