Go Make A Difference

Meeting Sheila Gilbert, first woman president of the National Council of the United States Society of St. Vincent de Paul, was nothing that I expected.  At first glance, this petite, soft-spoken woman blends into the crowd.  That is until she steps up to the podium to speak.

    She speaks as if she’s reading from a teleprompter, but there is nothing there. Her entertaining analogies, described in last week’s issue of the Message, put to use vibrant imagery and meaningful connections, and she does so without a single notecard.

    Later, a one-on-one conversation with Gilbert gave me an insight into what currently drives her to work tirelessly for the poor.

    “Systemic change,” Gilbert states simply. “That’s what will make a difference.”

Systemic change is the change that pervades all parts of a system, taking into account the interrelationships and interdependencies among those parts. Relationships are the key.

    Gilbert wishes to walk people out of poverty.  She has discovered there is a difference between mentoring and walking with someone through their journey.

    This human connection - the walking with another - is more than just a once-a-year donation.  There is no denying the generosity of our parishes during the holiday season, and the money, food, and gifts collected truly make a difference. But it is relationships, and the offering of hope, that will go further toward meeting all the needs of those who are struggling.

    That led me to reflect repeatedly on her opening statements.  “Each one of you has an individual story of how you got where you are today,” Gilbert said. “Each person in poverty has a unique story of why they are not sitting here in this room today.”

Each of us in that room had a story that included in most cases a life complete with the resources to provide us an education, have our basic needs met, and most importantly, provide hope.  We were fortunate enough to be dropped into a station in life that cultivated success. This does not negate the problems and hurdles we may have faced.  But we are now called to serve.

    This is not an entirely selfless act.  Many studies have demonstrated that helping others increases happiness and contentment in participants.  Researchers at the London School of Economics found that the more people volunteered, the happier they were - at a rate of a 16-percent increase over those who do not regularly volunteer.  They compared this hike in happiness to having an annual income of $100,000 versus $20,000.

    Much poverty is situational.  Some people are born into poverty, but some fall into poverty due to an unexpected crisis.  When people are barely stable, one situation can leave them without the means to recover.

    Gilbert has worked closely with those living in poverty.  Her words of encouragement to better understand and address the root causes of their conditions called to mind how blessed we all are. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Data taken from “Simple Changes, Big Rewards: A Practical, Easy Guide for Healthy, Happy Living” - a special health report published by Harvard Health Publications.