Two of the most powerful words! What if. . . we could end poverty; what if. . . we could end hunger; what if. . . we elected leaders who truly cared about the people? I could go on and on and on. I am a retired school teacher, living on a small pension and Social Security; I enjoy the benefits of Medicare and AARP supplemental insurance. Compared to most of the world, I am rich. But I am not; I do contribute where I can, and I do give money to those homeless people on the streets.
But there is something better out there; here is my dream:
We are terrified by what lies ahead; but we are healed by the love of God; we are renewed by His glorious presence within us. We are blessed to share this gift. From a prayer in the Bible: “For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.” This is the greatest gift for humanity. This, however, is just the beginning. Our prayers and efforts must lift the poor out of poverty. . . with God’s help. We are given wisdom to create better lives; it is time to use this gift!
This is clearly the meaning of Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians. “We with our unveiled faces will gradually reflect like mirrors the brightness of the Lord. All will grow brighter and brighter as we are gradually turned into the image that we reflect” (3:18). With God’s help, we do this on earth; not just for our country, but for the entire world. Our president has shared the vaccines for the Covid virus; he must do the same with food and material goods to boost all from poverty.
I pray that we discard all wasted efforts supported by personal greed to open our hearts to our brothers in sisters. This is an exciting time, so let us to begin. We must save humanity and reflect God’s will for us. If we each do one thing to help those in need, the ripple effect around the world would be tremendous. If the flutter of a butterfly’s wings in India can create a storm in Nebraska, then an act of good will in Virginia can create a flood of kindness and grace to people in Patagonia.
© Russell Kendall Carter
Meditating to Heal 