I see someone in school with worn, outdated clothes, and I:
A. walk on by. It's
really none of my business how anyone dresses.
B. think to myself
that this person doesn't care what he/she looks like and ignore them.
C. feel sorry for
them knowing I'm blessed to have what I have.
D. just walk up and
say, "Hey, I don't think we've met," and try to get to know
the person.
Analysis
A. It is good not to judge, but walking by may
be misunderstood. Sometimes people who just walk by are perceived as being
too cool for others.
B. Even if you don't say it, what you think can
be picked up through nonverbal communication. Also, you never know what
you're missing out on in a potential friend.
C. It's good to appreciate your blessings but
feeling sorry for someone assumes a lot. You don't know why this person
is dressed the way he/she is.
D. This would be my choice. As people get to know
each other, they find out what lies beneath. You never know what gift
you'll unwrap in another person.
In the beatitudes Matthew and Luke talk about being poor. Matthew says "Blessed are the poor in spirit ... " Luke says "Blessed are the poor ... " They both end by promising them the reign of God. For some reason Jesus temptation in the desert comes to mind. He was tempted with three things, popularity, power and material things. Jesus resisted them all. It makes you wonder why these three were lumped together. Is it so strange?
Do people in your school want to be popular? Do the clothes we wear make an impression on people? Do we ever spend hours getting ready for something in order to look just right? Does money help? How many of us own shoes that cost $100.00?, jeans, our jewelry?
Don't get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with dressing up and looking nice. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be liked. And having influence and power is okay. The real deal is in seeking to like others rather in seeking to be liked. The real deal is in being more concerned about the person I am then the person I look like. And if I have power do I use it to be top dog or do I seek to help others have power, power with not power over.
Maybe our beatitude can be restated to be:
"Blessed are they that seek others well being and always looks to
others needs first; then they, with others, will share the reign of God."
These two versions of the same beatitude can sometimes be tough to put
together. The key is to be compassionate whether it's caring for people
who have less or just having an attitude of not seeing other as less then
ourselves. Each person is a gift and that means you. Share the gift of
you humbly and allow others to share the gift of themselves with you.
Peace!
By Pat Rinker,
Director of Youth Ministry, Diocese of Lansing
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