I Need

I saw this on a wall in Hackney and I was moved. I invite you to look at it for a minute and form your own impressions before you read on and I give you mine.

Here we have a young (African?) boy who has great need for food, clothes, education, a home, justice and love. What does he have? He has an iPod. Is the artist saying that we in the West think iPods are the answer? What kind of music does the iPod have on it? Will technology solve the problems of the world we live in?

It does not seem to have worked here. The boy is saying (through the artist), "iNeed." Did we think that was what he needed; an iPod? Most American kids would say they need an iPod. Could this really be the soul of an American kid? He has an iPod but it does not meet his need. By the way, what is that white barrier between him and what he needs?

As I said, I was moved and it got me to thinking about justice and resource allocation and what we focus on with our best talent, time and treasure. Jesus said the poor would be with us and He would be with us too. I need to ask my kids what else they need other then more downloads for their iPods.