The Working Poor

The last of the required books are read for my upcoming class at Louisville Theological Seminary, scheduled for the first week of January. I submitted my papers late last night. I am still rejoicing! It was an interesting group of readings, and I have written about a couple of the books on this blog. However, the book that impressed me the most, I only just finished.

The Working Poor: Invisible in America, by David K. Shipler is an wonderful collection of personal stories about the lives of the poor in America. Through these astonishing narratives Shipler challenges important classic American assumptions about the poor. Shipler provides an amazingly fair representation of poverty that includes the multifaceted variety of causes including: lack of education, job training and soft skills (people skills, punctuality), reliability, disfuntionality in families, abuse, poor parenting, dangerous neighborhoods, inadequate housing, poor nutrition, lack of basic health and dental care, the devastating effects of simple bad luck, absence of any planning, early poor decisions in the teen years that result in unwanted pregnancies and troubled marriages, and of course, low wages and hazardous work environments. In describing the complexities of poverty Shipler attacks the American myth that “still supposes that any individual from the humblest origins can climb to well-being” and would lay blame on the poor for not achieving the American dream. He also attacks the anti-myth which “holds the society largely responsible for the individual’s poverty” (p. 6-7)

Through a fascinating web of stories Shipler, I believe, captures the heart of his readers. Rarely has a book moved me to tears. This one did as these real people seemed to jump off the page and walk into my living room. Part of what Shipler has helped me to do is to see the poor in our community. I know that's tricky, because we never know the real circumstances of a person's life unless we ask. Still, I find myself wondering about the woman who serves me breakfast at McDonalds. Where does she live? Does she have health care? Can she put good food on the table with her minimum wage salary? What about the children crowding around the elementary schools in the morning? Are they hungry? Did someone kiss them goodbye at the door when they left for school? A man needed gas money this week to drive to his out of town appointment with his parole officer. Will he ever be able to find a job? Will anyone give him a second chance?

The poor in our community are everywhere and yet are so familiar they are hidden from our eyes. Their stories are complicated,and sometimes good and caring people are mystified about where to begin to help. But David Shipler in The Working Poor makes a compelling argument that there is much we can do. The first step is to open our eyes and really see the faces before us.

Book Review: Disabling Globalization by Gillian Hart

Gillian Hart, in her Introduction to Disabling Globalization: Places of Power in Post-Apartheid South Africa outlines the personal history that results in her engagement of the political and economic chaos of Post Apartheid South Africa. A child of South Africa, she fled the country during Apartheid’s power for the States where she was educated and taught. She returned to South Africa within the early years of post Apartheid changes.

Her research centers around the history of land dispossession, the development of manufacturing with the political developments of labor and youth movements, the acquisition of foreign investment and its resulting problems. She then describes the chaotic years following Apartheid including early failed attempts at land redistribution, the meager beginnings of democracy and the new land demarcations.

Hart spends considerable time discussing the multiple trajectories of globalization and the political, geographical and historical particularities that affect the varying success and failure of transnational investment in both South Africa and various locations in China. Hart argues convincingly that dispossession of the land is an essential contributing factor in the failure of the Taiwanese industrialists in South Africa. Unlike South Africa, the Taiwanese transnational industries have a much greater success rate in China where the people are still connected to the land and able to secure a basic livelihood from it (i.e. farming). Hart refers to this as the social wage. In addition China provided other basic social safety nets, sometimes including housing which took pressure off the need for increased labor wages. A final difference Hart notes is the cultural expectations among family members for advancement of the young men and the care of family laborers in the Taiwanese companies. None of these advantages were transported to South Africa.

Hart believes that two basic components must be addressed in post-Apartheid South Africa for a successful future: land redistribution and localization of power. Her outline of suggestions on p 326-27 is most instructive. Her basic assumption is that escalating poverty is a danger for all of South Africa and must be addressed firstly in the issue of land redistribution for the provision of a social wage. She also believes that neoliberal globalization can be altered. She would like to see some regulation and tariffs imposed to limit the massive job losses. She would also like industry and agriculture to focus on providing for basic local goods and services. Hart believes that local government can best develop manufacturing and agricultural industries for a given region.

I am taken with Gillian Hart’s critique of the free reign of neoliberal economics and the faith in the market to direct a nation’s economy, particularly in light of the economic crisis we face in the US. Clearly there is a place for a more “development” approach to economics that utilizes regulation to protect and sometimes slow the development of foreign investment. I am intrigued by her turning to the land as a solution for the social wage, although I am uncertain that this poses much help in our American society that is so far removed from agriculture. I also think there is merit in focusing in on creating goods and services that are useful to the local economy.

The Advent of Children

It seems our church members are getting shorter these days. There are crowds of little people running through the halls, fingerprinting our walls and interrupting our thoughtful meetings. How delightful!

Several years ago the Session, while on retreat, courageously elected to focus on ministry to children, youth and their families. This was courageous because we didn’t have many children in the church at that time. As a pastor I prepared my children’s sermons with trepidation. I scanned the pews for those midget Presbyterians as I processed to the chancel. Would any children come forward when I gave the invitation?

