TODAY'S Liberating Word || Subscribe Today! || HOME
Send Page to Friend || Contact Rev.Piazza || Archives
Tuesday, January 31
I learned recently that two very effective charities have to close their doors. The problem is that, in days like these, need rises but fear keeps people from giving. Oh, I know that some of us are struggling financially, and I appreciate that those folks would give if they could. The truth is, though, that most of us are doing okay still. Our decline in generosity is more related to fear than reality.
Americans are increasingly pessimistic about the future. Polls show that we believe the economy is significantly worse than it actually is. The media has a deeply vested interest in keeping us anxious and afraid. More people pay attention to the news in times of crisis, so they seek to manufacture a perpetual crisis.
We also know that, while a little stress is good for us, enduring stress is highly destructive to our health and wellbeing. That is certainly true for our common life. The stress from our anxiety and fear is having a very destructive impact. We are less trusting of one another, especially of those who are not “us.” No community can be built without trust, and politicians do not even hesitate to not-so-subtly play on those fears and that nascent distrust.
“'They'” are getting food stamps that ‘we' have to pay for.” That doesn't work in good times when people are feeling hopeful and optimistic about their future. Most people think that if someone is so poor that they cannot eat we should help them. By creating an atmosphere of perpetual fear and distrust, however, the media has laid the perfect foundation for politicians to come along and divide us, causing us to live out of our lesser selves. Frankly, I'd rather have a dozen adults get food stamps who don't deserve them, than have two precious children go to bed hungry tonight.
I don't pretend that the media and politicians don't occasionally succeed in stirring my anxiety and anger, but my commitment is to return to that center place where God is love, and to remember that, “If we live, we live unto the Lord, and if we die, we die unto the Lord. Whether therefore we live or we die, we are the Lord's.” Dare we act like it?
Blessings,
Michael Piazza
President, Hope for Peace & Justice
“If you are receiving Liberating Word as a forwarded email from a friend, we would love to be able to send it to you directly. Sign up today to receive your own copy of Liberating Word.”
TODAY'S Liberating Word || Subscribe Today! || HOME
Send Page to Friend || Contact Rev. Piazza || Archives |
|
