Justice, Mercy & Changing the Wind (Part 2)

Time for the second installment of thoughts that may or may not belong together. This is an adaptation of a story I heard Jim Wallis tell about a year ago. I believe at the time he said he had borrowed if from Martin Luther King, Jr.

Every morning in Washington, in Ottawa, in London, in every seat of political power for that matter, politicians stick their index finger in their mouths, then raise their hands.

They're checking to see which way the wind is blowing.

It's what they do; it's who they are. Our political leaders don't make a move without checking to see which way the wind is blowing on the issue at hand. We go to them with our passion - nothing short of the alleviation of global poverty - and in go the fingers and up go the hands. It's automatic; it's unconscious. It would be naive of us to think we could change that reality. It's not going to happen.

Instead,  we need to change the wind.

This is where Make Poverty History comes in. Initially, I didn't understand what they meant when they said "We don't want your money. We want your voice." I caught a glimpse, just about a month ago, watching a blue glow spread through GM Place as thousands of us took out our cell phones and called Paul Martin. Now, as I recall this story, another piece falls into place, and the understanding grows.

Every email and phone call to a political leader, every passionate conversation with friends over coffee, every heart and mind focused on a distant Scottish city in July... these are all little breezes. Individually they are hardly noticeable. Combined, they are formidable.

Together, we are changing the wind.

(Also posted to 3Click)

Comments

[Caroline Ramsey]

"Together we are changing the wind"

amen

[wilsonian]

Yes, yes!

[chris]

I think I have a hard time really believing we can change the world sometimes. I'm not as disillusioned as this will sound but here are my doubts about overcoming world poverty.

I mean, even if debts are erased and foreign aid increased, most of it will still go to and be controlled by corrupt men while the poor will continue to suffer. Look at the Oil for Food program in Iraq, did that really do much for the poor there? In order to actually help the poor in many of those countries you first have to give them the right to earn a fare wage which will not happen unless their leaders are willing to give power back to the people. The reality is that in many places corruption is a way of life, and to actually change the conditions for the poor it will take radical changes in the social structure which very rarely are peaceful.

As for politians listening to the wind, I think we all know that the important thing is for them to only make token gestures because it never has and never will be an election issue. No one campaigns on foreign aid promises because people always will choose everything from tax cuts, health care, job stability to pensions, and military jobs before the welfare of the poor elsewhere is a concern. Even the NDP which campaigns more for social issues here then the other federal parties cannot rally votes on that platform to ever make a difference, and thats to help OUR poor let alone the poor elsewhere.

I hope though that when our next election comes up within the year that we can make poverty an issue big enough to actually sway votes. That would be a God sized miracle alright :)

Our only hope that I can see is to on a personal level try to make our lifestyles more equal to those around us by giving away when we have more rather then moving up to a richer neighborhood. As we all know from Jesus, its not the amount that shows your heart but the dollar in relation to your total wealth that reveals the truth of our priorities.

[Mike]

Chris - a couple of quick thoughts...

It's one thing to do this stuff because "it works", ie. the poor are no longer poor. While that is the goal, it's another thing entirely to do this because we're supposed to, regardless of the outcome. You invoked the name of Jesus, so be Jesus to the poor.

The other thing is this. We can't change the world, we can only love it. We can, however, change the wind.

[chris]

That's true. I suppose sometimes we just have to do something because we think its important regardless of whether there is success.

Sometimes though, you start to question whether God is really on your side or if the reason for failure is because you don't really know Him. But I suppose you are right, we can certainly try to change the wind.

Thanks!

[RickinVa]

I can't help but think of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza...

[Mike]

Rick - I'm embarassed to tell you I'm not familiar with the story, but I'm sure you meant it as encouragement.

Thanks!

[RickinVa]

Perhaps Robert can help Mike...

And if you define encouragement broadly enough, I'm sure my intentions would fit your expectations...