Injustices

We had yet another “new” experience recently. While our car was parked, in what we thought was a relatively nice area of the city, someone stole the side-view mirrors. Just the mirror part, not the whole thing. Apparently, these kinds of things happen relatively often around here because you see lots of things attached onto cars with rivets. Even the decals. “Toyota Corolla” decals are hot items. Unfortunately, these mirrors are not the first things that have been stolen from us while we’ve been in Addis Ababa. Being Christ-like in these kinds of situations is tough. The situation feels so “wrong” and it drives us to want to demand justice. And we feel that justice should come immediately because that’s what we are entitled to and rightly “deserve.” At the same time the situation also calls for mercy. So many people in Addis Ababa (even the thieves themselves) are faced with injustices far worse than this everyday. In particular, the women and vulnerable children we hope to help deal with unimaginable injustices.


I wonder how often the beggars I pass by feel that it is so “wrong” that I would pass by them without giving them any money on my way to spend 6 birr (50 cents) on a drink at a café. They’d be content with far less. At the same time I feel it is so “wrong” for mothers to send their children out to beg around the shopping center that is known for attracting rich Ethiopians and foreigners. Do I give them money knowing they have so little or do I politely tell them “no” and refuse to contribute to that vicious cycle? Many well-meaning foreigners have given to them and so they come to expect it; and won’t leave you alone until they get something. In many developing countries like Ethiopia, begging is a real profession. People know they can make more money begging, or forcing more vulnerable children to do the begging, than they could as a day-laborer or farmer. I don’t want to pad the pockets of those who take advantage of children by making them beg for them. At the same time, I feel compassion for the children, the crippled, the mothers, who sit, stand, or walk along the streets asking for handouts.

As in other blog entries, I don’t have an answer to these tough questions. We’ll get our mirrors replaced (looks like it’ll take about 2 weeks for the mirrors to arrive), and maybe find a way to better secure them, and we’ll be fine. But, we’ll continue to see the beggars and be vulnerable to thieves for as long as we stay here. You can pray with us that we can balance justice with mercy in a Christ-like manner.