[Magdalen] whose theology is this?

[Jay Weigel]

If your directing that at me, Jim, first of all, I *never* expected ANYONE
to share a meal with me when I was doing home health.....ever. In fact, I
studiously tried to avoid people's mealtimes when visiting. But it happened.

And second, it's not just me. Ask anyone who's been to a poor country. I've
had friends who have gone on medical missions, or been in the Peace Corps,
and they've all reported the same thing, that it's the people who have the
least to give who are the most willing to give it. My son-in-law, who grew
up, not dirt-poor, but far from wealthy for his first 12 years in Brooklyn,
will attest to that also.

To turn that another way, look at the typical paradigm of the wealthy
families in this country. It's often said, and been shown, that the first
generation makes the money and the second hoards and flaunts it. The third
may be somewhat charitable, but it usually isn't until the fourth that they
really begin to become altruistic in terms of both charity and public
service. Roosevelts, Rockefellers, now Kennedys......and on the other
extreme, look at the horrible Walton clan and their second generation. Talk
about afraid to let go of their money! Sure, they've founded some
museums....with their NAME all over them.....but what have they done for
REAL people?

Honestly, Jim, you were always a cynic, but have you been working extra
hard at it lately?

On Wed, Mar 4, 2015 at 10:33 AM, Jim Guthrie <jguthrie at pipeline.com> wrote:

> Why is it that the people who have the least are the most apt to be the
>> first to help? When I was doing home health, it was the poorest people on
>> my route who insisted on sharing their meals, however meager they might be
>>
>
> Are they more apt to do this, or do we simply notice it much more when
> people are obviously poor but share anyway because it seems more remarkable
> than say, a friend picking up the check after lunch?
>
> I suspect that most people are generous like this, but we don’t notice it
> when there's not a seeming disconnect with economic status.
>
> And to turn this around, how many times, say, in a situation where one is
> visiting people in that situation, do we even think to bring a lunch along
> that can be shared?
>
> Cheers,
> Jim Guthrie
>
>