Let me just warn you now. This is not an uplifting post. If you are looking for an energizing way to begin your day, you might want to look elsewhere. Today I am writing about something on my heart and while things that often perch on my heart ARE inspiring and uplifting (remember that I am a survivor of many things) this is not one of those. I am sorry. Check back with me tomorrow.
As I was traveling through the mountains of West Virginia, often en route to or from the slopes to our resort, I was taken aback by the poverty that is so ever-present in this beautiful state. It made me very aware of the platform I stood on.
Trailer homes were the norm. In fact, I believe that a trailer is actually considered a relatively nice home in the West Virgina foothills. Please understand that I say this not in any way to belittle these dear people. It just smacked me in the face a bit as I sometimes can get stuck in my little suburban world though I am making a conscious effort not to do so these days.
I remember watching a documentary entitled “American Hollow” on HBO made by Rory Kennedy. I have always admired Rory’s work because she dares to go where many will not. She’s not afraid to speak the truth and show it like it is. The pretty, yes. But the ugly? She’ll lay it out there for you. Her work is not for those who want to continue to see the world through rose-colored glasses. I thank God for people like her. (Click here to view “American Hollow” in segments)
Her documentary followed an Appalachian family through the dramas of everyday life – it was reality television before reality television existed. And when I say drama, I mean drama. Not the kind of drama that your car-has-a-flat-and-you-can’t-get-your-kids-to-preschool kind of drama. No. This is the kind of drama in which a mom mourns the shooting of her son and squirrels are killed and skinned for dinner that evening.
It was eye-opening. I remember some of the specifics to this day and I viewed it eleven years ago.
Being the lover of children that I am, my initial reaction was to grab those little innocents who are growing up in such poverty, such dysfunction, and run. Just run like the wind and love them to death in my own home and raise them up “right”.
Then I realized that my “right” and their “right” just might not be the same thing. Who the heck am I?
If abuse is endured or alcohol and drugs are ever-present, then removal of children is an absolute necessity. But what about those children who are being raised in filth? Or those that sleep on just a mattress if they are lucky? Those who drink Pepsi in their bottles because that’s all they can afford? Do they lack love? While some absolutely do (those are the ones I want to get my paws on) many do not.
But yet I can’t help but wonder – is love all it takes? How does the cycle ever break? How does it change for the better?
Such questions. Such powerful questions. And yet I don’t even know how to begin to answer them. I. Just. Don’t. Know.
My brother in law was with us on this little ski trip and he brought up a study he had seen somewhere (he could not remember where so if any of you know where this information could be found, please let me know) in which those with a household income of $40,000 a year or less professed a strong faith and belief in Jesus. As the median household income rose, the profession of faith and belief in Jesus decreased.
Put that in your pipe and smoke on it for a bit.
What does this say?
One of the shanties I saw was so dilapidated it looked like it was going to simply just fall down and destruct at any moment. Yet in the front yard was a cross made out of stick. There is stood. Likely the most beautiful cross I had ever seen.
I have heard some arguments that those who live in poverty profess strong faith because this is all they have.
But ironically, this is all I have, too. The other things I have can be taken away in the blink of an eye. But faith? No. It’s the only thing we can ever possess that cannot be taken from us.
I’m reading a fantastically wonderful book right now entitled The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I can’t put it down.
Though it is about World War II and does at times discuss some of the horrid monstrosities that occurred during that time, it’s really a book about the human spirit. The need for love and connection that resides in us all. God made us this way for a reason.
Many of those imprisoned in work camps (Doesn’t that just sound so much tidier than it actually was? I’m not sure I would have named them “work camps” at all.) held true to their beliefs. They knew they were being persecuted, in the worst possible way, for what they believed. Yet on their darkest days, when the power of the Nazi regime was at its worst, they could never be robbed of their faith.
The above video is just a two minute clip I found from a segment Diane Sawyer did entitled “Children of the Mountains.” I love it because it opens with this sweet girl, who has seen so much already in her short life, singing a song about Jesus. She believes. Through the nightmares she endures on a daily basis, she still believes.
