Privilege and Oppression

It is my experience that the privileged are more oppressed than it appears and the oppressed are more privileged than it seems. My own life is one of privilege and oppression, both.

I WAS THE WORLD’S VERSION OF ‘OPPRESSED’:

-My grandpa’s family were immigrants from Spain.

-My mom and dad married with no money whatsoever.

-I grew up in poverty in a poor neighborhood in Oswego, N.Y.

-We received government assistance. I especially liked the cheese.

-People would give us bags of their used clothes. Loved those nights.

-I didn’t have or do the things I saw my friends enjoy.

-I didn’t wear name brand clothes. Mom made a lot of our clothes.

-We moved into a country shanty when I was 10.

-I started to work full time in the summers when I was 12.

-I began buying my own clothes at that time for the most part.

-We didn’t have money for well water when we would run out.

-We shared bath water and used it to flush the toilet and wash clothes.

-My dad would call my grandpa at times to get his inheritance early to pay bills.

-Our vehicle was an old van that would often break down.

-We ate a lot of rice and spaghetti and mac and cheese.

-Our Christmas presents were mostly socks, deodorant, i.e. - basic needs.

-We relied on our garden for food to eat and can for the winter.

-We heat our whole house with a wood stove. Rooms were freezing.

-I attended the small Christian School where my dad was a principal.

-I graduated with an inglorious 18 on my ACT exam.

-There were only 3 in my graduating class—small town with small beginnings.

-Our parents couldn’t help us with college, but we qualified for Pell Grants.

-I studied my brains out to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in ministry.

-I worked my way through college and graduated with $8,000 in debt.

-Collectively Heidi and I had college debt that was overwhelming.

-My first job paid little enough that we qualified for welfare for quite some time.

-Heidi got a job cleaning houses to make ends meet.

-I worked some side jobs so that we could visit our extended families.

-We lost all our equity and savings during the 2008 housing crisis.

-All our vacations as a family were travelling to see our parents during the year.

-Our first overseas vacation as a married couple was Mexico for our 20th anniversary.

-My inheritance from my parents was my grandpa’s tractor and wood wagon.

-All that to say, I wasn’t born with my butt in the butter.

BUT I AM “PRIVILEGED” BEYOND COMPREHENSION:

-I grew up in a family with parents who knew Jesus and taught us to love Him.

-I was never aware I was poor because we had so much joy in our home.

-My parents never complained about our lot in life, they felt cared for by God.

-I was privileged to have a Dad and Mom who stayed together through it all. (Wish everyone had that privilege)

-We had family nights filled with games, singing, and reading stories.

-I always looked forward to going out to Ponderosa. (Kids under 12 eat for free!)

-I had a dad who played with us and enjoyed whatever we were involved in.

-I had a mom who loved being home and creating an atmosphere of hospitality.

-We shared meals with people who were poorer than us all the time.

-My mom and dad were always caring for the disenfranchised and ostracized.

-I grew up in a home full of unconditional love and consistent discipline.

-My parents weren’t hypocrites. They were in private who they were in public.

-We didn’t have much but we were taught to be grateful for our blessings.

-Our house was cold, but we would gather around the fire together for warmth.

-We spent a lot of time together creating fun out of nothing. It was a simple life.

-We laughed and joked around even in the midst of our burdens and needs.

-We prayed together and played together. We loved being together.

-Our inheritance from our families wasn’t financial; it was spiritual. That is legacy.

-As I got married, we didn’t have much, but we had God and each other.

-I didn’t get into ministry for money, I valued what my parent’s valued: people.

-We still don’t have a ton in the bank, but we are blessed beyond belief.

-I’ve worked hard. Heidi works hard. Our kids work hard. That is itself a gift.

-We’ve had to overcome terrible hardships, but God uses those to shape us.

-Things haven’t come easy, but I feel so favored to have the life I have.

Be careful how you pigeon-hole people from the outside in with labels that don't tell the whole story.

People talk of privilege these days and “I feel privileged”, but not for the reasons everyone associates with it. I pray others have the ‘privilege’ to have the brutal and beautiful life I’ve experienced.

We are all a mix of Blessings and Curses. Privileges and Oppressions. Opportunties and Obstances. Failure and Favor. It’s what we do with the life in front of us every day that determines whether we become bitter or better, victims or victors, regardless of the circumstances. We can blame everything and everyone, effectively dodging responsibility, or we can see all our gifts and hurts as opportunities to give God glory and spread God’s love.

I’m more privileged that I deserve. I’ve been more oppressed than anyone knows. I’m grateful for both. They have formed and forged me into who I am today.

“The Lord gives and takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.” – Job 1:21

Thank you, God.