Ali Ballweg

I don’t know a ton about the US government, but in my diversity class I have been learning a lot of the truths about how messed up the US education system is.  I always knew that some schools didn’t have a ton, but I had no idea of the statistics and implications of the dramatic disproportion.

Disproportion… THIS is the problem.  The problem is not that there isn’t enough food in the world or that there isn’t enough money for a school to buy books; It’s that there are some people who take more than their share of food, and for granted, and that there are some schools who have so much money that they can throw it around on things like a manicured football field and international trips.  Disproportion happens when one person or group takes what they think should be theirs from someone else, leaving that person or group with depleted resources.  The people taking justify what they’re doing in many different ways, but most claim it to be their right and reward, completely ignoring the fact that what they are acquiring is putting someone else at a loss. 

And the worst part is… That I’m a part of this.  I take more than I need too and I try to justify it.  And then when I look really hard I see what I am doing and it breaks my heart to know that I’m breaking God’s heart because I’m taking from my brothers and sisters.  There are no excuses for what I do, just the truth which is that I don’t deserve any of what I have and my brothers and sisters in need do.  It’s not my right to have any of the things I have, they are all blessings from God.

All that keeps running through my head are all things that rich people should be giving up, but instead of being mad and pointing the finger, I need to look at my own life, as heartbreaking as that may be.  I may be a poor college student, but I am by no means poor in the whole sense of the word.  God has blessed me graciously, just as He has blessed every single American citizen.  Yes we complain about our corrupt government, but after looking at the type of rule and life in countries like Haiti and Mexico… We are so blessed for God to have placed us here.  Instead of pointing our finger, getting angry about the state of things around us, and feeling like there’s no hope; We need to stand up and DO SOMETHING!!!  If everyone just sits around feeling mad and sad, nothings going to happen.  But if people start making small changes around them not only will things start getting better, they won’t be feeling angry and hopeless anymore! 

Many people will nod their heads in agreement but then come up with justifications for why certain things don’t apply to them.  And that is because this kind of thinking is uncomfortable for them.  It goes against the flow… which is what makes it so revolutionary!   

I challenge you to take a long hard look at your life and praise God for all He’s blessed you with.  Because I don’t care what you say, you are blessed!  But don’t just stop there… Ask God to show you what He wants you to be doing with those blessings.  What He shows you might not be comfortable and you will probably try to ignore it and want to come up with excuses for not doing what He has called you too.  But it NEEDS to be done.  JUST DO IT!