Chapters Nine & Ten

1.  Entitled, “Service with Dignity,” Lupton shares the ongoing conversation that ensued with his longtime neighbor and subsequent friend, Virgil, regarding outside assistance.  Lupton portrays a difficult process of listening, adaptation, trial & error, and eventual limited success. 

What was Virgil’s longstanding gripe with the way those who provided outside assistance conducted themselves?  How did Lupton respond and what was the result?

2.  “Little affirms human dignity more than honest work.  One of the surest ways to destroy self-worth is subsidizing the idleness of able-bodied people.  Work is a gift, a calling, a human responsibility.  And the creation of productive, meaningful employment fulfills one of the Creator’s highest designs.  Because of that, it should be a central goal to our service.”

How does this statement speak to our Christian vocation as co-stewards of God’s creation?  What is the value and goal of work to you as a Christian?

                                                                

3.  “Even as work is essential for life with meaning, so neighboring is essential for meaningful community life.  Becoming a neighbor to less-advantaged people is the most authentic expression of affirmation I know – becoming a real-life, next-door neighbor.”  Lupton goes on to discuss “re-neighboring” as a primary transformation strategy.  “Be an interested, supportive neighbor for at least six months before attempting to initiate any new activity.”  And finally, “Need does not constitute a call!  Focus your efforts in one or two areas that have a compelling interest to you, that maximize your giftedness.”

How have you experienced the effectiveness of such sage advice?

4.  In chapter ten, Lupton argues, “But superbly run betterment programs do little to strengthen the community’s capacity to address its own needs.  And often they can work at cross-purposes with community development.  They are entry points but not ending points.”

Give some examples of where this plays out.

5.  Here are a few nuggets from this chapter.  Briefly discuss each:

- Henry Blackaby, “Find out what God is up to, and get in on it.”

- Ask yourself: What is my parish?

- The best way to assure effectiveness is to spend enough time as a learner, ask enough questions, and seek wisdom from indigenous leaders to gain an accurate picture of both existing realities and future aspirations of the community.

- When we focus on what is wrong, we miss what is right.

- What we look for is likely what we will see.

And finally…

- The poor, no matter how destitute, have enormous untapped capacity; find it, be inspired by it, and build upon it.

(Next week…Martin Luther!)