Clare (1194-1253) was one of the early followers of Francis of Assisi. Although from a wealthy family, she embraced poverty as a way of life. She founded the Order of Poor Ladies, later named the Order of St. Clare and commonly called the Poor Clares. She wrote the rule for her order, the fist woman to do so, and struggled to maintain the idea of poverty among the nuns. The men in the hierarchy kept trying to force them to accept property.

While I admire Clare’s attempt to live according to Jesus’ teaching “Blessed are the poor,” everything in me resists poverty as a lifestyle. I confess I’m more moved by Ebenezer Scrooge’s observation, “There is nothing [the world] is so hard on as poverty.” It’s not that I am and advocate of “conspicuous consumption.” I don’t need a high-priced car or an expensive watch. My personal concern has to do with security. I don’t want to worry about paying for my blood pressure medicine this month.

I know that my insecurity is rooted in the stories of my grandmother, who grew up in poverty, and my father’s experiences during the Great Depression. They passed on to me the fear of being poor. I’ve been told I should trust the Lord, but I think that has to do with my ultimate destiny, not with paying the rent.

I’m still working on this problem hoping that my fears don’t keep me from the Lord. I’ll keep thinking about people like Clare to see where they might lead me.

Read Luke 6:20 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne