These are days to scatter a sound bite or secure a photo opportunity. When the music fades and the bandwagon returns then it can be assessed in how much is achieved. Beyond the words begins the work. We live in the real world. Poverty is a reality.
Debate poverty in every age and you would conclude the biblical comment that 'the poor you will always have with you'. In every society, in every culture. The problems are readily highlighted, the solutions can be illusive.
As Christians we must accept that we are our brothers' keepers'. It is not enough to resign ourselves to the inevitability of poverty, deserving or otherwise. Allow me to underline my very firm conviction that in addressing this issue 'it is amazing how much we can achieve when we are not concerned about who gets the credit.'
Reports and statistics are sterile until we put flesh and blood names to the families in crisis, to the breadwinners out of work, to children excluded from school. And the first thing needed is not necessarily money. There needs to be Hope.
As a Christian I define Hope, not as optimism, but as theology. As God's creation, every man, woman, child, of every creed, culture, colour and economic level is of equal worth and value.
Together, churches, communities, policy makers and purse holders must work together to provide hope for the hopeless, help for the helpless and hugs for the hostile (hooded or otherwise), and not be concerned about who gets the credit.
Another type of credit or more accurately financial debt, contributes to social breakdown, family breakdown. The debt trap sucks in the whole of society. It is not just for the underclass or marginalised. For some, it is for survival.
For others it may be for material image, mistakenly thinking it enhances identity. In the shadows of society or behind suburban curtains debt may finance habit and addiction.
But poverty is about much more than empty pockets, it is also empty spirit. Jesus spoke about the 'poor in spirit' - not the impoverished of spirit, but those who know their spiritual need of God. In our communities we must engage where we best can address such needs.
It is not enough to expect schools to fill every need, nor the state to have every answer. Neither should we, when failure and crisis emerge, point the finger at the churches, while we lack joined-up thinking and turn a deaf ear and blind eye to life addressing values.
Morality, compassion, accountability and responsibility need to be part of our vocabulary. This is real life.
Together, we can have a common value to work for the good of our communities, not being concerned with who gets the credit. It is done by placing a hand, taking responsibility, speaking into the nation.
