Jan 5th, 2022: Who Do You See? Yourself?

The title of this artwork is "The Invisibility of Poverty" by Kevin Lee. It shows us how poor people can be stepped on or stepped over. We have seen plenty whose life is like this young boy. No one notices him, and no one cares whether he exists or not. Many of them walk our street aimlessly. Some might talk to themselves. Some try to avoid having our attention.

We don't have to go very far to encounter folks who are like to this young man. Some of them stay outside fancy department stores downtown. Some walk in the opposite direction of traffic and ask for money. Some huddle around heat events of office towers. Sometimes they don't want to be seen. It is mere existence in our hectic and distracted society.

We should be able to identify with these folks when we consider our spiritual poverty. Sometimes we run away from God and don't want to be seen by Him. Our heart grows cold. We want to revive it, yet it offers no sign of life. We might want to work through our brokenness and realize we have no courage to do so. The true poverty of our time is spiritual. It has taken away our hope and meaning. It has no economic boundary. Spiritual poverty destroys good things in life and promotes further alienation and corruption within our inner being.

It is not much difference between a beggar who wants to tell us a story that he can get some money and a highly educated person talking about his wealth and success to attain our accolades. Both share their insecurity in order to feel accepted and safe. I have met many successful people who feel emotionally unsafe. Maybe being seen is terrifying for many of us.

Matthew 5: 3-6

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness,
for they will be filled."