Mysteriously they have arrived. Today I hear little voices giggling down the hall in our new Preschool. They troop happily through our sunken garden looking for treasures in God’s creation. They scamper over the new play ground graciously given by a generous couple in our church. I give in to the lure of their happy voices occasionally and peek in the door of their classroom. The children’s immediate smiles are contagious.

Faith Weaver Friends provides another energetic venue for the young. The re-creation of our mid-week children’s program has been met with enthusiastic participation. About 40 preschool and elementary children snuggle into the sanctuary each Wednesday night for song, dance and drama around God’s word. Then, under the supervision of seven wonderful High School leaders, they circle through activity stations: fun and games, music, arts and crafts, cooking, and journaling. I saw several sets of bright eyes beaming from the faces of adult leaders last Wednesday as they interacted with these little ones.

The children have definitely appeared. They hold hands in the sanctuary. They hide behind doors and whisper secrets. They empty the candy dishes in the pastor’s studies. They carefully redistribute the toys from the busy bags, making sure each child has a favorite. They say the profoundest things about God in the simplest of terms. They teach us to love. Most importantly, they protect us from the imaginary bears loose in fellowship hall. “They won’t eat any Crispyterians,” assures my little friend. Thank God for the children!

Encouraging Change

Our electorate is in the market for candidates who cast themselves as agents of “change.” I am sure humans still generally hate change. I believe our expressed desire for something different is actually a yearning for something better. I have been observing change close at hand in recent days: good and important change, the kind for which one is thankful.

My oldest son came home from college for a few days bringing joy and a bass guitar to our house. His hair is shorter than I remembered it. He no longer towers over his littlest brother who isn’t allowed to be taller than his mother until next year. He wore a shirt I know he got in high school which somehow looks foreign to me. He carries himself with an easy kindness and confidence which makes me proud. Change is everywhere.

At a youth group gathering Sunday evening we enjoyed the hospitality of the Maynard family. Their warmth and welcome are constants in our universe. That evening a number of young people who are now in college dropped in. We are always happy to see them. They are not, however, the same kids who left us after High School graduation. We recognize their personalities of course, but they are in the midst of serious change. Their living spaces are new, classes demand attention, and some challenges feel almost unbearable. These are very important moments in the lives of these young people, and we basked in the opportunity to spend a sublimely beautiful evening in October with them. Today they are back at it. We hope they remember they aren’t all on their own as they travel through the changing landscape which dominates their lives.

My middle son has one foot in High School and one in college as a “dual-enrollment” student. We were proud to watch the High School band march in De Witt last Saturday and win their division. They were amazing - even with a tuba going down in the middle of what is not intended to be a contact sport. My son is growing in confidence each day, but his world is changing and sometimes he doesn’t quite know what to make of it all. I am amazed by the grace with which he moves back and forth between the world of secondary and post-secondary education. He and Bilbo Baggins have much in common as there is more to both of them than either has even begun to suspect. Change has given us glimpses of the new and hopeful in our son’s life.

My youngest son has walked through the door of High School to his great relief and joy. Middle School was a lot like purgatory for him - even though we don’t technically believe in purgatory. He grows each day: physically, emotionally and spiritually. He has an irrepressible enthusiasm and a seemingly inexhaustible reservoir of good will for the people he encounters each day. Change has come as a welcome friend and he is thriving. Nothing makes a parent happier.

Our discourse as a nation is being defined by seeing change as a fundamental shift in direction. I have been experiencing change as the natural and positive outworking of growth and grace. This is the kind of change which makes life deeper and richer than it was yesterday. It is the kind of “better” which makes the future more welcoming each time we experience it.

Couch Potato!

We had another crazy youth group event last night. I believe Mike thought I had lost my mind. After supper and worship we loaded two old couches from the youth rooms onto table trolleys and ran races in the parking lot. (I never realized that the parking lot wasn't level. There really is quite a slope to it.) The kids had a marvelous time as you can see from the pictures.

I suppose one might question why we engage in such a wild activity with the youth. "What does this have to do with God or the church?" we might ask. I actually wrestled with this myself as I prepared for the evening. This was a requested event by one of the youth who helped to plan the fall programs. I finally settled on doing a potato finding exercise during worship to add meaning. I gave each of the youth a potato to befriend while we sang songs in worship. At the conclusion of the singing I gathered the potatoes, poured them out on the communion table, and asked them to find "their" potato. Amazingly each youth was certain she or he had located the right potato. I then talked about how God knows each one of us intimately and can always find us.


That's not bad, but at the end of the night I decided that the real lesson for the youth was in the actual couch races. The joy and abandon on the faces of the youth as they pushed those couches around cars and cones in speed races, relays and an obstacle course was infectious. They were clearly amazed that I would allow such an event to take place. In fact, one youth emailed after the announcement about the event to ask if I was serious about my plans for the evening. I believe that, in the end, couch potato night was meaningful because our church allowed it to happen. Not all churches would smile at such activities that are pure fun. We do, and because we do, our youth know they are really welcome. It's that simple.

