They Hate the Way You Shine

Singer-lyricist Brandi Carlisle wrote, “They can kick dirt in your face, dress you down, and tell you that your place Is in the middle, when they hate the way you shine.”

If you stand out they will shame you. They shamelessly shame a teenaged girl, Greta Thunberg, who is standing courageously in defense of the planet. They shame whistleblowers, truth-tellers trying to protect national security. 

But you know who the world particularly shames? poor people.

In fact, even poor people often shame poor people. Thankfully, we have Good News for the poor, news that will raise us up together from our rancor. To elevate the poor is to elevate us all.