Tell Me Why

• One person in seven battles hunger every day
• Approximately 963 million people across the world are hungry
• More than 9 million children under age 5 die every year, and malnutrition accounts for more than one-third of these deaths. Most of these children live in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
• About 5.6 million deaths of children worldwide are related to under-nutrition. This accounds for 53 percent of the total deaths for children under 5.
• More than 140 million or 25 percent of all children in developing countries are underweight and at risk form the long-term effects of malnourishment.
• Nearly 15 percent of babies in developing countries are born with low birth weight compared with only 7 percent of babies in industrialised countries. 
• More than 6 million children die from malnutrition each year
• Worldwide, 161 million preschool children suffer from chronic malnutrition
• Already 923 million people worldwide are undernourished, and there are more than 9 million deaths related to hunger each year.

From Compassion. Click the title for the original link

www.fpg.org, www.unicef.org, www.whoint.org, www.un.org February 2009

I don't understand why this is happening. Do I question God for it? Maybe a little. But I know it's a result of sin, and thus a result of man's choice, so really my question is, "why are WE letting this happen?"

When you read things like this, what happens?  

Do you try to visualise the numbers? Do you read it like a news story and just move on to the next? Do you suddenly feel like skipping breakfast is nothing more than a minute inconvenience?

Do you tear up? Do you tell someone? Are you changed?

I'll admit it.  I'm desensitised to death. I know it happens, and I know it often happens prematurely. Off the top of my head, I could list at least 4 people I've met or known who died before 40. But what if instead of living in one of the richest parts of the world, I and everyone I know was subject to these same rates? I'd say I've known at least 500 people. Were we subject to these rates, in my 21 years, I would have seen 11 people die of hunger alone.  I don't know a single person who's even suffered from malnutrition, much less died of it! With these same rates, 66 people I know would be under-nourished, 4 of them on my mom's side of the family. I can't imagine watching 4 of my family members suffer from malnutrition.

Sometimes I have to make it personal to be motivated to do anything about it. These are God's created beings, his children that are dying. There is no need for these children to starve; rather there is only a desperate need that we who have plenty share with those who little. Is it really that hard? I find in this culture and especially in Orange County I am just sickened by our lifestyles. As my friend Crystal said, it's Babylon.

I am convinced this is not God's plan for us, so can someone please tell me why this is happening?