Hopeful Downward Mobility

I just sorta rediscovered this the other day and was thinking about the progressions i have made over the last year. When i first started to actually connect with christianity i felt a sense of anger towards the Christian subculture. And while i still disagree with it in some ways i would like to think that im trying to replace that anger with love. For example instead of just getting angry at people for wasting food and clothes, i can be proactive and live in spite of that(ie dumpster diving). Instead of simply despising those who show hatred, i can love them and love the ones they hate. Certainly there are many things wrong with modern day christian culture with its focus on wealth and lack on remembrance of the things Jesus said. But even if we sell all we have and give it to the poor but have not love we are nothing. Granted that doesnt let people off the hook at all. But we should proactive in our lifestyles and life in spite of all the crap that surrounds us.

Recently ive started Dumpster diving. I had a real difficulty with this, trying to decide if i was doing it for the right reasons. If i am diving just to get stuff, than that is no different that going into a store and buying. sure the process is different, but im still caring about my stuff more than God. I struggled with this for a while but i think ive finally come up with a solution. I've decided to do a Free Market up here at College. The goal is to retrieve things that people throw away(that are useful) and give them back into a community that truly needs it. There is a certain sense of oddity of being a private Christian college amidst the second poorest county in new york state. While we as christians are called to care for the poor we have so much wealth, yet there is so much need. So im planning on dumpster diving and curb shopping things and giving them back to the poor in the community. So far we've been pretty successful! im currently sitting on a chair courtesy of a dorm dumpster. After only about a month we also have ski boots, books, a dinnerware set, cards, bowling ball, dolly, clothes, watering pot, and others. Im really excited for it and i think its a pretty great thing to do.

One of the biggest items that is thrown away is food. Over 100 billion pounds of food is thrown out in the United States in one year, while meanwhile people are dying of hunger(even in our own country). This is something that should catch everyones attentions, and as a Christian this is incredibly disturbing when we fail to take care of God's children. check out freegan.info for more information on this and ways to live a lifestyle in stark contrast to wastefulness.

Of course if you plan on doing something like this make sure and research it online so you are being safe about it. also dont do anything stupid like dive into a doctors office dumpster. Also check out this great site, they give an awesome theology to dumpster diving(imagine that!)

http://www.larynandjanel.com/blog/a_shout_out_to_eating_garbage_on_dumpster_diving.html








God Bless.