got grace?
I often receive chain emails from various friends and family
members. These emails run the gamut ranging from patriotic to
motivational to religious themes. Support our country, stay
strong, or praise God are the messages generally conveyed. Each
sender implies that if I follow the instructions contained in
their message and forward it to eight or 10 people that the
world will transform itself into a better place for all of us.
Which sugar substitute are those folks putting in their cup of
coffee?
Those emails are like zit creams. Your pimples don't go away
from using it. But because think you are doing something to
treat the problem, you feel better about it. A pimple runs its
natural course, goes away, and then everything is fine. When it
returns, you apply more zit cream. It is a cover up. If you
really want to eliminate pimples, you need to drink more water,
eat healthier, exercise, get sufficient rest, wash properly and
make sure your skin is sufficiently hydrated.
The same axiom holds true addressing the social-political issues
that makes this world a most difficult place for the majority of
us to survive. Human nature, as it is, prompts the majority of
us to separate ourselves from the issues. It is great to be
patriotic and announce your loyalty to the nation. But what is
resolved if you are ignorant or indifferent to the real-life
issues that surround us? Is it right that half of this nation
cannot afford health insurance? Is the U.S. involvement in the
war in Iraq anything more than an economic issue stemming from
our need for petroleum products? Would seeking alternative
energy or energy suppliers be a better way to solve the problem?
Can our intervention really prompt Arabs and Jews to get along
with each other after they have been fighting each other for
over 1,000 years? Do you really care about any of this if it
does not directly impact your household? How far outside of
yourself do you really think? If there is food on your table,
does it matter to you that others are dying daily from
starvation? What has more impact on you, federal government,
local government, or your employer's opinion of you?
The world is afflicted with terminal cancer and sugar pills are
being prescribed to address its symptoms.
We seek religion for solace. But if your God is more important
than my God, where is the spirituality? Got grace? If you
believe that God loves all of his children equally, what does
God think of you if you can't see it that way? Does God love
homosexuals and ethics less than white heterosexuals? If
religion had a corporate structure, would Jesus, Allah and
Buddha be equal members of the board? How come religious leaders
live lavishly? Is the pope more loved by God than me? How can
celibate Catholic staffers, priests and nuns, offer me
counseling on getting along better with my wife?
I recently received an email from a Christian fundamentalist who
proffered that Hurricane Katrina was God's personally delivered
message to the masses. I have a hard time swallowing that a
merciful god, who loves all creatures equally, would behave in
such a manner. Human beings, yes, they might do something like
this, but not God. If God intended to send a message to the
masses about how we are destroying his creation, his targets
would not be the poor people. God would be aiming his wrath at
rich evangelists, corrupt politicians and businessmen. Major
banking institutions and credit card companies would turn to
salt and crumble. Allowing those misanthropic, self-serving
people and institutions to endure unscathed is the most poignant
message that God's all-encompassing mercifulness and tolerance
to all his creations is infinite.
I guess all that I am saying is that if all you have to offer me
for hope that this world will get better is an insipid chain
email, I appreciate your sentiments. But I thank God even more
for giving me a delete button. Amen.