...Implicit in the command to love our neighbours as ourselves, is the idea of community and solidarity...
On my way to the dentist on Friday, I boarded a taxi and occupied the front seat, as I prepared to wait for other passengers to arrive. Yes, Jamaican taxis (regular cars) typically transport four to six passengers. Hatchback vehicles have been known to transport 16, but that's another story altogether.
Anywaaay.....
En route to our destination, we hit a traffic jam - that came about as a result of the ongoing road improvement - and I watched as the driver took a relatively new paintbrush from the glove compartment and meticulously brushed the creases around the window on his side. He examined the dashboard and surrounding areas with a critical eye, while he opened a candy wrapper and popped the contents into his mouth. Nodding with satisfaction (the car was spotless... trust me), he tossed the wrapper out the window onto the roadway!
To say that I was flabbergasted would be an understatement! How could anyone who cared so much about cleanliness be so thoughtless about their impact on the environment. Right in the middle of the roadway?!
Oh, you may say, it's just a candy wrapper. I beg to differ. This scenario brings into sharp focus a mindset that is becoming increasingly problematic the world over. A mindset that says as long as I am OK... it's all good. The 'I-me-and-myself' mindset.
Implicit in the command to love our neighbours as ourselves, is the idea of community and solidarity. It is never just about I-me-and-myself, whether we like it or not. What we do impacts every other being on this planet, for better or for worse... if not now, then later.
The little things, the 'candy wrappers' in our lives, matter. Good stewardship is much more than returning a faithful tithe and giving a generous offering. It is more than homeschooling children to the glory of God. It is more than making healthy lifestyle choices. It is not just about your life... it is about all life.
Life... like the street sweeper who would have a lighter load if you just kept your garbage in a bag in your car until you spy a garbage bin. Or the attendant in the fast food restaurant who would have a better day if you just kept your hands off the glass like the sign says, and emptied your trays. Or the cleaning lady at the workplace who would be grateful if you just refrained from splashing water all over the counter every time you washed you hands. I'm on a roll here, but I think the idea is out there. ;)
Let us be sure to get our priorities right... Jesus, Others, You... because the 'candy wrappers' matter.
Anywaaay.....
En route to our destination, we hit a traffic jam - that came about as a result of the ongoing road improvement - and I watched as the driver took a relatively new paintbrush from the glove compartment and meticulously brushed the creases around the window on his side. He examined the dashboard and surrounding areas with a critical eye, while he opened a candy wrapper and popped the contents into his mouth. Nodding with satisfaction (the car was spotless... trust me), he tossed the wrapper out the window onto the roadway!
To say that I was flabbergasted would be an understatement! How could anyone who cared so much about cleanliness be so thoughtless about their impact on the environment. Right in the middle of the roadway?!
Oh, you may say, it's just a candy wrapper. I beg to differ. This scenario brings into sharp focus a mindset that is becoming increasingly problematic the world over. A mindset that says as long as I am OK... it's all good. The 'I-me-and-myself' mindset.
Implicit in the command to love our neighbours as ourselves, is the idea of community and solidarity. It is never just about I-me-and-myself, whether we like it or not. What we do impacts every other being on this planet, for better or for worse... if not now, then later.
The little things, the 'candy wrappers' in our lives, matter. Good stewardship is much more than returning a faithful tithe and giving a generous offering. It is more than homeschooling children to the glory of God. It is more than making healthy lifestyle choices. It is not just about your life... it is about all life.
Life... like the street sweeper who would have a lighter load if you just kept your garbage in a bag in your car until you spy a garbage bin. Or the attendant in the fast food restaurant who would have a better day if you just kept your hands off the glass like the sign says, and emptied your trays. Or the cleaning lady at the workplace who would be grateful if you just refrained from splashing water all over the counter every time you washed you hands. I'm on a roll here, but I think the idea is out there. ;)
Let us be sure to get our priorities right... Jesus, Others, You... because the 'candy wrappers' matter.
0 lovely comment(s):
Post a Comment
I appreciate your comment. Have a blessed day! :D