Making My Case

I’ve taken some flack here for my viewpoints regarding various societal ills. Let me just say, for the record, I am a bleeding heart. I have Marxian views about the world around me. Ok, now that I’ve said it, we can all agree that you won’t agree with me. So read on.

Social consciousness is a state of mind where we are aware of the plight of those around us. It means evaluating our behavior in relation to the social groups in which we belong. It means not following the status quo or allowing the world around us to dictate our values. It means taking responsibility for our own happiness. It means accepting that the way we live our life does have an impact on the lives around us, both good and bad.

There’s a whole lot to argue with there, but I would like to challenge you to look past the semantics of what I am saying so you can begin to grasp the meaning behind the words.

We live in a world in which people get for themselves to such an extent they have nothing left over for others. This is true whether we are talking about being overcommitted in our time or in our money. These over-commitments can make life a an absolute misery for ourselves and our families. And to think that this then carries over making it impossible to be someone’s saving grace is an absolute shame.

We buy into these ideas that being comfortable means driving a new car, going on vacation all over the world, buying the latest gadgets like Ipods and Xboxes. That's our definition of comfortable. It's not too much to ask, we tell ourselves, we aren't asking for a Trump lifestyle here. Just middle of the road. So what if our children need to take dance and foreign language and violing lessons - before even starting Kindergarten! So what if we think nothing at dropping two months' salary on Christmas? So what if our lifestyle is better than poor peoples? Just because other people are poor doesn't mean we should go without these basic necessities of a comfortable life. Let the poor people get for themselves. We went to college, got a good job and got for ourselves, and no one should be allowed to denigrate that. It's un-American!

Ok, fine, get for yourself.

But let me tell you what I want. A car that goes down the road. To be able to pay my bills every month. A small home, modestly furnished. I'd like Grace and Emily to have one or two well-chosen opportunities to pursue what will amount to a hobby. And I'd like to have a life that makes a difference. I'd like to have enough time to spend with shut-ins on the weekend. I'd like to be able to read to my daughter's class at school. I'd like to be able to work with women in crisis pregnancies. I want to not be so stressed out by a job I hate and too many bills that I can't enjoy the two greatest blessings God ever gave me: my children. If I have all the material things I could ever want but not these things, my life will have meant nothing.

So, go get for yourself. I choose a modest life. Purposefully. And no one can say that this life is not right simply because my children aren't wearing VonDutch jeans and pouring money into things that they will drop once the novelty grows old. For me, life is about quality or it is nothing. Nothing.

There they are. My words on a skewer. Turn up the heat, folks, and get 'em nice and crispy this time.