During my 31 years of living in San Francisco as a person of low economic means (fully to 2011 in SF and 2016 in close in Bay area), I ran to survive. I was juggling survival with others like me, pooling resources, seeking opportunity in the hidden. I was far from "corporate".
On a good number of occasions over my 31 years in SF, I attended "educational money seminars" (colloquially known as "get rich quick" seminars), often held in nearby hotel banquet rooms. Usually those who put on the seminar would need some kind of "offer" to draw people and they usually need things like a small meal or giveaway of some kind. Of course the main tactic I encountered was high-pressure sales focus to push people into spending money immediately on books, tapes and CDs. As ashamed as I am to admit I did purchase such items on a couple of occasions over the years, fruitless for me, I also learned to simply not bring a credit card, debit card or check book. Sometimes the shaming techniques used to shove at those who did not pull out their money, were downright rude and intimidating. Yes, I know those who put on the seminar have to make money and no problem with that, but there is also no need to shame people who really cannot afford such things at that moment. Only one such seminar did I actually emerge from with some hope or inspiration, purchasing only one book and having a positive event (Robert Allen).
My point in this is the realm that lower income people often live in, is stereotyped, castigated for being low income, pressured as stupid and condemned by others who perhaps have never felt the dismay and sorrow over being poor.
Just as a little child takes the first stumbling and trembling steps, they fall and fail many times. Encouragement is needed, not pressure. As I have stumbled so often in my life journey (I am 70 as I write this, February 2023), I offer some humble blunt encouragement to fellow "hidden gems" of the poor.
I am humbly endeavoring with this ongoing "chronicle" of my own learning to also simply share a moment of the incredible love of God and His Son Jesus Christ. They do not scold, castigate, stand over you with a stick, harass you because you made a mistake more than once or kept missing it.
The incredible mercy and patience of God is so stunning! Yes, I do know when I have missed it and I do feel the nudge in my spirit, to change something or turn aside from an action or mindset. God is not an enabler. He is a Father and a merciful Teacher.
As one who has been a “member" of the sorrowful and cynical working poor for more than 40 years, I truly “get" the sadness and often negative mindset of financially struggling people. Our Western culture is rife with the push-ahead concept and the intense condemnation of the " failures ", AKA as the struggling and sorrowful .
I know effort must be made to come up out of poverty.
I just speak from direct and blunt experience, that shaming and condemnation do nothing to help someone up and out. Perhaps work does not need to only be " hard", yes? We do not know the tangled or calamitous road someone may have walked to contribute to financial lack, not one simple thing.
A step by a step, a plod or trudge sometimes, this is still some progress.
Yes, prospering takes continued effort, action and a push forward. It also depends much on your mindset, taking things bit by bit as you go along. Many of us struggle mightily with the "push" and simply do not excel at the shove forward. We get dismayed, despairing and discouraged and often give up, seeking only basic survival: a roof over our head, a simple and humble job to provide that including food, some clothing and a modest purpose, some utilities and transport from to and fro. Keeping up with others is not part of the program, survival is.
"Love letters to the poor" was the phrase Holy Spirit gave to me recently and it "took" in my spirit, as the love that God has especially for struggling and despairing people, is so formidable. Once you discover this love, you are changed forever, even if the day by day journey remains difficult. God actually travels the muddy roads with each of us and His counsel never goes wrong. Step by step and day by day does break things down to do-able choices that do not overwhelm. A little bit after a little bit actually does begin to corral one’s forces in the positive direction and you feel gradually, less overwhelmed.
Join me on this journey of my own, as I am not yet out of poverty. This is NOT "just believe and all will change immediately!" No, this is "come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest…" from the words of Jesus Christ, Matthew 11:28-29.
So, on this travel with me, let's give each other a gentle break, a smile, a word of encouragement along the difficult road and celebrate even what I call “penny or dollar victories." The great power of the small is what I build on.
" I would rather have $1 from 100 different people than $100 from one single person. Seeds planted, patience fed, tiny victories along the road to greater abundance." (WW)
The ethos of the microentrepreneur.
More to come, chapter by chapter of my experiences and my learnings. Fellow GEMS from God Himself, welcome, let’s go and help one another!
Wendy Williams Feb. 21, 2023