Wow, what a night!

I came home from choir last night to chaos in my house. First, the house was full of the smell of gas. Mike was the only one at home, so I quickly went hunting for him, throwing doors and windows open and envisioning him passed out on the floor. I found him in the basement tinkering with the hot water heater which has been working only minimally for about a month. As I was scolding him for working in the gas fill house I got a call from son #3 saying something was wrong with Cinnamon, our 13 year old Bassett Hound. I raced upstairs to discover that Cinnamon was stumbling around the house gasping for air.

I called Mike out of the basement and phoned the vet. In minutes we were off to the animal hospital, praying that Cinnamon would hang on until we got there. Of course, we ran into a closed road and a detour! But when we arrived at the Vet's, Cinnamon was still breathing. Dr. Lee showed momments later from a normally 25 minute drive. He examined Cinnamon quickly and determined she was choking on something. So he anesthesized our dog, reached down her throat and pulled out a six inch piece of rawhide! If that sounds gross, I'm sorry. It's nothing compared to being there!

Cinnamon spent the night in the hospital and I am happy to report she is fine today. Mike retrieved her and brought her home to Mocha (the 2 year old Bassett) who was doing her typical cheerleader welcome for Cinnamon. Both dog are happily exploring the backyard again.

I am reminded today that God has his eye on the sparrow. I know Cinnamon is "just a dog," but she is also one of God's creatures. As such she has captured our hearts. I'm glad she will be with us a little longer.

Oh... and as to the hot water heater and the gas in the house. Son #3 called Pattengales while we were at the vets. Phil and Carol Ann finished up Mike's work, which they said was basically in order. (Thanks Phil and Carol!) The house aired out and I had a hot shower for the first time in weeks today!

Book Review: In Search of the Good Life by Rebecca Todd Peters

I just finished reading In Search of the Good Life: the ethics of globalization by Rebecca Todd Peters for my next Doctor of Ministry class at Louisville Seminary. Peters takes a look at four positions on globalization from the perspective of Christian ethics. At the outset she establishes a normative framework for the “good life” with which she evaluates the four competing positions.

Peters suggests we need to ask three questions of each position on globalization. What is our context for moral decision making? What is the telos (end or purpose) of human life? What constitutes human flourishing? Peters then answers these questions from the perspective of Christian ethics, stating that: democratized understanding of power is the context for moral agency; and the purpose or telos of human life is caring for the whole planet. Peters says the well-being of people is what constitutes human flourishing, but she has many assumed categories with which she defines “well being.” These include the meeting of basic needs as well as having the ability to meet those needs independently, the ability to receive education or vocational training, experiencing value in one’s work, a sense of community and relationship, and the ability to express one’s culture in the arts.

Peters begins her evaluation of the positions on globalization with the dominant economic paradigm of Neoliberalism. This position is often referred to as big business, Washington Consensus, supply-side economics, or trickle-down. This approach advocates trade liberalization, limited regulation, and privatization in order to grow the economy.

Globalization as Social Development embraces neoliberal economics but recognizes the need for government to protect and care for the marginalized members of society. More popular in Europe, social development theory comes out of Keynesian economics and is supported by the United Nations and to a lesser extent the World Bank. Although Peters has more sympathy for this position because of its emphasis on justice and fairness for all peoples, she condemns both this and Neoliberalism for relying on capitalist economics which place everything second to the gaining of profits. Peters would have us attend to the theories supported by the Earthist and Postcolonialists.

The Earthist position suggests the care of the environment is the essential goal of humanity. Peters calls this position “localization,” and it is essentially opposed to globalization. The localization theory suggests that we need to return production of all food and resources to local communities. Although products will likely cost more, the local community will ensure environmentally safe practices in production, as the portion of land utilized will be in one’s own backyard. Wages will also be reasonable as neighbors advocate for one another’s well being. Localization values mutuality, respect for the environment and justice.

The position of Postcolonialism is articulated by a network of social movements who are resisting globalization. Proponents are largely people in poverty who feel their traditions and cultures are being destroyed by the neocolonial practices of globalization. They seek to strengthen democracy through the reformation of civil society among grassroots people. The preservation of local tradition and culture is paramount, and they are willing to engage in limited armed conflict to achieve their goals.

This has been an interesting study for me, as I have not studied macro economic theory before. I am struck by the reliance on greed as a driving force for the Neoliberal economic systems, although I realize others might categorize that catalyst as rewarding initiative. On the other hand I am struck by the reliance on personal good will and willingness to sacrifice on behalf of the other that is essential to the Earthist and Post colonialist positions. In all the competing theories there is ultimately a reliance on the personal integrity of people in power. Although there are those who would argue that the Neoliberal theory protects against the need to have trusted people in government over seeing regulation; the events of the last two weeks have certainly proven that powerful people in the business world can wreak havoc on our economy.

I do not presume to hold an opinion at this point, but I am finding the preparation for this coming class enlightening.