The day before Dr. King was shot, he gave a speech in which he spoke about his life. He said that if he could choose when to be born and when to live, he would chose to be born at the very period in which God had placed him. He said that God had given him a panoramic view of history. Dr. King knew that his work with civil rights would impact the future of humanity.
Dr. King was willing to give his life for something that he believed in. He was not a perfect man by any means, but he knew when to stand up for something. He could see injustice and he found a just way to combat that injustice. He had a clear perspective on the sins of his time.
What are the injustices of our day? It strikes me that the earthquakes in Haiti are a message to us all. We must begin to find a way to care for one another economically. I think that the greatest injustices of our day have to do with money and its distribution.
The only way to combat the inequalities of this global economy is through radical generosity. I do not believe in communism, not after living in Russian and seeing the destruction of that countrys motivation and productivity. I am not a socialist. Nor do I believe that capitalism can run wild without some kind of checks and balances. I think that the only answer to poverty at its deepest level is radical generosity.
Jesus spoke about money all the time. He spoke about money more than he spoke about prayer. He urged us to give without ceasing. He told us that we would grow closer to God and usher in God's kingdom if we gave generously. He told us that to give abundantly was to live abundantly. God blesses those who give. And those who do not give cannot enter God's kingdom.
As I pray, I ask God to give me a panoramic view of our time. This panoramic view shows me that many are suffering from lack of food, clean water, housing. Those of us who have an abundance of possessions must consider the future of this planet and give. Give radically, thankfully and joyfully. Give to Haiti and give to the homeless in our own cities. Give locally and give globally. And let the scales of injustice right themselves through the bountiful blessings of generosity.
