Charity

“Charity sees the need not the cause.”

German Proverb

This summer I attended a workshop for debate teachers.  One of the unintended consequences of this workshop is that I have this nagging sense that I should be doing something to help those in poverty.  This is because we spent a lot of time discussing this year’s high school debate topic: “The United States federal government should substantially increase its public health assistance to Sub-Saharan Africa.”

If you think for even just a little bit about the state of public health in some developing countries, the problems seem staggering. For example:

• Nearly 1 billion people live in substandard housing without clean water or adequate sanitation.

• 18 million children have already lost one or both parents to AIDS, 12 million of them are in Africa alone.

• Around the world, one person in seven goes to bed hungry each night.

• A child dies every 15 seconds from diseases related to unsafe water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene.

Of course, the list goes on and on.

It is easy to think about all of the reasons why these problems exist and blame the corrupt governments, military warlords, wasteful organizations that don’t use donations efficiently, etc.

Yet the problems are still there, and people still suffer.  I feel guilty because I don’t have a lot of extra money to throw at those problems, but if I did I believe that would be my “cause.”  Combating poverty and all of its related problems keeps popping up as a burden on my heart.

In researching the issue today, I came upon the Free Rice site.  From what I can gather, it’s legitimate.  I’ve played quite a bit this afternoon and have even added an image link over in my sidebar to remind myself (and hopefully you) to play a little bit from time to time.

I’m going to keep thinking, researching, and praying about what I can do regarding this issue.  If you have any suggestions for me, please share them.

YourTurn:  What issue or cause do you care most deeply about?