Sleeping on Pavements

Joshua asked us at dinner last night why there were men sleeping on the pavement.  In retrospect, he was probably talking about the building workers we saw having their siesta in the shade across the (6 lane!) road from the building site.  It is quite peculiar to me how they can lie there and "sleep" with all the traffic and pedestrians beside them.  

However, I thought he was referring to the street people we see from time to time and answered that it was because they are poor and cannot afford a house to live in.  Josh said we had to help them and it led to a general discussion of ways we can help the poor. I'm glad my kids see the poverty around us. I want them to challenge it and not accept it - it becomes so easy to fall into that mindset of seeing it everywhere yet not really seeing it.  

That's not to say there isn't another side to the Philippines - that of the extremely wealthy - and they need Jesus just as much but the challenge for us is what do we really need and what is just materialism/possessions for the sake of having them?  As we approach Christmas this question is highly pertinent to our family.

Our sermon yesterday was on "where do we store up our treasures?" A question we need to ask regularly.