When was the last time you asked yourself, “Why Me?”
Not “whyyyyyy meee?” like you have some bone to pick with God.
But, “why me?”… like how did I get here and not there?
When I see the tragedy of Haiti or drive 30 minutes south of my house into Mexico or look through the pictures of my months in Uganda, I can’t help but ask myself, “Why me?”
Why is my house still standing, why are there 3 cars in my driveway, why did I get to go to college, why do I have fresh water in my pipes in 6 different faucets, why do I have any money in my bank account, why is my family healthy, why did I not die at 17 in a car crash, why have I never lived in a mud hut?
Speaking of mud huts though: some of my family actually has lived in a mud hut. Becky and Billy spent their first 6 months of life in one and and the next 5 in an orphanage and trust me, there is a very stark contrast to what those two kids consider “normal” today.
As far as I was concerned, I never thought it was really possible for someone to live on less than $1-$2 a day. I even doubted that statistic all together. I mean homeless people with a sign and a tin can in San Diego live on more than that. I didn’t “get it” until I wandered through the streets of a village in Uganda, just minutes from the nearest “city”. Here’s how it is done:
- you have no water bill. to get water, you either walk long distances to get fresh water in jugs you carry or you go to a closer, often unsafe source.
- you grow/catch/hunt/raise your own food and barter for what you need. You share with your family and neighbors. you eat very little and only what is locally available. Ie: if your country’s climate doesn’t grow grapes, then you don’t eat them. Etc.
- you don’t have property taxes or a house payment, cuz your home is made from sticks, mud, wood, bricks, grasses, and other locally available resources.
- you have no electrical bill, no cable bill, no satellite bill, no internet bill, and no mail box to get them in anyway.
- you have little more in clothing than what is on you
- you have no furniture
- you have no life insurance, car insurance, dental care, or health insurance
- you have no car and walk or take cheap public transportation everywhere you go.
- I may have made some good choices along the way, but I did not die on the battle field to ensure I could. I did not choose my parents or the social class they belong to. I did not grow up in the 1500’s. I did not choose to become a citizen of the wealthiest country on the planet. I did not do a lot of things that have radically shaped my life and who I am today.
- I can do some things to make a difference with what I’ve been given. I can and must!
- I give to KIVA: an amazing way to lend to small business with as little as $25, and the small businesses you lend to, pay you back!
- We sponsor children around the world in organizations like World Vision.
- We give fresh water via people like Charity Water.
- And most recently, I gave my days wages to One Days Wages.
- Join the over 770,000 fans of their facebook page. Follow their Twitter feed. Just pump whatever avenues you have to make some noise about this group.
- Visit their website and let their wage calculator tell you what your daily wage is and give it to the cause. One day’s wage.
- Give these two short 3 minute videos a listen. They will inspire and challenge you.
Husband. Dad to 5. Student Ministry Pastor. Follower of Jesus. Yatta yatta.
Love this post. I think it’s my favorite. I think you and I are kindred spirits. Except you are way smarter than me. And have a lot more energy. And you’re a man. Which makes you really different than me. But we’re the same. Following?
Thank you for that reminder
I’ve only met him once, and I’ve followed his blog for a few years, but Eugene Cho is an amazing man.