Why the disparity?

I just returned from spending the afternoon with a dozen teens and a few college interns handing out cold bottled water to homeless friends in the downtown area. I always leave asking myself an important question when I see people in distress. WHY? What causes such disparity in life? Why is it always the case that some seem to rock the world and make it big time and then some always seem to bomb out and crash land to such an extent that they can’t make it on their own?

Last night we had a life skill group with a guest speaker who grew up in D.C. He came out of a home where mom had degrees but dad only had a G.E.D. My new friend is African American and went to an all ‘Black’ school in D.C. He was quick to share that even though the perception in D.C. is that it is totally a welfare city for the ‘Black’ community that he had many friends that were doctors and lawyers. He understood his personal ambitions meant that he had to do well in school and develop a passion for learning if he was going to rise above his circumstances.

After handing out cold water in 110 degree temps we visited with a good friend of mine who had been homeless most of her life. I love having this friend share her story to help my teens and adults understand some of the basics in life which they take for granted which are key in their life journey. She was quick to express how having a family, in this situation a Christian Community, made all of the difference between making it or failing. She didn’t blame society, family or drugs for her being on the street but her lack of motivation to rise above these circumstances to take ownership of her life. The difference today, which she would scream out, is that God has given her the ability to value her life and have a desire to pay it forward!

I had worked on a survey earlier in that day with my intern and a key student leader to better understand the community. Our hope is to better connect with those that live in South Phoenix and see the community be more equipped to use their skills and resources to help the community to become healthier and capable of caring for itself. I know that after listening to our new friend at the Life Skill Group that something has to spark the inner person to help get our youth and adults motivated to never accept mediocrity as a way of life.

I know I will continue to struggle with the why question in life when it comes to the vast differences of people’s circumstances. I know that it is easy at times to blame poverty, violence, gangs and drugs as the reasons why a community seems to always be in trouble. Yet, what I heard through our guest speaker, our homeless friend and another of our college interns is the simple fact that family does make all of the difference. We need to either reconnect with our family or be willing to find a new family that will accept us for who we are and encourage us to never quit or give up.

Jesus did say that the poor would always be with us. Yet, his real message was that we are called to care in tangible ways to see God’s resources shared with those in real need. The challenge is that too often we are too stingy to share our resources with those who seem to be unworthy. The reality is that I’m an unworthy candidate for God’s mercy and grace.  Yet, God chooses to love me regardless of my performance!