Little Consumers
Spending time with my sister and nieces this afternoon in Colorado. How cool is this little family?
Talking with my sister, I’m reminded that we all start out as consumers, totally wrapped up in a world about as big as the things we want. It doesn’t come naturally for little Avery and Ashton to think of others.
Come to think of it it doesn’t come naturally for me either.
Serious credit to my sis and bro-in-law who are raising these two precious little girls to contribute.
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Thinking of others is no natural trait. I would surely agree on that.
The consequense of that is, that we have to learn to think of others – even if it does seam to involve God’s gifts, as some seem to care more easily.
Now comes my line of thought: If we have to learn to care, we are confronted with a huge measure of choice. One of life and death, or as you often put it: of chaos and order.
But if it is a choice it can be diverted and we may end up in something very close to God’s order – humanisim. That philosophy also cares very greatly for others and often – especially in Europe – they seem to be more efficient than Christendom.
Conclusion: What is our motivation? Which source is the origin of our strength? What is our aim?
To care for others because someone told / taught you to do so? It is the right thing to do? Or because your heart aches to do your best to enhance the quality of life for others.
I do envy your travels.
I love your thinking on this Felix. What are your thoughts on how this works in everyday Germany? Love to have you join me on a trp one of these days…
Everyday life? In a time where we are faced with the stronghold of old ideas – greed and personal gain – clinging on to new times – 3rd industrial revolution – I would say most are forced – by lack of chance – to adapt the current belief. In this situation where even many christians are not free to do as they would chose – for lack of knowledge or insight – how can we expect the average German to act out of love? We can not.
The institutions are created to relieve our heart ache, they do the caring. The individual is wrapped up in personal missery and therefore set free of his duty. He buys his way out of hope by donating some of his diminishing investment return (wages).
In the moment where he choses to do something about it and get personally involved, he is free to donate to the same instituions, but his heart will have turned. This means that it is not a question of overturning all institutions even “anti”-christian ones. This goes back to Lk 16,9. It is our call to raise the awarness of a resposibillity to care for the creation. Now we are again at the point of stewardship. Running circles, hey.
Everyday Germany. How do we get there? If people see that the answer is not in the dogma of materialism, nor in the dogma of church – for that is a bad place to start in Germany – they will see the choise. And I believe that if people see the choise, no matter if they know christ, they will start to have that nagging feeling that the method of buyout is not sufficient.
To convey this message without sounding judging that is the trick which still eludes me.
God bless
Thanks Felix! This is great insight. Know that I am praying for you in your journey to turn consumers to contributors in your country and beyond!!!