A Beautiful Saturday

This past Saturday, it was gorgeous in my neck of the woods. The sun was shining and the temperature was perfect. Yet in the midst of that, 55 high schoolers from three parishes here in Louisville still decided to complete a 24 hour food fast. I was touched by their desire to say yes to this event, even when they could have been doing so many other things. I helped as the assistant director for a poverty simulation that they spent the afternoon experiencing. They were given a month (four 15-minute weeks) to see if they could make the "family" of which they had become a member better off financially than when they started. This is a difficult task because challenges and obstacles are placed before them. Yet, many of the families persevered past their frustration and creatively came up with various solutions that might have really helped in the real world. They were touched by the experience. They seemed to come away realizing that it often the person who is homeless or poor isn't lazy, but faced with circumstances and situations that are out of their control. This awareness raised a compassion in them that was great to see. By the end of the simulation, a few were asking about ways they could make a difference. God was tangible at that poverty simulation and will work through those teens who experienced it. What a gift! This was another sign for me that service and volunteering is such a great thing and that there are lots of people willing to do it. If you have a chance to participate in a poverty simulation in your area, I highly recommend it!