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  AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF THE LIFESTYLE
  by K.P. Yohannan
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Summary: The author shares his personal experience of poverty and
cultural shock, highlighting the stark contrast between the American
economy and the struggles of the poor.

Topics: "Poverty", "Compassion for the Needy"
Scripture References: Matthew 25:35

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DESCRIPTION
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K.P. Yohannan shares a vivid depiction of the stark contrast between his
impoverished upbringing and the abundance he encountered in America. He
describes the stripping away of basic necessities and services,
illustrating the harsh realities faced by many in his homeland. This
experience left him in awe and confusion, prompting deep spiritual
reflections on the disparities in lifestyles and economies. Yohannan
emphasizes the need for awareness and compassion towards those living in
poverty, urging listeners to evaluate their own lives in light of these
realities.

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CONTENT
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We move to the kitchen. The appliances have already been taken out, so
we turn to the cupboards. . . . The box of matches may stay, a small bag
of flour, some sugar and salt. A few moldy potatoes, already in the
garbage can, must be rescued, for they will provide much of tonight's
meal. We will leave a handful of onions and a dish of dried beans. All
the rest we take away: the meat, the fresh vegetables, the canned goods,
the crackers, the candy.

Now we have stripped the house: the bathroom has been dismantled, the
running water shut off, the electric wires taken out. Next we take away
the house. The family can move to the tool shed. . . . Communications
must go next. No more newspapers, magazines, books--not that they are
missed, since we must take away our family's literacy as well. Instead,
in our shantytown we will allow one radio. . . .

Now government services must go next. No more postmen, no more firemen.
There is a school, but it is three miles away and consists of two
classrooms. . . . There are, of course, no hospitals or doctors nearby.
The nearest clinic is ten miles away and is tended by a midwife. It can
be reached by bicycle, provided the family has a bicycle, which is
unlikely. . . .

Finally, money. We will allow our family a cash hoard of five dollars.
This will prevent our breadwinner from experiencing the tragedy of an
Iranian peasant who went blind because he could not raise the $3.94
which he mistakenly thought he needed to receive admission to a hospital
where he could have been cured.

This is an accurate description of the lifestyle and world from which I
came. From the moment I touched foot on American soil, I walked in an
unbelieving daze. How can two so different economies coexist
simultaneously on the earth? Everything was so overpowering and
confusing to me at first. Not only did I have to learn the simplest
procedures--like using the pay telephones and making change--but as a
sensitive Christian, I found myself constantly making spiritual
evaluations of everything I saw.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/kp-yohannan/an-accurate-description-of-the-lifestyle/
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