What Kind of People Are We?

"It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don't take yourself too seriously— take God seriously." Micah 6

By Nan McCurdy

We are at a crossroad in our society – a time of deciding what kind of people, what kind of nation we want to be. Here are a few examples of the brokenness in our world that are troubling me:

• The death and destruction resulting from Japan’s tsunami leaves us with radiation poisoning that will be around long after we are gone;

• Climate destabilization and warming come from overuse of petroleum and coal.

• U.S.-financed wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya cause great loss of human life and massive destruction of societies. Bringing just 5,000 troops home from Afghanistan would free money up for life-giving programs for children and the elderly.

• Beyond the $700-billion bailout, the government has committed about $12.2 trillion and spent $2.5 trillion to support the financial system (according to the New York Times).

Our tax dollars need to promote life in the world: Clean water, education, health, housing and infrastructure. Why is it we spend trillions on war in the world and nothing comparable on life and development? We fund wars and bail out banks while children go hungry; millions of our citizens are jobless, have had their homes taken and are in need of health care. Teachers and police are losing jobs, school and social services budgets are cut and libraries closed.

This is not exactly what Jesus meant when he showed us that we need to bring good news to the poor and release to the oppressed. The disparity between the rich and the poor in the U.S. is now similar to Nicaragua, where I serve in mission.

The Economic Policy Institute reports that the richest 10 percent of Americans received 100 percent of the average income growth in the years 2000 to 2007. "In 2009, the richest 5 percent claimed 63.5 percent of the nation’s wealth. The overwhelming majority of US citizens, the bottom 80 percent, collectively held just 12.8 percent," according to the New York Times.

What kind of society do we want to be? Can we commit to care for one another? As Christians we know we must prioritize the needs of the poor. Our United Methodist church has made eradicating poverty a focus area for our collective ministries. So what are we waiting for?

I continue to believe that we can make a difference! We can build community to find creative solutions to help us reduce our consumption and our carbon footprint, to influence our representatives away from war and tax breaks for the wealthy and towards job creation, education, health, safety nets for the poor and elderly and innovation for the future of our children.

Everything we do, every small kindness, makes a difference and helps bring about the reign of God here on earth.

Nan McCurdy is a United Methodist missionary with the Women and Community Association in Nicaragua