The Disparity of our Gifts
Posted 11-21-2010 at 09:16 AM by LookinForMayberry
Yesterday after taking Bigun to Redmond's 80-acre off-leash dog park, we stopped at the food co-op (PCC Natural Markets) to pick up our supplies for the coming weeks. We shop there for the hard to find items for their abundance and variety (ten flavors of soy yogurt instead of two, for example -- and a great bulk foods section). We spent just over $235.
As we walked in, I'd noticed a man selling the Real Change newspaper, outside, in the 40 degree day. On our way out, I prompted DH to spring a buck for the paper, and wished him well. Real Change is a member of the North American Street Newspaper Association and the International Network of Street Papers. They print informative articles about fighting poverty, not the poor. The homeless sellers buy the paper for $0.35 and get to keep the proceeds.
Driving home, I thought about the difference in his life and mine. He wasn't going to make in his proceeds this week what I'd spent in less than two hours. I wondered as I went to bed in my clean flannel sheets, under the LL Bean wool blanket, where he would be tucking into. When I looked out this morning and saw a dusting of snow on my new car's roof from my warm bedroom, I wondered how far he had to walk to get to sell more papers.
I thank God for the abundance in my life. I am glad I have enough disposable time outside my working hours to sit here and listen to violin adagios while I type. It's a gift that allows me to spend this afternoon cooking foods for the coming week.
I won't have to stand in the cold smiling at strangers, hoping someone will buy the newpapers in my cold hands.
Thank you, God, for all my gifts. Help me find even more ways to share them with my fellow creatures in the manner that you would have me share. Let that man and his many brethren find warm, dry homes to spend this cold winter. Amen.
As we walked in, I'd noticed a man selling the Real Change newspaper, outside, in the 40 degree day. On our way out, I prompted DH to spring a buck for the paper, and wished him well. Real Change is a member of the North American Street Newspaper Association and the International Network of Street Papers. They print informative articles about fighting poverty, not the poor. The homeless sellers buy the paper for $0.35 and get to keep the proceeds.
Driving home, I thought about the difference in his life and mine. He wasn't going to make in his proceeds this week what I'd spent in less than two hours. I wondered as I went to bed in my clean flannel sheets, under the LL Bean wool blanket, where he would be tucking into. When I looked out this morning and saw a dusting of snow on my new car's roof from my warm bedroom, I wondered how far he had to walk to get to sell more papers.
I thank God for the abundance in my life. I am glad I have enough disposable time outside my working hours to sit here and listen to violin adagios while I type. It's a gift that allows me to spend this afternoon cooking foods for the coming week.
I won't have to stand in the cold smiling at strangers, hoping someone will buy the newpapers in my cold hands.
Thank you, God, for all my gifts. Help me find even more ways to share them with my fellow creatures in the manner that you would have me share. Let that man and his many brethren find warm, dry homes to spend this cold winter. Amen.
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