For Easter this year I experienced a new kind of Easter vigil: helping to prepare and serve dinner to about thirty homeless people. It was not the Easter vigil I was expecting — but it was exactly the vigil I needed.
Also, feeding those who are homeless, struggling or hungry always begs the question – what are the underlying causes of homelessness and hunger?
People are not simply poor, homeless or hungry. There is enough to go around. Rather, they are made poor or hungry by others. Who are the others? Those of us who have enough and benefit from systems and laws that treat groups differently.
I’m always amazed that even books like Half the Sky or Portfolios of the Poor, while able to describe in detail all the ways in which women or other groups struggle with survival, consistently fail to explain the underlying local, federal and international laws that benefit males and certain races, nations and classes.
Charity will not fix this problem or the resulting hunger and poverty. Only systemic change will work. Laws must be changed in a way that everyone benefits, not just some individuals, groups or corporations.
If we can not see how this is true — it is because we are walking around with “blinders of privilege” on, refusing to educate ourselves. Those of us who benefit the most, often resist seeing the truth.
I must continuously make an effort to take off my blinders.
DH – I’m thinking of you this day!
