Entitled to What?

          For the past couple of months, my church family back home has been doing weekly book studies on 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess. I found the topic and concept very interesting, so I downloaded the book to my kindle and read along. Basically the book is about the author, Jen Hatmaker, and her family as they try and reduce the “things” in their life that seem to take life away. The reductions were in the areas of food, clothes, possessions, media, waste, spending, and stress. They did this experiment for 7 months and Jen discusses some of the realizations that came out of it for her and the people around her. I was impacted by several of the ideas presented throughout this book, but most especially by the chapter on spending. It managed to put words to and describe many things that I have been experiencing here in South Africa.

          In this chapter, Jen only shopped at 7 different locations. This month led to her and her family denying themselves of some of their “wants”, like going out to eat with friends and Oreos. ;) She discussed how rare it is for middle to upper class Americans to ever deny themselves or their children of something that they want. A report from the United Nations states, “Inequalities in consumption are stark. Globally, the 20 percent of the world’s people in the highest-income countries account for 86 percent of total private consumption expenditures- the poorest 20 percent a miniscule 1.3 percent.” She also brought forward the thought that “just because I can have it doesn’t mean I should.” Hmm… What an interesting idea.

          According to the American Psychological Association:

• Increasing evidence supports the link between lower SES (socio-economic status) and negative psychological health outcomes, while more positive psychological outcomes such as optimism, self-esteem, and perceived control have been linked to higher levels of SES for youth.
• Research continues to link lower SES to a variety of negative health outcomes at birth and throughout the life span.
• While national high school dropout rates have steadily declined, dropout rates for children living in poverty have steadily increased. Between 60 and 70% of students in low-income school districts fail to graduate from high school.

          Statistically speaking, someone born into poverty is less likely to earn a degree or get a high paying job later in life. What did that person do to earn his/her family’s economical situation? Nothing. They were born into poverty. How was I able to earn a college degree? Yes, I worked hard in school to get where I am, but my starting point was also much higher than that of others. I was read to as a young child, attended pre-school classes, was enrolled in advanced public schools, grew up with loving parents, a supportive and encouraging community, and my family helped to pay my university fees. I never went to bed at night with an empty stomach, wondering where my next meal would come from. My learning was never inhibited by a lack of school supplies or textbooks. Do I really deserve everything that I have? No. Definitely not. I entered life with a large advantage.

          2 weeks ago, I was working in inner-city Joburg at an apartment building, where a petrol bomb had been activated the week before. 10 people died in the explosion. No one in the building had been paying rent for the past few months because it had been “hijacked”. I didn’t know buildings could be hijacked, but apparently they can be. People were going around and collecting rent money as landlords, except they didn’t actually own the building. Technically, no one actually owned the building anymore and it was government property. After the explosion, there was no water or electricity in the building. All the garbage was being dumped behind the building (as I think it had been for some time) and people were dumping their toilet contents out the windows. The staircase had windows in it that had been broken out. It was a straight drop to the ground and there were children wandering around, seemingly unsupervised. I was in a meeting with mothers from the building and talking about what was needed in order to continue the previously operating daycare in the building. During this conversation one mother said, “Water is life.” They all want what is best for their children. They want their children to be happy and healthy and to prosper. However, they are struggling to meet the basic needs of their children and families. They are also still traumatized from the event and worried about safety. While struggling to maintain everything that is necessary to sustain life, some things like playing with your child to promote early childhood development might fall into the realms of trivial.

          Fast forward approximately 8 hours. I went with a friend to meet other friends in Sandton, a suburb of Johannesburg. It is known as “Africa’s richest square mile”. There were fancy restaurants, hotels and night life. What a contrast. It was showy and posh and excessive. Would I have had those thoughts if I hadn’t been where I was that day or would I have seen it as normal? Maybe up market, but normal? Probably. The discrepancies in South Africa between the “haves” and “have-nots” is extreme. You will see massive homes next to shanty towns. If a child is born in one of those massive homes and one is born in the shanty town, will they have the same opportunities to prosper? Will they receive the same level of schooling? Will they receive the same job opportunities? Doubtful. (Just to make sure I’m being understood, I’m not saying that life is worse in the shanty town. Sometimes the happiness of people living in poverty is astronomically higher than that of people from wealthy backgrounds. I am specifically talking about justice within the standards of living.)

          The gap between the “haves” and “have-nots” is ever widening all over the world. It is one thing to say that life is not fair. That’s a very commonly used phrase, but what is our responsibility as God’s children to make life fairer for everyone? How can I make an impact? Jen Hatmaker has offered 3 suggestions.

1)      Non-consumption.  Only buy things that you need, not because everyone else has it.

2)      Redirect the saved money. We could live on less of our income and share with those who have received fewer opportunities than us. One way is through global micro lending.

3)      Become wiser consumers. Don’t support corrupt chains that employ slave labor.

          These are big ideas that I am still wrestling with. “Just because I can have it doesn’t mean I should.” What do I feel entitled to, that I shouldn’t really have? How many people are entitled to things that they never even dream of acquiring? How can we be a part of the change? I invite you all to search with me.

Prayer Request:

          Rebekah (the mission intern serving alongside me in South Africa) has decided to go back home. She is thankful for her experiences here and the many ways that God has been working around her in this community and through her. It is also time for the next part of her journey. I would like to ask for all of your prayers as we both enter into a time of transition and change with our communities here and back home.