Demonstrate little warmth for the poor

Before last week's the election I attended a demonstration.  It had been a long time.  Maybe way too long since I took a stand of this sort.  Of course I have shied away from public political positions because of my calling as a pastor.  I need to be able to pastor the people in my congregation of different parties and political views.

But this demonstration was in solidarity with the poor.  It was a demonstration against the power shut-offs that will leave many families cold this winter.  I understand that in our small state of Rhode Island alone there are 5,000 families, including many children and elderly. without power this winter.

We think it can't happen.  We think that because the state law says that power can't be shut off after Nov. 1 (All Saints Day), that everyone will be warm this winter. Because we were told that our rates were increased to cover the costs of the poor who have fallen behind in their heating bills, we think that it can't happen. 

But both of those factors speak only to those who fall behind after Nov. 1.  If your power was turned off in August or September or October, you will be cold this winter unless you can come up with the arrears.

One priest that I met at the demonstration told me that he thought that as an exercise everyone ought to turn the heat down to 40 or 50 degrees for one day and try to keep warm.  As you do, you should wonder what it is like to try to keep your baby warm or how to heat the formula or baby food.

When I worked as a nurse, a young mother brought in her baby sick and filthy.  It was March.  She said she hadn't bathed the baby since fall because it was too cold.

I haven't demonstrated for years.  But this is not worldly politics.  It is the politics of God.  In my ordination and in our churches constitution I am called to stand with the poor and the powerless.

But we are all called maybe not by the Rite of Ordination, but by the Scriptures, by our Lord.  Jesus said in Matthew 25, "Whatever you do for the least of these you do for me."

Maybe demonstrating is not your thing.  But surely you can help.  Better than turning your heat down drastically for one day to feel the cold, turn it down one or two degrees all the time and share the warmth by contributing the money you save.  You can donate to emergency funds. I have a discretionary fund. If you already keep your thermostat low to save money, share some of the wealth with others.

If you want to feel a warm feeling this winter you can -- by helping others to stay warm.


Lord, help us to see your face in the faces of the poor.  And help them to see your love in our compassion.  Amen


Copyright © 2006, The Rev. Dana Reardon. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Email her at mspastor@aol.com.


The Rev. Dana Reardon is pastor at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Warwick, RI.  A lifelong Lutheran, she came to ordained ministry after 21 years in nursing, mostly in pediatric intensive care.  She graduated from Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia in 1998 and served 4 ½ years in Upstate New York before becoming a New Englander.  She is still trying to understand the accent.  While in the Upstate New York Synod she chaired the Stewardship Team.  That began her fascination with what makes stewards -- and more, what makes for generosity. She has three amazing daughters: Pastor Reardon says much of what she knows of life she learned from them.