On the news this evening was a story about a near riot in Atlanta when almost 30,000 people showed up wanting to "apply" to the waiting list for government housing assistance. The next story was about a woman who was shot by an enraged motorist. I try not to watch the news much because I seem to be too empathetic or thin-skinned and allow my emotions free reign on my mood. These are just the latest in a growing string of stories that highlight the result of allowing ourselves to become role players at the extreme ends of the control spectrum.
It has become too painful to be a calm and responsible person. In fact most of the people who find themselves in that situation seem to be quickly deciding to run for one end of the continuum or the other. Some feel that the answer is to dominate and punish their way to the "TOP". While others feel that they have become "VICTIM"ized and use extreme amounts of effort to leverage their skills into justifying their inabilities. As a result, those who are genuinely needful or uniquely talented and successful find themselves crowded into groups full of claimants not worthy. Don't get me wrong, there are most definitely many that are victims... and they deserve all of the help we can give. There are also honorable and deserving people in positions of leadership.
The difference between authenticity and selfish insensitivity is the sort of altruism that can be found in the acts of Jesus in the New Testament. There can be no dispute of the leadership qualities he displayed while here on earth. For those who have chosen disbelief I challenge you to read the Gospel of Luke and it's biographical description of his life. (Let's be honest, can you really make an intellectually sound negative decision on faith without at least reading about Him?) The quiet grace that fills the pages depicts a very humble person, who at the same time claims to be God. The contradictions are extreme yet somehow easy to believe. How can the same man who says he is the creator of the universe bow down and clean the dirty feet of others... and kiss the cheek of the man who he knows has condemned him to death? Why would a person with omnipotent power allow himself to be crucified on the cross when with a word it could all be changed?
In these contradictions we see a model for how we are to act. If we find ourselves victims, love those who take advantage. If we are in a position of power, serve those around us. I have heard it said that the measure of a man should be taken by how he treats others who he could in no way benefit from. We seem to have lost our way. We claim superiority in our victimization and demand personal gain, now!! We force our way into undeserved dominant positions and beat down those who trouble us. We require constant attention and servitude from those around us because our society has deified "self" at the cost of our peace. If only we could find a way to somehow model the right behavior to a world bent on self-destruction in the name of progress and superiority.
But then again, that has already been done...hasn't it?
