The following was published on the Sojourners' God's Politics blog on April 29, 2013, and can be found at http://sojo.net/blogs/2013/04/29/anesthetics-and-advocates-below-poverty-line
By definition, an anesthetic is a drug used to relieve pain (analgesia), relax
(sedate), induce sleepiness (hypnosis), spark forgetfulness (amnesia), or to
make one unconscious for general anesthesia. Among other things, anesthetics
are generally administered by a specialist (anesthesiologist or anesthetist)
upon a patient in order to induce or maintain a state of anesthesia and facilitate
a procedure. With such characterizations
in mind, we recognize that anesthetic
can be employed as a striking image for particular deficiencies in faith-based
responses to extreme poverty. As one can cite many examples where faith is
proclaimed and practiced solely as an escape from – rather than engagement with
– the numerous struggles associated with impoverishment, we recognize that anesthesia
is incomplete without corresponding acts of sustainable social surgery.
While the New Testament does indeed
illustrate a God who seems to provide anesthetic-like relief from the various aches
and pains of life (2 Corinthians 4:17-18), we also affirm God as an Advocate that
accompanies humankind throughout struggles and sorrow (John 14:16). In other
words, one can argue that God does – at times – function as a divine anesthesiologist,
but we also recognize the countless times that God pushes us directly into the
path of struggle and confrontation. And so, since God accompanies humankind as both
anesthetic and advocate, our response to God’s love includes – but goes beyond
– momentary pain relief alongside those
in poverty, for we also seek corrective operation, healing of core injuries,
and rehabilitative strengthening for the future. As the popular anti-poverty metaphor
reminds us, we should not only “give away a fish”, nor should we merely “teach
others to fish”, but together we are called to question who has access to the
pond and critically consider whether or not people want fish at all.
One
of the many practical ways one can serve within the tension of anesthetic and
advocate is to experience a small portion of life below the poverty line. In
specifics, as the World Bank sets extreme poverty as below $1.50 per day, one
can try to eat on less than $1.50 per day over the course of five days (Monday
– Friday). As roughly 1.4 billion people around the world currently attempt
survival on such limited resources, those who choose to willingly budget food on
such limited means for five days can move past statistics and allows for a more
intimate experience alongside those who struggle with extreme poverty. In other
words, such a short-term venture places one more fully into the long-term path
of poverty, which in turn leads to a stronger and more sustainable response.
As my
wife and I will take part in this $1.50 per day poverty awareness challenge in
the coming days, the following are some basic ground rules which we plan to
follow:
·
Over the course of five days
(Monday – Friday), we will spend no more than $1.50 a day on food and drink,
which means we each have a total of $7.50 with which to buy all ingredients for
our meals. As a result, she and I combined (we plan to work as a team) have a
total budget of $15.00 for the total of five days.
·
The full cost of all the items we
consume will be included in our budget. This means budgeting for whole packages
of food such as rice, pasta, noodles, eggs, etc.
·
For items such as salt, pepper,
herbs, and spices, we must calculate the cost of each item per ounce and budget
the shopping proportionally.
·
We are not allowed to consume anything
purchased before this week unless it is included in the overall cost of buying
the item new in our budget.
·
While we do not have a garden,
if we did, we would have to account for the price of production.
·
We cannot accept “donated” food
from family or friends.
·
We are allowed to drink tap
water.
While this awareness-building effort is by
no means perfect, such (recognizably limited) undertakings do allow those above
the extreme poverty line to more fully understand the various outcomes that
accompany global impoverishment. As compassionate understanding often leads to
committed action, one can argue that a relatively short span of five days can
have a long-term impact in our overall commitment to various efforts of relief,
development, and advocacy. And so, as my wife and I take part in this (admittedly
faux-poverty) process, we look forward to the lessons to be learned, the
struggles to be felt, and hopefully, the inspiration that will continue to
follow.
By definition, an advocate is one that supports a particular cause, or from a biblical
perspective (John 14:16), one that pleads the case of another (The Greek word
used in John’s Gospel for “Advocate” is Paraclete,
which can also be translated as “Helper” or “Comforter”). And so, as an
advocate accompanies others in solidarity and mutuality for the sake of a
common good, as people of faith we are called to have deep concern for life
after death and life after birth in
all its fullness. In other words, we recognize the countless ways that God
functions as Advocate in our lives, which means we respond in ways that help
and comfort the livelihood of others, especially those who try to survive on
less than $1.50 per day. All together, whether it is through awareness
campaigns or other opportunities that come to our attention, may we continue to
step up, reach out, and jump into the aches and pains of poverty, so that we
may not only reduce the hurts of the present, but also seek healing,
restoration, and strength – far into the future – for the sake of the world.
