There has been much criticism of SNAP challenges and
participants around the country. Each person that participates in some sort of
poverty-type experience has their own motivations and intent. A common
complaint is the effort to replicate “the hunger experience” is unrealistic and
never representative of the true depth of hunger and lack of hope.
I am well aware of my own privilege. I am a nonprofit
professional, self-employed Latina living in my own home. I over-eat, have a
gym membership, am an outdoor recreation enthusiast, have health insurance, a
car and travel frequently (by air) for work and pleasure. Both my parents are
(retired) college-educated professionals. I have no personal experience of
poverty, homelessness or food insecurity. I am a seminary-educated layperson,
deeply entrenched in the church and see how we struggle to be a meaningful
presence at the margins of our society. At least on Sundays.
Privilege is a reality. I have no illusion that I can
duplicate the true experience of either hunger or homelessness. I don’t seek to
glamorize or romanticize poverty, nor investigate the overblown claims of vast entitlements
that are available to people living in poverty.
I hope to glimpse into the challenges and possibilities of
what happens when people must rely on government assistance for food while
struggling with homelessness. I hope to listen enough to hear about need and
opportunity where I can use my privilege to advocate for change, and my
influence to rally the communities where I am involved to consider ways to make
a meaningful different in the lives of all God’s people.
Most of all, I hope this experience will shape my faith and
compassion as I glimpse into the challenge that many of God’s people face each
and every day. I hope to see, listen, reflect, pray, plan and act.
No comments:
Post a Comment