“The issue I focus on the most is extreme poverty. I think it’s kind of out of sight, out of mind. I wish there would be more stories about that to connect people to what’s happening. To personalize it, to make it real to people, to inspire them to action.” ~ John Legend
Have you ever heard the phrase by Homer, “out of sight, out of mind?” The idea that something is easily forgotten or dismissed as unimportant if not in our direct view. In other words, if we don’t see someone or something for some time, we might stop thinking about them or it or regard the absent person, demographic, or thing as less important than what or who is present and visible to us.
God calls on us to live the double commandment, love God, and love others as ourselves. If we take this commandment seriously, then we have to own our out-of-sight, out-of-mind behavior. Just because we may not have homeless people living in our backyards, live in diverse neighborhoods, or witness hungry people doesn’t mean homelessness, systemic racism, and poverty don’t exist. Human tendency is to deceive ourselves when it comes to the world’s problems by adopting an out-of-sight, out-of-mind mentality and attitude. If we don’t see it, it must not exist.
Who have you dehumanized, oppressed, and marginalized with your own out-of-sight, out-of-mind behavior? Ask God for forgiveness, and commit yourself to loving and serving God’s kids one day at a time now and forever. It’s never too late to change and start living the way God designed you to live, which is to love God, love others, and help change the world.
My Creator, thank You for the ability to take ownership of my behavior. I know I am guilty of out-of-sight, out-of-mind conduct throughout my life; please forgive me. Please grant me the honesty, open-mindedness, and willingness it takes to love You and others with all my heart, mind, and being. In Your Spirit and Name, I pray these things. May Your will not mine always materialize, now and forever. Amen.
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