By Cindy O’Connor
We all need resources to exist. Each one of us is a resource to our families, friends, employers, parishes communities and to our neighborhoods.
Resources are a source to support us in our daily lives. Resources come in many forms, material items (food, shelter, money, etc.). A resource can also be an action to help with a process such as a recipe. You cannot bake a cake without a recipe, it is a plan of action, following steps for an outcome. Lastly, it could be you as the resource. You are part of the big picture, a resource to those who love you and depend on you.
Our daily resources are interconnected. They strengthen us, but when we have challenges in life our resources can be diminished, demolished or disappear. As a Bridges Out of Poverty Framework trainer, we talk about eleven resources for those in poverty, however, this list can apply our lives. The following identified resources are from the Aha Process group.
1. Financial – having the money to purchase goods and services.
2. Emotional- the ability to choose/control emotional responses, particularly to negative situations, without engaging in self-destructive behavior.
3. Mental – having the abilities and acquired skills (reading, writing, computing) to deal with daily life.
4. Language – having vocabulary, language ability, and negotiation skills to negotiate the environments necessary to build resources.
5. Social capital -Includes both bonding capital (connections with people similar to yourself) and bridging capital (connections with people different from yourself).
6. Health – being healthy, having the ability to work and be self-sufficient and access to healthcare providers.
7. Spiritual – sense of hope, faith.
8. Integrity and trust – honor the laws that govern us, make decisions based on high ethical standards.
9. Motivation and persistence – having the energy and drive for a future story/positive life.
10. Relationships/role models – access to those who are nurturing and caring and having friends, family, to assist you in times of need.
11. Knowledge of hidden rules – understanding and knowing the unspoken cues and habits of a group.
When unexpected events disrupt our lives and impact our resources, we become under-resourced. Those experiencing poverty are often challenged with limited resources. Catholic Charities is a resource to those who are seeking many things, and it is with your support we can continue to assist the most vulnerable.
When you encounter someone that is struggling financially, homeless or simply overwhelmed, please be kind, do not judge and think about what resources are missing in their lives. We do not know the back story; what their journey was to become under-resourced or what event(s) may have negatively impacted their life.
As Christians, we lean on the Holy Trinity as our resources, calling upon our Heavenly Father, Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and our advocate, and comforter, the Holy Spirit for support. Let us be that resource for our families, neighbors and parish communities.
Cindy O’Connor is the Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.
