Poverty: Choice or Circumstance

Today we started Huddle again at work. I must admit I have never been totally devoted to the idea of Huddle. For those of you who don't know. We have a topic, we read about it, we discuss. Sometimes. LoL.

Well our topic today was on poverty. And I must admit I got sucked into the debate of two of our group members...

The question is poverty ever ok for our society? The debate when in such a way that I still don't know what my answer to that question is. I am a strong believer in a person's choice. And I get mad and frustrated at the government for continually taking our choice out of matters that are irrelevant to their concern. Examples of this would be wearing my seat belt, or wearing a helmet, or even health care. I should get to make choices in my life that matter to me.

So if a person is content with living in poverty and feel a normalcy with this should we try and change their perspective? If it is working for them, why should it matter to me. But then you have the second part of the debate. Are they really content? Sure people are going to say that they are, but are they really. If they are really happy why do impoverished areas have a higher criminal and jail rate, a higher child abuse rate, and higher domestic violence rates?

Lack of resources in a families life only continue to add stress to their current situation, which in turn increase these above situations to occur. If you don't have resources, you are going to use what you have regardless of the legality of the situation. You are going to do what you need to do... even if it's wrong... These people I don't believe can be content.

That being said I think I need to have a more open mind about it all together. I think that the answer to this question is that there isn't going to be an answer. Some families in poverty are content and are happy and don't have the above problems. And some aren't. That doesn't mean we don't need to help the ones that want our help, because some people do want our help. That also means the people that are fine in their current situation we shouldn't look down on because they don't fit into our preconceived notion of what is acceptable.

Life is what we make it... not what somebody else makes it for us...

Existentialism on Game Night

As some of you know I have moved from California back to the wonderful city of West Monroe over the last couple of months. I resumed my position at CASA as an advocate supervisor. Unfortunately, due to the extensive amount of loans that I have accumulated finishing my Master's degree, I also drive from West Monroe to Choudrant and watch my cousin. That being said I have a lot of time to think while I drive. I wish I had a tape recorder so I could record my thoughts because right now I have forgotten what I was thinking about on the way over here this morning.

I guess what I want to discuss is this idea of success. What is success and what does it mean? I think that I personally have become so consumed with this word and still do not really grasp the complete meaning of the word. Online there are two definitions of success that I liked. One is "an event that accomplishes its intended purpose" and "a state of prosperity or fame."

I feel that I don't think that I am successful because I am not achieving the second definition of the word. And for argument sake I like a majority of the population is not going to have fame in this world. Now I can achievement an accomplishment and everybody can... so why do I think that it is necessary to be famous... or to pretend that I am going to be famous one day... "It's just not going to happen!"

I hear about certain musicians such as Lady Gaga, Britney, you name them and think seriously.... They get to be famous for absolutely nothing... And don't get me wrong I don't want to be famous like them or even be a singer. I just want something more than I have. I know this is my human nature and my own selfishness is creeping in to make me want things that I am not going to get, but seriously... LADY GAGA!!!

I then feel convicted with I listen to Emery or LIfehouse and start to think about how I should just be grateful for a husband, a house, two puppies, my family, a job, etc. But it's not enough. Nothing is ever enough because we are not only born with this desire, the world we live in perpetuates our desire to always want more.

So when do I get my break? When do I get to do something that I want to do? Do I ever? Or am I going to have to live a mundane complacent existence until my life on this earth is over? Wanting it and trying for it just isn't enough. For some reason the only way you can get the second version of success is to 1. Be really good at what you are trying to do or 2. Know somebody or 3. Have a lot of money. I don't have any of these.

I feel convicted for feeling this way but Christ calls us to be honest and I am trying to be honest regardless of what others may think. At least I am letting it all out there instead of letting it consume me or I am trying to....

If we can't get to where we want then I guess the existentialists had it correct when they stated that Life is meaningless.... LIfe does seem that way to me right now...