First Sunday in Lent

Yes, it is Sunday afternoon again, the quiet time when I get to think about any subject I like. It is Lent. I tend to do a lot more reflection of my own life and life in general. I have been thinking about the story of the movie Will, Kirsten and I saw yesterday "Slum Dog Millionaire". I choked up a few times during the movie, I closed my eyes at some point because I couldn't bear to see what's being done to a child. I know it was just a movie, NO actually I know that was NOT just a movie story. It happened to the children born into poverty in India and some other countries. I had seen them in Calcutta myself. Life is not a beautiful thing for them it is such a struggle. They are born (by no choice of their own) into such poverty. My heart goes out to them - all of them. This is one of the times the question, "Where is God?" can be asked. Where is He? Why are these children suffering? What did they do wrong? Whose sins are they paying for? I don't have an answer to the questions. I do know one thing for sure. God loves everyone the same even those children born into terrible poverty. I know God invites us to come to their aid. Support orphanages all around the world. Do you know some of the children in orphanages are not parent-less - their parents are so poor to a point that they had to give the children up. I met some of those children at Mother Teresa's Children's Home in Calcutta when I did my internship there. I had lunch with some of them just a few weeks ago back in Myanmar. One of my favorite quotes is from a Kentucky writer Wendel Barry who said, "love someone who does not deserve it". It's great. But today I would like to add to what Wendel Barry said by saying, "love the poor and do something for them even if you don't know them because they do deserve it". (Matthew 19:21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.") It is the season of Lent and it is time to reflect upon how I live my life as a follower of Jesus.