Today we went out to lunch with a friend whose mind and body is failing him. He lives in a small community home with four other people and staff, a decent environment. But no longer having a cell phone, access to his money, without contact with family and friends and with Parkinson body motions he has somewhat deteriorated in health of mind, body and soul. Without taking him to live with us there is not much we can do for him except be his friend. He is in a safe place and has a community, limited as it is.

Looking around at some of the friends I have made since retiring about seven years ago I find many of them young and old suffer from health problems that limit what they can do. Almost all my friends since retirement are poor or live on very limited income. These friends are of all ages. Being poor and/or ill may make them in eyes of society less a person and not an very important. However, I am learning to understand that persons with poor of health and/or little money are blessed. Their dependency on others graces all those who encounter them and see the gifts they share.

Blessed are the poor is not something I invented and has been known for a long time and proclaimed throughout history especially by Jesus in the Gospels. However there is a major difference from knowing Blessed are the Poor and experiencing it.

‘Normal people’ often say I am a hard person to be friends with and there is some truth to that statement. Being passionate about one’s beliefs and values and struggling to put them in practice get come across as ‘arrogant’ or being intolerant. We all have faults and if not governing your life on what others think of you is a fault, I am guilty. Sometimes my friends that are ‘poor’ can be demanding or hard to be with at times but so am I.

As an ill and/or poor person I can allow my weaknesses and dependent personality get myself down or I can, like many of mind friends, recognized blessings in our fault and weaknesses. I believe Jesus meant it when he said “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

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