Poverty

Good Morning,

There are many organizations out there that attempt to eliminate
poverty and this is a wonderful thing because poverty can be a road
block for so many people. What about spiritual poverty? Many times
this is the most detrimental state of the human condition and like
material poverty it can truly be a road block to the human spirit.

It is the poverty of the mind and spirit that is going to take the
largest toll on our condition. Yes, while curing material poverty is
difficult, compared to spiritual poverty, material poverty is
relatively solvable. In many circles it is thought that if we can
eliminate material poverty then most of the worlds problems will be
solved. Yet as long as there is great spiritual poverty, people will
still suffer, be unfulfilled, and unhappy. Do not believe me? Simply
look around, America claims to be a spiritual nation, we have the
highest standard of living in the world and yet we have the highest
depression rate, and consume the most anti depressants of any nation.

Spiritual poverty is extremely common, yet with at least half of the
worlds 6.5 billion people living in dire circumstances - experiencing
hunger, sickness, and homelessness - we are plagued with the
erroneous understanding that suffering comes from only material
poverty. How many financially secure people do you know that don't
have happiness or even a sense of security?

We must ask ourselves why is it that though most of us have our
material needs covered, we still suffer? If we do this then we can
understand the importance of reducing not only material poverty, but
spiritual poverty as well. We can also realize that in some form or
another we all suffer, regardless of circumstances. This view puts us
all in the same boat and should bring us together for the greater
purpose of reducing all poverty.

Have an aware day and hold this thought - Poverty often deprives a
man of all spirit and virtue; it is hard for an empty bag to stand
upright.

Peace and Love, Jim