What's troubling you?

I would say nothing personally is troubling me. I have no complaints about my life – I am healthy, as is my family, have a roof over my head, food on the table, and peace surrounds where I live. Freedom. However, I am troubled by some of the major events occurring in the world. The struggle for others to be safe, free, fed, sheltered… breaks my heart for many reasons. It makes me sad that it is a struggle for some to have the basics in their lives. I work for a non-profit organization (have for 9 years) and have seen first hand the struggle people face, especially children, living in poverty. The many layers of issue complicate the problem, and while some solutions are helpful on the short term, if there can’t be a fundamental shift to address the larger, long term issues, then poverty is a cycle that continues through generations of people. Not to mention even the absolute hardship that throwing politics and religion into the mix brings.

Being troubled doesn't lead me to complain without doing something about it. This is why I work where I do. Being troubled moves me to make a difference, and the help those around me, beginning with my family, my children, to see that there is something we can do. Making a difference in one life IS important. Making a difference is a million lives IS important. Caring and compassion does go a long way to helping people, no matter what their situation, to make a difference and help. Sharing resources, being creative, being positive in the face of despair, determined in the face of hunger. I am troubled that sometimes people forget to start where they are. It is good, because sometimes I forget too and need to be reminded.

There is much that I wish and pray for in this life for others. For myself too. In a world where the elite would rather spend millions on taking one flight into lower orbit than work to feed the bellies of millions of children.... I should be troubled and remain so.


la