She is often hungry. She often has to eat Ranch dressing, only Ranch dressing, for dinner. Her young cousin drinks Pepsi from her bottle. Her mother is a former drug addict just trying to make it and get a GED. She has no blankets, no sheets for her bed. She usually must sleep with her younger sister.
And yet. She still believes. And she sings songs about Jesus.
Her faith is staggering to me.
She is far wealthier than I.
……I am lost for words. More people should open up there eyes and learn about The Children of the Mountian. You can tell that these children have a lot of spirit in them. They will fight to get out and I hope they will. There should be more specials on televison like this. There are too many people that don’t have a clue what is really happening in the world. Glad that you wrote this post.
Thanks, Linda. I agree that there should be more coverage of this somewhat forgotten population. I completely support aiding other countries but we have so much need right here in our own. If I could adopt 20 of them I would but I know that is not the answer. I wish it were that easy.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Linda!
I can’t watch the video because I am at work (taking a break and eating breakfast) but your post hits home on many levels. These poor children, it just breaks my heart that children, so mnay children with such tough stories are out there living and are not allowed to just be children.
I have to say that I live very much in the moment and am thankful for every blessing I have been given and I try to expose my girls to stories like this so that they can see how lucky they are, since they don’t know about things like this unless they are shown. In a world that relies so heavily on material things, I consider it another part of the education my girls must receive to learn about less fortunate poeple.
Sadie at heyMamas
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Teaching our children is critical. How else will they ever know? I am finding that my daughter, who just turned five, is able to slightly begin to grasp the concept but not fully. Until then, I am surrounding her with biblical truths and teaching her about Jesus so that she may go out into the world as an ambassador of Him.
Every piece of the puzzle helps. Thanks for a great point, Sadie!
Knowing Jesus is the center of the children’s hope is reassuring. He will never fail them even if it seems as so. We have had much and had little and I look back and know I am closer to God with little. Listen to the song “Little Is Much” by DownHere. This life only offers worldly things but a life in eternity with Christ is worth whatever suffering we go through now. Hungry children hurts my heart but they are wise in the Lord and will appreciate more than the spoiled children. We can pray for these with less and know God will send them hope in the form of food and encourgement or jobs for their parents. We should all be doing acts for God but unfortuntly we are so focused on our paychecks and bills, glitter and glam this world is offering most of us are off track. It is nice to see you post real issues going on and in hope that others will open their eyes and hearts.
“Jesus answered, If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.'” Matthew 19:21
“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:17-18
Wow. Your comment brought tears to my eyes, Beth. The scriptures you included are two of my favorites.
I think you bring up a good point about having a stronger faith when you have less. This completely explains the fact that those with a household income of 40K or less profess a stronger belief in God than those who have a higher income.
As for posting on topics that are real issues, I am such a realist. I hope that one day my tombstone will read “She was real.” :)
So interesting. Thanks for your well-stated comment.
Well written. Some of the stories are heartbreaking, but while watching the video you posted, I discovered a multitude of others and I found it interesting that many of the people wouldn’t trade their lives on the mountain for anything. I think this supports your claim that their wealth, in some ways, is greater than ours. I won’t dwell there long, but I often question what my faith would look like under the spot light of severe illness, or poverty, or any REAL struggle. It is hard for me to just trust in God”s plan some days and I have very little in the way of real trial. My church does mission trips to Grundy Mountain Mission School and I hope to go on one soon. Your post today inspires me to make that sooner rather than later!
So true, Debi. Life struggles are the ultimate faith-testers – I have had first-hand experience with this. While I have not dealt with extreme poverty, I can say that I have experienced many other hardships that I would not wish on my worst enemy. It was during these hardships that I examined what I believed theologically and became a Christian. When you are on your knees, the only place you can look is up.
I feel called to mission to this population as well. Please let me know if you go.
I needed this today – because who the heck am I, too?
