I dealt with many of the same questions you raise while I was in London and I’d second what Hootsbuddy says. One of the things that helped me tremendously was getting involved with London Catholic Workers. They are a community committed to radical hospitality and have been working for years to buy their own house to host folks who need a place to stay. In the meantime they’ve been doing soup kitchens in Hackney.

Most conveniently, they meet at St. Joseph’s in Highgate which is only a 15 minute walk from the Mennonite Centre. Check them out:

London Catholic Worker

It’s encouraging to read about others’ struggle with a world that puts so much emphasis on material wealth. I, too, find myself overwhelmed when trying to think how and if we’ll ever wake up. I’ve been thinking about St. Francis a lot recently and the way he chose to live joyfully in simplicity. Living simply can be grating; we are constantly told that we are different, strange, foolish for not saving for (fill in the blank here). I lived in Leeds, England for a year as a Rotary Int. Ambassadorial Scholar; I was expected to attend black-tie functions, appear as a “barbie doll” in public, and give speeches about American culture. Ironically, it was 2001, so there I was talking about the power of non-violence and simple living, offering up an alternative view of Americans. But like your entry explored, I felt weird b/c I felt very uncomfortable most of the year. At Christmas, I remember thinking that finally, I would be getting away from the materialistic madness of the Holidays–as you know, I was in for a rude awakening! Know that you’re making a difference in the way you choose to live your life. If you’re anything like me, you can begin to think about EVERY decision, which can be dangerous. Be gentle with yourself. :) I do miss the mulled wine and mince pies at Christmas–enjoy them!
Thanks again for your thoughts…hope to hear from you again.

You might find it helpful to read about how that movement comes to terms with the inequities you describe.

Thanks for this post. I am grateful for the Anabaptist emphasis on simple living. However, even with that emphasis, many of us been lulled by the siren song of wealth and comfort. I echo your desire to not grow complacent or apathetic, but admit that it is a struggle and good answers and freedom from hypocrisy are not fully in my grasp. (That’s not an excuse to give up!)

Earlier today, before reading your post, I noticed this BBC article online: Richest 2% own ‘half the wealth’.

jdaniel