This past weekend, Francis Chan said:
Let’s just call it what it is… we’re more concerned with our standard of living than people dying.
Truth be told, I’m guilty.
If my child were being abused, I would give my life to stop it. Yet I don’t sense the urgency that 1 out of every 5 American children is abused physically, mentally or sexually. Or that 1 million people are forced, tricked or coerced into trafficking their bodies for sex every year (70% are women – 50% are children).
If my family were dying of dysentery because of filthy drinking water, I would move mountains to get them clean water and medical attention. But I don’t feel that same panic – even though 1 out of every 6 humans on our planet are drinking disease contaminated filth (and that a child dies every 3-4 seconds, year round, from a preventable water-related disease).
I guess the problem is, I have to care enough to shift resources. To reallocate. To give up some of the things I value so highly that they prevent me from seeing beyond them.
Forming a relationship with a family could prevent abuse (yeah, it could actually be that simple).
$400 a year could feed, educate, clothe, vaccinate and house a former sex slave while they grow up.
Ten bucks could give someone clean water for a decade.
The whole world could change if we felt urgency for each other .
But I might have to put something down if I’m going to pick up someone else’s burden.