You know what kept going through my head as you spoke about their faith? What does this say to those who profess to believe in the so-called prosperity gospel? How do you explain to those who are living in literally dirt shack, who still believe God is a God of miracles, that if they just believe a little harder He will take their poverty away and give them a fancy house and car? No, God doesn’t not intend for any of us to live like that, but He does intend for US, those who have more, to take care of those in need. And I am sadly, sadly lacking in that area. I am ashamed.
.-= Andrea´s last blog ..I don’t mean to bore you… =-.
Ah. The prosperity gospel. Hmmm…
I can’t tell you how many wealthy people I know who don’t believe in God. That pretty much debunks the concept right there, eh?
What a slap in the face to those who understand real faith and trust in God. God does not measure our wealth by how much we make or what we have. Hence why this little girl is far wealthier than I.
Such good points, Andrea. I felt so humbled as well – I had been complaining about our home’s lack of a basement (we are three months into winter and I have three young children under the age of five who need to play and run for crying out loud) lately. This trip through the mountains was the smack in the face I needed. How about looking at this palatial (completely in comparison) home I live in and realize that these people would love to live in a home like mine instead of focusing on its lack of a basement? Really.
Our Compassion International child lives in a home with a dirt floor. Her letters are also good reality jolts. Yet her faith in Jesus brings tears to my eyes.
I agree that we are very much called to assist those who have less. My mother always says that everyone has “fried eggs” and the things we struggle with might be different than what the next person struggles with. While I have held on to life by a string (my faith was the string) I have never had to worry about where my next meal will be coming from. That’s not my fried egg (at least not right now). But those who do have poverty as their fried egg very well may not struggle with some of the things I do and while we are called to minister to them on a financial level, they minister to us on many other levels. Read Same Kind of Different As Me for a wonderful example of this.
Thanks for your well-thought comment, Andrea! As you can tell, it made me think.
This has so broken me. The saddest part about it is that this exists in my very own neighborhood. I can literally walk a couple blocks down the street and find myself in the “ghetto” as they call it here. We live in a nice house and our neighbors live in a nice house…but it goes downhill fast from here. I was shocked when I first moved to this state–it reminded me of a third world country. My husband and I struggle sometimes just to keep up with our mortgage, but all I have to do is look down our street and I’m moved to tears. We have so much to be thankful for. How can I ever complain?
Right now, God is stretching me to give out of our own need–because everything we have has come from Him. I have to admit that it’s hard sometimes when we have our own late bills to pay for another’s–but that’s what He’s asking and how can we ignore Him? How can we ignore them?
.-= Joye´s last blog ..sew bright =-.
Oh I hear you. A few years back when my husband was just starting his dental career, money was quite tight. We were not tithing on a regular basis because we truly weren’t sure if we could pay all of our bills each month. However, we decided that this was backwards and felt this way of thinking was actually exhibiting a lack of faith. We started to tithe – certainly not 10% but we went out on a limb and gave.
You know what? God DID always provide. We always had enough.
I’m not suggesting that if you start giving you will suddenly win the lottery but there most certainly is something to the thought that God does provide us with all of our needs. What great points you bring up, Joye. Thank you for sharing so that we may see that this is real.
That was a beautiful post. I honestly don’t know what else to say except that.
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Thanks, Janine. Saying that is enough. :)
As if this isn’t already a wonderful post, I am studying how religion and economic behavior correlate in my Sociology of Religion course right now (literally, right now). Thank you, cousin! How fascinating, yet tragic situations like these seem…
So very glad to be of service to you my dear smart, kind and cute cousin!
wow. very moving post.
opening our eyes to what is around us and being thankful for what we have instead of what we don’t is vital.
i hope to teach my daughter that. material things are not was important. God and doing his will is the most important.
thank you so much for sharing.
Thanks for reading, Amber. I agree completely. This is such a challenge to teach our kids in the current culture we live in but it is not impossible – we just have to be intentional.
This tore my heart out to watch this video. You bring up some very good points. I enjoyed reading all the comments here too…
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