Skip to main content

Awareness is the First Step Towards Justice


Some people never see injustice in the world or even in their daily lives. Perhaps it's because there is lack of education or understanding on how to recognize it? Or maybe it's because we can become too focused on our own lives? It's when we become inwardly focused on our own lives a blind spot is created to what's going on in our community, country, and around the world. It seems as though there is a natural predisposition not to see anything we don't want to, aren't expecting, or can't explain.

Or perhaps it's an attitude of injustice is somebody else's problem? Injustice can be ignored because it's not our problem? Or we hold this belief that someone else will handle it, we don't need to get personally involved.

What if you found yourself not being able to ignore the injustice, oppression, and marginalization that people in our community, in country, and around the world face? It is my belief that awareness is the first step towards justice. It is once we become aware of injustice that we can never again say "I did not know".

This Saturday, October 11th from 8:30a - 12:00p, Faith CommunityUnited Methodist Church is offering an eye opening experience - poverty simulation that works to educate and leave a lasting impression. Partnering with Ohio Association of Food Banks, this simulation engages participants by assuming a "role" in a family that is facing a variety of challenging, but typical circumstances. Some are homeless, others have become unemployed, and some are suddenly faced with the responsibility of raising grandchildren. You will work in a group ("family") navigating life working to secure food, shelter, and other basic necessities by accessing the various resources available.

If you ever questioned or found yourself judging what it is like to live in poverty, then I would encourage you to come to this free event. I had the opportunity to participate in this simulation experience a few years ago and it has forever changed my understanding of the what it means to live in poverty. I moved from someone who was only acutely aware of the injustice of what it means to live in poverty - admittedly sometimes thinking that it was somebody else's problem to having my eyes open that motivated me to work towards social change. It was "experiencing" something that wasn't comfortable, wasn't expecting, and can't fully explain that forced me out of my inward focused, comfort zone to having a commitment to focus outwardly and be aware of what is going on in the world around me.



For more information about this opportunity or to register for this event - click here. 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Building with adobe mud bricks in Ohio is not "a thing"

I’m soaking wet, standing in the middle of a field in Dayton, Ohio as rain is pouring down…and all I see around me is mud . It is in this moment that it finally hits me…“I’ve made a horrible mistake...” I am many things, but one descriptor phrase is: "I’m a pusher". Read on to learn how I came about this self-realization in ministry and how I found myself standing in a field of mud. Let’s rewind to the Spring of 2007, a man who can only be described as the jolliest person’ besides good ole St. Nick was digging a post hole in order to build a tree house. This isn’t your typical, back yard tree house, this was a tree house built for a community. The man’s name was David Helmers and he was the architect and designed this tree house. David Helmers is working hard digging his hole for this massive 20’ pole that would be one of 8 to hold up the tree house. This tree house is right in the heart of this community known as el dumpe in Tijuana, Mexico – the city dump. So...
Post a Comment
Read more

Travel ProTip #1: Local Cuisine

My name is Kate Smith...and I'm a foodie and I need your help. Not to stop - but I need your expertise of the West Chester area so be sure to check out the questions in the last paragraph. According to one of the most credible sources on the interwebs, Wikipedia, a foodie can  be defined as someone who seeks new food experiences as a hobby rather than simply eating out of convenience or hunger. I think my identity as a foodie stems from a rule that we had on family vacations: eat locally. This meant skipping national chains and opting for "mom and pop" hole in the walls, greasy spoons, and establishments that were unique to that area.  This guideline for harmonious travel has translated into my everyday life, my mentality when I travel or visit new places, and even ministry. Considering myself an adventurous type, I always like to explore what makes each place I live or visit unique. I actually get really excited finding stores, restaurants, and things to do tha...
5 comments
Read more

Come and See

To describe myself as "inquisitive" is an understatement. I vividly remember sitting on my mother's bed as a small child, while she was getting ready for work, and would ask question after question. However, this interrogation did not only happen in the morning; it also happened while we were driving or (coincidentally) when it was time for bed. And my mother wasn't the only victim to my questions; as I grew older, my friends, teachers, mentors, other family members, even strangers were put through the ringer of my endless inquires about any and all subjects. I believe this natural tendency to ask a lot of questions is because I have always been eager to learn new things and about other people (but more on that in another post). However, I find that by asking one question, it usually leads to more follow up questions.  One of my favorite "Jesus stories" is the calling of the first disciples. It is so simple! The first chapter of John...
7 comments
Read more