About a month ago I was in a conversation and one of the people responded to something I had said with, “That’s life.”

Now, while I do agree that there are some things which we must accept as part of life (i.e. the very fact that change is a certainty), but there are many other things that we do accept as part of life when they should not be.

So I’m stating that I do not accept that this is the way it is.

I don’t accept that in Prince George’s County, at least 8.1% of all residents live below the poverty line.

I do not accept that some have access to affordable health care while others do not.

I do not accept that 186 people were murdered in DC last year nor that at least 125 people were murdered in Prince George’s County last year.

I do not accept that in the District, 1 in 2 children is at risk for hunger nor that 1 in 5 children is at risk in Prince George’s.

I do not accept that more than 12,500 people die every day from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria and that we have the resources to help lower this number dramatically yet don’t give access. (http://www.one.org/us/issues/)

I do not accept that 884 million people across the world do not have access to clean water or that 2.5 billion (that’s right, billion with a ‘b’) do not have access to adequate sanitation. (http://www.one.org/us/issues/)

I do not accept that this is just life or that it is the way that it is.  I do not accept it and instead feel that it is an obligation for me to help my brothers and sisters just as I expect they will help me.

This is not the way it is meant to be - this is not how God imagined creation to be.

And it is not the way it has to be either.  We have the resources and together we can change the world.

It does not have to be like this - instead we can do something about it.

What will you do?

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?  38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing?  39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’  40 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’” (Matthew 25:37-40)

Photo courtesy of tombothetominator (rights)