You Gotta Fall in Order to Mend

We hear all the time about the need to let others struggle to make them stronger.  You know the story.  If you always caught a child as he was learning to walk, he would never learn to walk on his own.

As we were returning from our construction activity yesterday, we were driving through one of the towns, and a beggar with leprosy came around our van and continued to plead for help.  I felt torn.  We are taught "And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish (Mosiah 4:16)"  

We have been learning here that we are here to break the stigma of leprosy (that they should be outcasts, beggars and the lowest class of society).  In order to do that we are teaching the individuals with leprosy to become self sufficient and not to rely on begging.  We are told not to give any money or gifts.  As I thought of this scripture and viewed this man I felt extremely guilty.  I don't claim to know the exact interpretation of this scripture, but as I thought about the times then and the times now, I came to a new understanding of it.

In today's society, there are many beggars.  It is not up to us to judge them but to love them and serve them.  But as I thought about these things, I came to the belief that this scripture in our time does not mean that we need to give money to every beggar that we pass on the street.  Through the church and through programs like Rising Star we are answering the petition of the beggar.  Giving money to the beggar that approaches you will perhaps help them short term, but our goal in the church and in Rising Star is to help people long term - to help them change their lives and learn to raise their standards and their level of self dignity.  We provide love and support in a way that is not possible by handing out money.

Now back to the story of teaching a child to walk. It is hard to see children fall and feel pain.  It is hard to see a loved one struggle and suffer.  It's never easy.  But when I saw the man yesterday it was heart wrenching.  He has already been through so much pain.  He is old and has been dealing with leprosy his whole life.  His pain hasn't been temporary, nor do I anticipate it will be very short term.

He is a member of one of the colonies that Rising Star serves.  We did not give him money.  But we love him and we are here serving him.  It hurts.  It is difficult to see.  It was uncomfortable to deny him at that time, but we are helping him in ways that will serve him the rest of his life.  I believe we are following the steps of the Savior.  Watching us through our struggles hurts Him.  It is difficult.  But He loves us so much that He sometimes may have to deny us at a time that we are begging.  But His love never ends and He is always there for us if we reach a point that we can't handle anymore.  That is our goal.  To love, teach and support.  That is the best way to serve and to make a difference and I am honored to be a part of this Rising Star program and even more honored and thankful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints that has programs that perform this service all the world over!