Hunger

SUN., JULY 21, 1985, 6:19 AM
FARM, STUDY

The most obvious use of this word is the feeling that accompanies lack of adequate food, and this shall be most of My focus this morning. This is the negative use of this word, and, with you, I try to be as positive as possible, so expect some words about positive hunger also. You are here to learn. Welcome.

Hunger is the result of an imbalance between a person or people and food. It usually has a physiological base… the body needs more of one or more nutrients than it is getting, and its need produces pain. Then there is the emotional portion… the feeling of deprivation, which may be part anger, part despair, melded with feelings of lethargy and “don’t care.” (Yes, I know the word anomie.) When food is not obtainable the total self tries to adapt, and, as you suspected, the strength of spirit is critical in such a circumstance, for the one of advanced spirit does not find it difficult to consider others rather than self… to be less bothered by personal pain.

The legitimate concern of Christians today is the hunger that exists in “pockets” in this well-fed land, and that is rampant in other lands in the earth. I would never say that Christians should not have such concerns, and my preference in human living is for a system in which everyone works to capacity, and all share in that which is produced. No one is excessively rich, for those who receive much for their work give much away in appreciation. For all, in the human society I desire most, have a strong sense that I ultimately provide, and therefore they would rather give than accumulate, for so I have done for them.

Yet I have allowed selfishness, and therefore I have allowed hunger. I also have allowed reproduction of humans beyond the capacity of certain portions of the earth to produce food. Therefore I have allowed hunger, even as I decry it. To say that I am not finally responsible is to say that I have lost or given up control or that I am not powerful enough to counter what humans do. I assure you again that neither alternative is true.

I do not enjoy this suffering from hunger which I see in too much abundance. But I do enjoy the responses to it, the expected ones that come from those avowed Christians out of their plenty, the expected ones from those of great spirit who give even out of their own poverty, and those unexpected ones, such as this bizarre collection of young musicians, who have used their worldly reputations for the relief of hunger.

Just know that physical hunger is both undesirable but inevitable in the earth as I supervise it now. As a cause of suffering it is a factor in spiritual growth, even as it encourages compassion and sharing. It is inevitable because there is freedom to reproduce, because of selfishness and a belief that some should have much more of the earth’s resources than others.