All a Matter of Perspective

“Listen to this, you pleasure-loving kingdom, living at ease and feeling secure. You say, ‘I am the only one, and there is no other. I will never be a widow or lose my children…” (Isaiah 27:8)

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Today, I am disheartened. Frustrated. And quite honestly, embarrassed.
To live in a nation such as ours and see such a skewed perspective on the whole.

We can mourn the passing of iconic (unnamed) entertainers for months, and even the future retirements of other iconic (unnamed) celebrities… and yet not give the downtrodden a second thought.
And we indulge in the richest foods known to man… while there are countless brothers and sisters in the world who’d be thrilled just to have clean water to drink.

The other evening, I had the great opportunity to hear Shaun Groves. And I’m so glad I got to go. Not only a gifted musician and singer, such a great example of a man after God’s own heart. Performing his music (for free) all over the country, he now not only shares his musical talent, but also his heart for Compassion International.

In raising awareness for Compassion, he told the story of how he got to meet one of his sponsored families. I encourage you to read it straight from him.

But, the part that made the greatest impression on me and hit me straight in the gut, on behalf of our entire privileged nation was this:
He described visiting one home in particular, that would fit in most of our garages here. With one little bench to sit on, that the father had made and discarded trash as a roof over their heads. At night, the ladies got to sleep inside, their fellas out in the street. And with eyes aglow, the girl proudly asked “Do you like my home?”

Later, he described being led through town, past complete squalor and desitution when he noticed big tears in the girl’s eyes. And when he asked what was wrong, she said “Oh, nothing! I just love God SO much!”

It was then that Shaun had to ask himself. Who are the truly poor here? Us, living under the shelter of false security of wealth and privilege? Or them, trusting in the shelter of the Most High for their every need for mere survival?

Jesus said that when we do for the least of these, we do unto Him. How about this year for Christmas, we focus on the One whose birth it is all about and do unto the least of these, in His name.

It’s so easy, in our culture, to turn and look the other way. We’re blessed to have that choice. But, others don’t and they need our help.
Let’s not go down as just another self-indulgent Babylonian empire saying “I am self-sufficient and not accountable to anyone!” (Isaiah 47:10)

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“No end in sight that I can see,
Today is blocked by the mirror in front of me.

A wreck, a death, tsunami tide,
It mildly stirs me, I must confide.
TV claims tens of thousands gone.
Oh well, let’s see what else is on.

Numb to the stunning sight
Of each new dawn,
Sinking fast in Babylon.” (Beth Moore)

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