Serving Poverty from a Place of Abundance

How can we stay committed to our calling to serve the underserved, poor, forgotten, marginalized without ourselves identifying with these attributes?

Based on my international living and research experience I have always been acutely aware of the grave injustice and disparities that exist in provision and access to health care around the world. I felt called from a very young age to give a voice to groups of communities who were consistently marginalized from quality health care access...because of poverty. I was drawn to the traditional healer in Ethiopia, the first line of care sought by the rural communities, and was determined to figure out how his services could be integrated into mainstream health care delivery. And I was drawn to the poor mother of 5 who could not afford to maintain basic sanitation for health in her home, literally NEEDING to do something to improve the situation.  

Now at Bastyr University studying naturopathic medicine, I have been faced with the greatest irony of natural health - that "natural medicine" is what the poorest of the poor are forced to turn to as their only affordable health care option AND what the richest of the rich now demand for their wellness and anti-aging needs. Whenever I am faced with this dichotomy as I visualize my future patients, I realize that I have an inherent resistance to working with privileged communities. Yes, my heart and passion reaches for those that suffer, that lack, that need. But the underlying cause of my resistance rests in a fear that committing to a life of abundance in the multi-billion dollar business of health and wellness means that I may be abandoning the people that pull my at my heart strings the most. But where does this fear come from? It comes from my own underlying identification with poverty and lack regardless of what my relative privilege may look like on the outside. 


                               


The truth is, the vision I hold so strongly necessarily involves a US$150,000 investment in a private education. I KNOW that my work requires that I do this natural medicine thing at the most comprehensive level - medical school education in both conventional and naturopathic approaches to care. 

Now tell me, where is that 150K coming from? Certainly not from a place of poverty and lack. (btw I can tell you I don't know where it is coming for certain...I take one quarter at a time and with 100% faith I find a way. Why? Because I MUST do this work). 

And tell me, how can my grandiose visions manifest? -- where natural medicine is integrated in mainstream care, where natural medicine is held to rigorous standards of research and care, where ALL people can have access to all that BOTH ancient AND modern medicine has to offer? Certainly not by settling in a place of poverty and lack. 


So how can we stay committed to our calling to serve the underserved, poor, forgotten, marginalized without ourselves identifying with these attributes? 

....By being our bestest, most grandiose, abundant selves RIGHT NOW to have the most grandiose, abundant experiences and knowledge, so that in turn we can have the most grandiose, abundant visions and work. Settling serves no one. A mentality of poverty and lack serves NO ONE. GO HARD. DO IT BIG. HAVE UNDYING FAITH. NOW.

The journey continues.....

Love,
Kimani