Experiencing Poverty

Last Thursday night Lea and I participated with Cassie, Karen, Marla, John, Sue, and 50 other area folks to experience the reality of financial poverty.  Each of us was given a role to play and we were asked to face the challenges for one month (condensed to one hour).  (A detailed report from another “player” is in the Friday edition of the Muscatine Journal.)  I was a 30 something divorced mother of two, working 20 hours a week.  We quickly realized this was no game.  Life dealt us some gifts and some blows.  We actually survived the first month–our 18 year old got a job and the local church paid our utilities or there would have been no way.  However, I think for the first “two weeks” we got by eating TicTacs as I forgot to visit the grocery store! 

Yes, for some, brokenness is connected to finances.  I discovered how important it is in that situation to maintain dignity.  I felt like no area of life was in our control (perhaps I need to experience that more often).  We were so close to the edge.  It was exhausting to realize that almost every bit of information was a potential setback–school called off, grocery store closed, unpaid utility bills, eviction notice, ex husband out of work (no child support), etc.

I think I’ve gained a better view of how to “unleash relentless love” in such circumstances.