by Natasha L. Kohlhoff Polak

Created on: December 30, 2009   Last Updated: January 01, 2010

The first time I ever saw a poor person, I was around seven years old.  We lived in a two-story apartment then, in what I would call a middle-class neighborhood.  I remember hearing a sound, so I looked out the window.  There at the dumpster was a woman in a tattered dress, digging through the heaps of garbage bags inside.  Repulsed, I asked my mom why anyone would do such a thing.  My mom sadly explained that she was probably hungry and poor.  It shocked me.  Yet, it was something I got used to seeing, as she came once a week, pushing her shopping cart to that dumpster each week.

The next time I saw poor people, it was when I was in India with my family the following year.  There, the poor were unavoidable.  Masses of people littered the streets, byways, hills, and outside buildings.  They were everywhere!  At first, I was afraid of them.  Having been taught not to talk to strangers, it was awkward for me to interact with such pitiful souls.  I walked past them as quickly as I could, ignoring their pleas, trying not to make contact.  But you know, sometimes it takes having such experiences for a person to overcome their fears.  Because it was in that constant reminder, seeing, hearing, and being fully aware of the unfortunate that made all the difference to me.  It was one of the ways the Bible became real to me, and my faith in the Lord became alive in me.  I sometimes gave alms to them (as long as I was accompanied by my family).

When I came back to the States, and eventually when I began to be involved in church, I learned of the many outreach ministries that remain for assisting people in Asia and other areas.  I had to wonder just who was benefiting from the help, though.  I mean, there are just too many people to account for.  But faithfully I started helping send money when I could, knowing that surely someone would receive food or shelter because of it.  Since the cost of living is so much lower there than it is here, but the people are paid less, it is so frustrating to see a problem that could so easily be avoided.  Yet it's not avoided.  People are always mired down by circumstances.  They lose their homes.  Get too sick to hold a job.  Give up hope.  Is it any wonder, then, that suicides, murders, and robberies are so prevalent?

The scary thing is, instead of shrinking in numbers, the poor are increasing everywhere.  In every neighborhood, you'll find people who are poor - though you just might not see them all the time.  Some might have cars, others can be on food stamps.  There are many degrees of being poor, you don't have to be completely destitute to be labeled as such.  It doesn't matter how poor a person is for us to help, however.  A free meal to someone who's living paycheck to paycheck can mean just as much to a homeless person seeking a draft free night indoors to sleep.  That's why it is so important to be mindful of the people around us, because you just never know who you might have to help.  I've been able to donate clothing and food to shelters and provide gifts to children who would never otherwise know how it feels to receive them.  Do I think these things are enough?  No.  Sadly, the work is never done.  I wish I could do more.  And I hope that I always can give more of myself to the cause each day, as it is definitely what Jesus would do!

Learn more about this author, Natasha L. Kohlhoff Polak.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.