Reality and Lent

As I sit in Panera Bread sipping a hot chai latte and eating a cinnamon crunch bagel with hazelnut cream cheese, I am struck with a thought..."I just ate someone's daily wage." It's true. More than 1/2 of the worlds population lives on less than $2.50 a day. That's $17.50 a week. That's about what my friend Stefanie and I spent on lunch today, and we were excited that it was so cheap. 

The reality of our world is difficult to stomach sometimes. I take what I have for granted. Now I'm not saying that God is looking down on me and shaking his head in disgust at my enjoyment of food and drink, but I do think that he desires me to use my resources wisely and to remember the poor. 

This week marks the beginning of the holiest season in the liturgical year. Lent is a time of fasting, repenting, self-examination, anticipation, engagement, and letting go. It's the 40 day period between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. As a way of participating in Lent I'll be going through World Vision's Relentless Acts of Justice. 

Today we were challenged to list our luxuries in a few different categories...
•    Money
•    Health
•    Disease
•    Faith
•    Freedom
•    Education  
The challenge was to list 20-40 ways we are privileged in these ways. Here's some of what I came up with

• Money - have enough money in my checking account to: pay my rent, utilities bill, cell phone bill, groceries, gas, car insurance, sponsor a child through world vision, give to 5 IV staff workers, go out to eat a few times or buy something new in a month. I have both a checking and a savings account that both have some money in it. I own a car, cell phone, computer, i-pod, camera, gps, a closet (and draws) full of clothes, shoes, a house in Tampa and lots of furniture. 
• Health/Disease - I have health insurance. I can go to the doctor whenever I need to. I have a dentist, eye doctor and family practice doctor that all take my insurance. I've never been hospitalized for more than a bad case of the flu and to get my tonsils out. I've been to the emergency room only 3 x's for a broken collar bone (age 3), a fractured wrist (age 13) and a broken hand (age 32) - nothing major. I've never been diagnosed with anything more than seasonal allergies and lactose intolerance.When I partially tore my ACL I was treated and sent to PT. None of my immediate family has been diagnosed with a life threatening disease. My mom was healed from a pituitary tumor and had both me and my brother. 
• Faith - I was raised in a religious home, had a faith background since I was born, have the freedom to worship freely anytime/anywhere I choose, I can openly share my faith with out risk of punishment, persecution or death. My parents/family accept my faith, my parents follow Jesus. I work freely for a faith based organization. I can go to church with out having to hide or fear. I know Jesus, I have hope!!
• Freedom - as a woman I am free to have any job that I want, I can go places by myself, I can shop where ever I want, I can drive and take myself places. I have a car. I can travel freely. Jesus has set me free from sin. I am treated fairly and am not imprisoned - physically or mentally.
• Education - I have a college degree, I went to private pre-school, elementary, middle-school, high school and college. I have taken master level classes. I can read, write, think strategically, communicate clearly. I can teach others. I can go back to school full time if I choose

This exercise was humbling. I am privileged. I have been blessed. I have so much. I have more than I really need. There is so much more I could list. I am grateful and humbled. 

 

Lord, help me not to take any of these things for granted. Help me not to hold onto any of them selfishly, but realize that each of these things belong to you. Help me to use the resources that you bless me with to bless others and help make this world right again.

Amen...