tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30987587.post4734027595392110664..comments2023-03-15T05:25:25.873-07:00Comments on grace under pressure: The Poverty MindsetAaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15818173428406867448noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30987587.post-2970504872576786582009-10-30T05:50:00.313-07:002009-10-30T05:50:00.313-07:00I have personal experience of the 'Poverty Min...I have personal experience of the 'Poverty Mindset'. I grew up in the midwest, in and around Detroit area as a 'white girl'. Moved to the South, against my will (parents) and married a Southern black man. <br /><br />Prejudices aside from the Southern culture, this man and I hit it off from the start. Best friends so to speak. I grew up with acceptance of color and creed. He grew up with prejudices I could never know in my lifetime.<br /><br />Fast forward to now, 20+ years later. We have lost two houses in our marriage. Yes we are still married. Have three children. <br /><br />I marked up the first home foreclosure as the fact we were in our late 20s early 30s and young and dumb. Went through the recession of 1991. <br /><br />This time we are in the recession of 2007. We both worked in real estate. He as a realtor for 4 years and I as a mortgage consultant for 6 years, in the banking field for 20+ years. I saw the writing on the wall, so to speak. In 12/2006 with his income diminishing, mine diminishing, sales almost coming to a hault. I begged him to sell our house! Went as far as to put his realtor for sale sign in the front yard. <br /><br />Long story. He coming from an all black neighborhood, from the South, parents were domestic and lawn service workers, never owned a piece of property in their lives. He buried his head in the sand and refused to sell the house! For three years! House is now in foreclosure.<br /><br />I have come to realize that if I stay with this man, I am doomed for retirement in a single wide mobile home. Which, to him would still be the Taj Mahal! <br /><br />We are seperated now. And he is trying to convince me, he has better intentions. I say you can not change the mindset.<br /><br />I noticed too, when we spoke the other night, just in conversation he mentioned someone he had met in his business (lawn maintenance) a man was telling him about what wonderful cakes his wife made. She sold them to customers who requested them. Only the ingredients were starting to cost more and the profit margin was closing in to $1.40 per cake. I listend to his story about this couple and cake making. Then I gave him mine about a woman who was on Ophra who won the Million Dollar Bake Off! Gave him the story on this. After our conversation, I realized, his stories are doom and gloom and mine are enthusiastic and hopeful!<br /><br />Thoughts on that?Sitalotbeachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04516276246834491651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30987587.post-26248167738778982362009-08-02T14:56:02.031-07:002009-08-02T14:56:02.031-07:00Wonderful insight. You hit the nail on the head w...Wonderful insight. You hit the nail on the head when you said:<br /><br />"The only solution is a committed Christian relationship. If you really feel like doing something about poverty, it will come down to becoming friends, becoming family, building trust and love so that they see another way of living. You have to change the mindset, and you can only do that by being a Christian presence aiding the “renewing” of their minds."<br /><br />I became friends with a family of 9 almost 10 years ago. The mindset was (and sometimes still is) very frustrating. I have days where I feel that the parents just don't get it. At times I have pulled away out of frustration and other times I have embraced out of love. Through the years I have grown from being a neighbor, friend, and now member of the family.<br /><br />It's not always comfortable, but if the cycle and the mindset of proverty can be broken what greater reward can there be?Mizz Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15321366587942244495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30987587.post-35128708958941850282007-09-18T20:54:00.000-07:002007-09-18T20:54:00.000-07:00Thanks, Chad. It's by His Grace.Thanks, Chad. It's by His Grace.Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15818173428406867448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30987587.post-45729763163208568162007-09-17T06:35:00.000-07:002007-09-17T06:35:00.000-07:00Aaron, I think this is one of the best blog posts ...Aaron, I think this is one of the best blog posts I have ever read anywhere. I understand what you mean by <BR/><BR/>"I could have been on cruise control, and life probably would have worked out from the simple force of middle class."<BR/><BR/>I think trying to throw yourself out of that momentum some times is the hardest but greatest first step. <BR/><BR/>Thanks for sharing this with us.chadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16179989523283597958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30987587.post-73138162085028127142007-09-15T04:19:00.000-07:002007-09-15T04:19:00.000-07:00Recently i have thought alot about for-profit busi...Recently i have thought alot about for-profit business and taking those profits to help the poor. I don't think we can change the poor (or the world) just by employing them or diverting the profits to ease their financial burdens. <BR/><BR/>I think there must be a systemic shift in how those who manage and run for-profit businesses, aka "the man", choose to engage and employ the poor. It is not enough anymore (if it ever were) to <B>give someone a job</B>, and yes, it happens. We must help to set them up for success. Not overload their plate to begin with. <BR/><BR/>There are those with determination and ambition and those who have had determination and ambition beat out of them. We need to re-install hope, small measures of success, baby step them to more. And as one of those baby steps they need to duplicate the process with someone else.<BR/><BR/>Just riffin of the top. : )John Crissmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10993919299368571475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30987587.post-18469804956955486292007-09-13T05:25:00.000-07:002007-09-13T05:25:00.000-07:00I think you're right. I guess my attitude going i...I think you're right. I guess my attitude going into any place is learn the language and the culture. It was important to do the bluegrass night because so many of our neighbors have Eastern KY roots. It's going to resonate with them. But you have to meet them, get to know them to figure that out. And then, be all things to all people so that by all possible means (bluegrass, where you live, how you live, how you listen, how you talk...) you might save some...Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15818173428406867448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30987587.post-80949428746127058452007-09-12T18:39:00.000-07:002007-09-12T18:39:00.000-07:00I'm wondering about evangelism and language. Maybe...I'm wondering about evangelism and language. Maybe talk isn't so cheap. Maybe the way we talk to, with and about these people you describe. I don't so much mean the power of positive thinking or some kind of pentecostal positive confession. <BR/><BR/>I'm thinking more along the lines of truth-telling, of rightly articulating our own story with God, and rightly naming them as children of God.<BR/><BR/>I dunno know. I'm just riffing off the top of my head as usual.Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09625761329517879665noreply@blogger.com