East St. Louis: In Focus - #2

As I sit back and look at our support situation right now, this picture is so challenging. Why, you might ask, is a scene of kids playing on old mattresses in the midst of housing projects challenging? The answer is simple: Joy. These kids are living in poverty—there is no arguing that reality. Yet if you were to be there taking this you would see the joy that they are experiencing even in the midst of their situation. Our support is really hurting right now, and it’s so tempting to give up. But looking at these kids challenges me so much. The voice inside my head screams, “You lucky to be above the poverty line whiner, get up, keep moving, and quit complaining about the economy—you’re fortunate to even feel the effects of it!” With my perspective shifted by the joy of children, I move forward. It’s not an easy for any of us who are affected by this economic downturn, and I don't write this to minimize our situation. However, I think we’d all do well to realize how blessed we are to even feel the effects of these financial struggles, and to learn a lesson from those who are far less fortunate, yet immeasurably more joyful.