Broke down last night when I saw a TV show handing out Christmas hams to homeless families, especially that of the woman who raises her children by the sidewalk and makes her living by collecting recyclable trash. Now I think about how we tell ourselves and other people that material things arent everything. I guess its easy for us to say that because by material things we often mean luxurious things. But to some people - most, even - it means food on their stomachs, or a roof under their heads. When we tell ourselves that material things arent everything, especially most of the richest among us, I wonder why it does not propel us to give things away. To just give it away without anything in return. From maybe a few coins to old clothes to a spare condominium unit we arent even using anyway: why not give those away? Material things arent everything, anyway. I believe that too, though. I believe that material things arent all we need. We also need abstract things like justice, health and above all, charity; love. But they do not exist beyond our world; they are expressed through the material. Love is seen in actions, justice in ends. If we also need those immaterial things, then surely we must suffer to achieve them, as the poorest of us struggle for the material, as individuals and as a people. For as sure as material things arent everything, those who have them are not everyone. Merry Christmas. Happy holidays.
Posted on: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 22:13:06 +0000
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