Tonight someone asked the question "why does God let some people be born into poverty and suffering?" This is the wrong question to ask. The real question is why were we NOT born into poverty and suffering? The answer is simple. We have been given the GIFT of not being born into poverty and suffering with the opportunity of passing that gift on. We decide every day whether or not to do so. As my good friend Claire says: The fact is there is more than enough food in the world for everyone to eat. We make hundreds of little choices every day which support a system that intentionally prevents the distribution of that food. We can choose to say YES to the question the world asks of us (and I believe God asks us): will you help? It is good to enjoy the wealth we have but only if we also pass some of it on when we are able. If we don't pass it on then we are enjoying a gift we've received at others expense. And that expense is pain, suffering, and death...

The good news is we are all generous and want to give. When something like the tsunami happens it is publicized so much that everyone becomes aware and gives. The TV news is not going to show us every night what life is really like in Africa, Asia, or even in our own cities. They are not going to show us the people who have no water to drink or food to eat. Showing us this would not sell advertising and remember TV is in the advertising business. They are in the business of making you feel empty and convincing you that your emptiness can be filled with STUFF. Stuff that their advertisers sell. WE THE PEOPLE: to me this is a great beginning for many things. For example, WE THE PEOPLE have the power to feed the world. This statement is true. In fact, we could feed the world with barely any perceptible difference in our own lifestyles. This is an economic fact. We have this power and yet we don't use it. At least not enough. "Why does God or the universe or whatever let people be born into poverty and suffering?" One reason is to give us (the chosen 10 %) a chance to truly shine. SHINE SHINE SHINE.

Thursday, January 27th 2005