Poverty is the feature, not the bug

I wish I didn’t have to do this but I do. The US is a place where one of anything vital will slash your livelihood in half, and two will ruin you. Ambulance ride, one missed house payment or rent hike, a death, a relative in need.

I’ve been in orbit of all of those recently and could use help. This isn’t an emergency; I’m not in danger of missing meals or sleeping in the car. But I’m feeling the pressure on my chest. Breathing’s coming hard, and I damn well know too many of us are trying to take that breath, so this isn’t about asking anybody to put pressure on themselves. “Let me help,” is wisdom.

“I need help” is pure grace.