From Presiding

Elder Joseph A. Darbys

Desk
The Beaufort District of the South Carolina Annual
Conference of the AME Church

~ MID-WEEK MEDITATION ~
Based on Matthew 25:31-46
1 Im writing this Meditation in the midst of considerable National debate about the fate of the
Affordable Care Act. The GOP majority in the U.S. House of Representatives replacement plan
suffered a major setback this week, when the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office calculated
that the new plan would be cheaper, but would lead to 24 million people being uninsured.

Those pushing the new plan have countered that finding by noting the federal tax dollars
that would be saved and by trumpeting the value of people having health insurance choices, while
ignoring the massive number of people who would no longer be able to afford health insurance and
the fact that, for many older people, the choice under their plan would be whether to visit the
doctor and fill their prescriptions or to keep their lights on and buy groceries.

Their argument highlights the problems associated with trying to run the peoples
government by the objectively amoral standards of private business, of focusing on the financial
bottom line instead of on people who might suffer because of their cold, calculated, self-serving
decisions and of elevating making deals over decency.

If our nation is to still be what we claim to be - one nation under God, indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all - then people of faith must speak truth to power and not quietly
accommodate to evil, but we also have to examine ourselves as we do so.

Its easy, in a world that emphasizes visible prosperity and success, for the best of people to
focus on self, strive to achieve by any means necessary and overlook - or even look down on - those
who are struggling to make it or who dont look, think or act like us.

Wed do well to remember that we embrace a Savior who lived and died as the price for our
sins and who never failed to speak up for and stand up for those He said could often be described as
the least of these.

When we look beyond self and look to our Savior, we can not only push for public policies
that are equitable and fair to those of modest means, immigrants, refugees and people of all faiths
or of no faith. We can find new affirmation in knowing that weve made a difference in the lives of
others and have done Gods will in doing so.
 Take the time, during this Lenten season, to prayerfully consider what you can do to improve
the lives of all of Gods children - regardless of color, culture, faith or economic status. When you
do, youll find new spiritual direction and new peace of mind by bringing joy and wholeness to
others and find new meaning in the words of a familiar hymn, If I can help somebody as I pass
along, then my living will not be in vain.

This Meditation is also available:

As a Blog on the Beaufort Districts Website: www.beaufortdistrict.org

And on Facebook at:

www.facebook.com/BeaufortDistrictAMEC

Get Ready for Sunday, and have a great

day in your house of worship!