The January 12 earthquake in Haiti highlighted the enormity of the needs of the world. Here was a nation which has been the poorest country in the western hemisphere throughout the 20th century devastated by the strongest earthquake to hit this hemisphere in decades. Beyond the tragic death toll, there is the need for immediate assistance and for long term recovery. Where to begin? How to help? As we see the sad scenes from places like Port-au-Prince, many of us feel that our efforts are the proverbial “drop in the bucket.”
The month of March is filled with cries for help in dealing with the problems of the world. It is Minnesota FoodShare month, when there is a special emphasis throughout the state on restocking food shelves and replenishing food banks. In the middle of the month comes the American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Days in a effort to raise funds for cancer research. The Karlstad Lions Club is sponsoring a blood drive for United Blood Services of the Red River Valley. In our parish we are taking Lenten offerings to be divided between the Ruuska Village orphanage in Haiti where Lacey Hewitt works and Lutheran World Relief Gifts for development in the Third World. When our youth serve supper on Wednesdays they seek a small donation to fund their activities. The Eidsvold Women are assembling health kits again. The First Lutheran Church council is looking for funds for a new roof. The Girl Scouts are selling cookies. And that’s not to mention all the groups in the public school selling pizza, candy, magazine subscriptions, and all the rest. Minnesota Public Radio just completed a pledge drive. Can a Prairie Public TV pledge drive be far behind?
It can all be overwhelming. It seems like everyone everywhere has their hand out looking for some help. The needs are real, some of them very pressing. Truth be told, the five or ten dollars given here or there often seems so pitiful in the face of all the cries for help. Despite all that has been done over the years, Haiti is just as poor and overcrowded today as it was fifty years ago.
One of the traditional three disciplines of Lent is almsgiving, which is an old fashioned word for giving money to those who are in need. Lent is a time that emphasizes what we should be doing throughout the year, and what we probably are doing. In Matthew 5:42 Jesus said (in the Sermon on the Mount), “Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.” And so, when there is a need Christians have always responded. When the need in Haiti was so great, Lutheran World Relief and the ELCA Disaster Response were right there with help. The stock of quilts and health kits made by thousands of Lutheran women across the country were quickly reduced. Lutherans have a long history of being one of the best agents for assistance in time of need, going back to the recovery efforts right after World War II in Europe. This is one of the top ten reasons you can be proud to be a member of the ELCA. We take Jesus’ words quite seriously.
In our two congregations God has blessed us with a solid financial situation. This is due to the faithful giving of our members, for which I thank God, and for some modest reductions in our budget the last few years. But our synod is facing a major shortfall in funds for 2009 which the bishop says may necessitate the painful decision to terminate some positions. The churchwide expression of our church is also facing shrinking revenues and will continue to cut programs and personnel. It is not an easy time to be a bishop in this or any denomination. And yet the needs continue to grow.
In 2nd Thessalonians 3:13 St. Paul concludes his letter with this admonition: “Brethren, do not be weary in well doing.” It seems like an apt verse to keep in mind when there are so many needs pressing on us. And when those needs seem to be quite overwhelming, remember the famous words of Mother Theresa of Calcutta, “If you cannot feed a hundred people, feed just one.” Jesus, who praised the poor widow who gave just a mite, will praise you for what you do.
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