Blessing or Tragedy?

The Final Judgement....

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?” And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:35

Many people see certain issues in black and white, right and wrong. For me, it’s always been harder. Take for instance, I see a hungry man is getting fed, that’s a blessing. Right? But, what if that food is not fresh, healthy, or nutritious; rather, it’s outdated or prepackaged with all sorts of unhealthy aspects to it. Is that right? Maybe it’s something you and I wouldn’t eat, so we hand it to the poor. Some may arrogantly speak “At least they are getting feed, they shouldn’t complain.” But I would complain. What makes me better than them to ask for healthier food and most likely get it? Or maybe it’s not just the food, but the compassion given by the person handing the food over. Or the love put into making or preparing or bagging up the food. Maybe it’s the time spent in cleaning, by hand, the dishes of over 100 guests at a feeding site. Where is the line of how it should and shouldn’t be done?

I have so many questions that I can’t answer; which, this trip has initiated. Yes, it’s good and a blessing for a hungry man to get fed, but at what cost? The fact that he may soon become obese because nothing he is given is nutritious or his child will learn unhealthy eating habits because all he knows is a prepackaged pickle. Yes, some may go to the ball game and love to get a pickle to snake on, but this is their meal! That may be the ONLY thing they eat all day. It may be that the only thing a hungry child can afford and get to is the corner convenient store and a $.99 bag of chips. That is a tragedy! How do we stop that?

It’s been a blessing to watch and observe the people who step out and take the initiative to lovingly, compassionately and prayerfully put their time and energy into building relationships with the homeless and working poor to help them in probably their biggest time of need. Most middle to upper class don’t have to worry about this issue. And because it doesn’t effect them, they don’t think about it. That too is a tragedy.


-Chelsea Jenkins