The least of these
Dorothy Day said, "The true atheist is the one who denies Christ's image in the least of these". This is a quote that I came across a few weeks ago and it has challenged me to see people differently in my daily life. I read Matthew 26:35 this morning (I know, I am a bit behind) and it reminded me of the attitude that Dorothy Day captured in her quote. It also reminded me of an interaction that we had yesterday with a man outside of the airport in Guatemala City. As we were loading into our rental van, he approached us in his wheel chair, offering snacks for sale. He looked disheveled and in need of help - but my first reaction was 'Oh here we go with the beggars and peddlers', as I've experienced the persistence of such people in Latin America before. I was surprised with myself, because of the recent change in attitude that I've tried to practice at home. This scripture verse reminds me to open my heart to them, while at the same time challenging me to grapple with my desire to protect myself and my money, making sure not to give too much away. Give too much away? How can I give too much away? I've heard it said before that you can't out give God...but in a world where we are used to budgeting our funds and making a dollar stretch, this concept confuses me. I understand that God wants me to be generous, and I know that it is mutually beneficial to do so, how do I find the faith to practice this? Is it wise to allow my generosity to extend to those that are capable of taking advantage of me? God will provide, right?
Created over 2 years ago
