Last Sunday, I had a complete emotional meltdown for about 30 minutes. It was totally out of the blue, absolutely unexpected. One minute I’m reading “Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas,” and the next minute I’m keening like a hired mourner.

The impetus: 6500 kids die every day because of extreme poverty. Now, let’s be honest…you (Michael) and I hail from fairly different camps when it comes to politics and economic theory. I remain unconvinced that greed is good, and I think believing trickle-down economics works is akin to believing the Tooth Fairy is not at all creepy, despite the human incisor collection. Before last week, I would have told you confidently that the Left has had its finger on the pulse of The Issue for quite some time, and it’s only now that the Right is about to look really greedy and stupid that it is pulling its head out of its own…sleeve…to address The Issue before the Left starts to look like they might have a point. Then on Sunday, without warning, I had the nauseating realization that I (a devoted Lefty) had turned 6500 God’s-image-bearing, individually-loved, dead children into An Issue, a notch on the headboard where I keep track of all the reasons political conservatives suck. I literally gagged on my arrogance. These are babies for Christ’s sake, not political tiddly-winks.

I guess this is a confession. I’m not sure what repentance looks like in a situation like this - the whole “turn around, walk the other way” repentance. What does it mean to love those God-created children? Does it mean wearing a white wristband and emailing my congresswoman? Does it mean giving money to good organizations and personally sponsoring an impoverished child? If I’m already doing those things, why do I feel like it’s not nearly enough?

Sorry for the ramblin’. Still processing, I guess. Any thoughts on building the kingdom when kids are starving?

-ah