Beggars at the gate

Jesus told a story about a poor beggar named Lazarus who laid at the gate of a rich man.  They tell me you see this all over the 3^rd world.  Beggars come to the gates of the rich and loudly beg at a certain time of the day.  The rich man comes out with much fanfare and throws a handful of coins at the crowd of scrambling beggars.  They then progress to another house.  It’s not spontaneous, but a staged event.  The beggars get some small coin on which to live.  They get to loudly proclaim the unfairness life has dealt them.  The rich guy gets to boast of his generosity and compassion.  He feels good about having so much wealth that he can afford to throw money away. He has a conscience for the poor.  Plus, this act, which costs him just a few pennies, makes him superior to the middle class who struggle and must watch the pennies.  The trouble, of course, is that neither a relationship nor opportunity are created for the poor.  And the rich, Jesus noted, go to hell for their smugness.

            The same thing happens in USA except it is more sophisticated.  The poor are induced to get on entitlements and remain there nursing their victimhood.  Liberals think themselves compassionate and much superior to the regular people.  Compassion is simply pulling a voting lever for the correct party.  Other People’s (tax) Money are the coins thrown at the gate. OPM is just as addictive and tragic for the poor as opium. The rich liberals get to relish their riches—why, they are so rich they’d even vote a tax increase upon themselves, while watching the middle class squirm and struggle with it!  Meanwhile, a country goes to hell with fewer and fewer opportunities and relationships. 

            What then?  I hold that the only true compassion is the one given that hurts the giver, that prompts a personal relationship and calls forth a relationship with the   Almighty.  If you care so much about the homeless, why don’t you take one home?  Child abuse?  Then foster a street kid.  The poor?  Co-sign a note, line up a job for someone. And if you are squeamish about such things, then give generously and quietly of your fortune. And if you have none of these?  Ask God what He can use you to do.  There’s always work to be done. You will smile inside over your newfound mission.

            One of the most cruel things is to point to a government office.  Ask any system kid.  Ask the guy on disability who still dreams of having a career but nobody could point him to the one that would avoid his disability.  Everybody wants to be worth something.  And in that sense, the struggling middle class with it’s middle management pinnacles and the glory of a your own business in your pickup truck, truly does have a charity in creating jobs and guiding the young guy or gal getting started on their own dreams.

            Dreams.  This is what makes America.  The ability to be the person you want to be.  The opportunity to serve your God or your direction until your knees give out and your thumbs are sore.  America, up until this century grew like a young country even though it was mature.  We had missions and dreams.  We were the envy of Europe and the 3^rd world combined in the 20th century.  We must throw off the regulation and re-harvest the freedom that makes our dreams. Entitlements?  Crap!  Wouldn’t you rather have a job?  Wouldn’t you rather start your own business?  Follow God’s call? This is the concept I think has the possibility to turn the tide of this liberal war on Faith, Hope and Charity.

The beggars are at our gate.