Poor is a typical English word, meaning not enough. A lousy backhand, for instance, makes you a poor tennis player. If you knowingly apply biases, you are a poor judge. In the desire for yachts and jets, most of us are poor. English language in progressive terms remains nearly impossible to pin down. The opposite of poor is sufficient. How dare I be so poor when you are so sufficient? That’s off-topic.
In Middle English, (1516, I looked it up) the now slippery definition of poor grew out of the Latin word “pauper,” (pronounce pauper with the second P silent, and poor appeared in print. (I can hear a Dublin vendor say, “Paw’r kit” over and over when a pigeon relieved itself directly on me. He was insincere.) Pauper and poor both meant of such low estate as to be worthy of charity or public assistance. Our government deems Ford, GM, and Amazon as incredibly worthy paupers. Government agencies and old folks collecting Social Security are paupers. Charities are paupers. You need not be impecunious (don’t look it up yet) to be a pauper. (Maybe I’ll address these rabbit holes individually, but government and society contributed to you, from systems we all variously try not to contribute to throughout life and career.)
Impecunious, a cognate of the Latin legal term, im pecunia, without money or real wealth. Literally and chronically. Certified and court approved. My friends in remote villages are impecunious. Many of them never saw or touched a rupee or shilling. (See my completely neglected stories of DCF-Uganda at DCFuganda.org) DCF Uganda is a provisional business partnership. Direct Connection Fellowship – Uganda. We provide tools. They use them.) Our villagers have all seen and touched a different life with shillings. We are almost ready to buy four hectares of land. 10 acres. This is mostly their money.
The only essential way to define poor is in relation to something: “Lacking.” Poor means lacking. This ends a teaser that leads to many rabbit holes. As a stopping point, consider quietly, What do I lack? How am I poor? What makes me inadequate? Hopefully you will realize that the poorer you are, the less you need.
And, we ask for a thirty second prayer for the success and well-being of our tiny gifts. Go ahead. Thirty seconds. We believe all of us will benefit, so if you think it’s idiotic, be a selfless idiot. Shut up and say, “God of DCF, please consider them kindly. Succeed in them and through them.” Particularly if you can add, “through the power of the Messiah, Christ, Anointed, Son, only begotten, etc.” in whole or in part with due diligence not to violate your theology.
Hold on to your answers and sit on the edge of your seat until next time. Maybe.
Recent Comments