ISSUES ABOUT HEALTH CARE AND OPPORTUNITIES

It makes me sad when people who have always taken health care for granted because granted they have always had jobs that provided it do not understand how difficult it is for too many people who work very hard, but don't make much and don't have benefits . . . or who live in poverty because of the inequality of opportunity and marginalization that our society perpetuates.

I believe at times that some of the problems come from not being able to walk in someone else's shoes . . . Not being able to imagine existing the way some people are forced to live. Other times, sadly, perhaps there are those who don't want to help because they fear ending up the same way. Others may feel overwhelmed by the problems and not knowing where to start to help.

When we all have the will to work on it together, even just in a small way, right where we are, we will make a difference.

One of the reasons the new health care system has problems is that it was not primarily designed to serve people, but primarily patched together to keep the huge medical and pharmaceutical lobbies Happy and rolling in the dough.

As long as the focus we have is on wealth and not the well-being of people, programs will fall short and people will,continue to suffer.

The truth is that many, many people have suffered more and died earlier than otherS who take for granted what they have and who work to deny it to those in need.

And we act like the Lord won't notice.

Even if you do not believe in God, there are so many examples in history of our inequality and enforced suffering and unrighteousness has affected people and the societies they live in. The more people are given the opportunities to take care of themselves and their families in peace and security, the stronger a nation is.

When each person is clothed and fed and has a roof over his or her head because that person and that family are free to be able to work at jobs or professions that give satisfaction as well as remuneration; as long as they live in safety and not in fear; as long as they truly are guaranteed the ability to pursue the happiness they seek and not infringe on anyone else's rights and freedoms a society flourishes.

Whenever greed and material wealth are the most important focus of a person, or of a family, or of a business, or of a group--or even a faith-based congregation, church, synagogue, mosque, temple, community center--then that operating principle leads to people suffering.

We we were all given consciences and the more we hear ourselves rationalizing what we are doing on behalf of material wealth, the farther away we are from peace, love, joy and contentment. Even if we think we are happy, somewhere in our heart or mind we feel guilty that we are taking sustenance, peace and blessings from others because we have too much and are not willing to share.

There are many aspects to the ways that the focus on wealth is damaging. When St. Paul writes that, "the love of wealth is the root of all evil," * it is just the beginning. If people work for material things to the detriment of our folks' needs, rights and freedoms; the conditions of that society ma first that a minority of citizens prosper and the majority of people suffer.

St.Paul wrote that Jesus said that, "it is more blessed to give than to receive," ** he was pointing out the benefits of sharing rather than selfishly withholding surpluses.

it has just occurged to me that some of this sounds judgmental and critical. Please forgive me. I only want to point out that there doesn't have to be and "us and them" situation. We can all help to make changes. The process starts with the softening of our hearts and wanting to lovingly help.

May the Lord continue to help us lovingly make changes so that each person and each family in our nation is blessed.

* For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with." [1Timothy 6:10 (KJV)]

** "In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'” [Acts 30:35 (ESV)]