Privilege and Responsibility

As a kid, and eventually as a young man growing up, I was very clearly told that, if I wanted to enjoy the privileges of adulthood, I had to be willing to accept the responsibility that inherently comes with them.  It seems to be common sense.  I grew up accepting that I had to count the cost for privilege and seemed to understand intuitively that the responsibility that came with it was inherent.

It’s a principle that I’ve applied in guiding me through my retirement journey.  I believe that we are privileged in North America.  We are among the richest people in the world and I don’t believe for a second that God has blessed us this way because He loves us more than all the rest.  I think He makes it pretty clear that we are to share that blessing and use it for the benefit of all.

I’ve had to get my head around that as I find my way forward.  When I reflect back on my path so far, I remember that it began with a nagging feeling that the way we lived was a little uncomfortable.  A family of 5 living in a 2700 square foot brick house out in the country.  It felt a bit like gluttony, space to spare, food to spare.  That nagging feeling seemed to increase in amplitude as I spent time in Calgary and Haiti.  And yet, when I looked around, it seemed that the message I was getting was that it was simply a reward for hard work.  That is, after all, the American dream.  Work hard, own your destiny.  Now, there’s nothing wrong with hard work.  But it seems to me that the dream has gone off the rails in the last few years.  The dream seems to now be driving the protectionist agenda to build walls and fences in order to keep out the huddled masses that stand in the way of “making America great again”.  That doesn’t seem right………. does it?

I do not believe the answer is as simple as just opening up my house to someone less fortunate.  That’s not a sustainable or even a desirable outcome for my family or the family that would share our space.  And carrying around a burden of guilt and angst because of my success does not serve anyone either.  I think it’s the realization that my “success” is as much about privilege and circumstance as it is about hard work and the right answer is in finding the balance.

So I realize that my political view is shifting because I can’t simply respond to the need around me with the advice to work harder and make better choices.  I know I have a responsibility to share my gifts, abilities, and resources with those who find themselves with a heavier load to bear that they have strength for.  That resource is not just money.  I think Haiti has taught me that just pouring money into a situation can sometimes do more harm than good.  Sometimes the resource I can offer is a simple word of encouragement or a hand up rather than a handout.  Because it is very clear to me that the poor have responsibilities too and I expect them to show up with whatever they have to contribute.

I want to share a little story that illustrated this for me.  I had a conversation with the Executive Director of Indwell a few months ago.  I was being interviewed for a volunteer position and we were talking about poverty.  I shared a little of my personal view that everyone should come to the table prepared to contribute whatever they are able.  Jeff told me a story of a fund raising dinner that he had attended.  After the dinner he was helping to count the pledges that had been collected from the attendees and he noticed that some of the addresses were familiar.  He quickly realized the reason for that was that the contributions were being made by people who were tenants of Indwell, people who were benefitting from the ministry and community at Indwell and who wanted to give back.  People who had been helped to their feet at some point and recognized their responsibility.

It’s a story that I recall whenever I need a reminder of how privilege and responsibility is supposed to work.