Why does the bloated Biafra baby bring a tear,
and the hungry eye-cries of Haitian earthquake victims urge us to tear
our wallets from tightly held fists,
when the man,
the man with the sign in the planter area by the on-ramp,
we assume has a lesser need–that is, if we see him.
The lady,
the lady trying to sell the grubby Beanie-baby at the entrance to the grocery store
does not deserve eye contact,
hand contact,
I-know-you-exist contact,
and we breeze by without even a “No, thank you”–that is, if we see her at all.
Are the far needs greater than the near?
Or just easier to get over? Unchanged.
Are foreigners more worthy than neighbors?
Or is it just safer to care in one fell feel-good swoop
than love thy ever-present neighbor as ourselves?
Beautiful and perfectly sums up what my heart has been feeling the past few weeks; thanks!
It is hard sometimes to keep a proper perspective, but we ought never be too busy to care.
I am guilty of this. I know it. And you are so right.
We all are, I think. I catch myself avoiding eye contact, and the bells go off in my head.
You are saying what I feel and asking the same questions. There are so many out there who need help, but shouldn’t “charity begin at home?” P.S. I love the pathway photo over the dunes!
Thanks! I feel guilty when sitting at a light, not wanting to give eye contact. Maybe I don’t have an extra buck that day, and maybe they are even scamming, but I still need to risk caring and treating them as persons.
Yes!
You make a great point. I think it is so much easier to throw money at a “problem” and not have to put your own time, effort, and love into it by ministering to the one right in front of you.
Yes.
Thank you, Lilly. I do feel guilty if I ignore an outstretched hand. God will make it right when we give in the right spirit.. There IS such a need here, at home.
Yes–so many everywhere it seems.
Ouch… you are so right. LOVE is the greatest and highest calling – and does it not include those we walk beside?
Yes!