Sunday Musings – July 21, 2019
Record high temperatures in large sections of the world, ongoing starvation, great economic disparity, addiction to power and other signs of stress contrasted with simple acts of kindness come to mind this Sunday morning. For many the greatness of a nation correlates with its ability to bully other nations and groups and the extent to which the economic indexes are high even though increasingly the 1 % control a large share of the economic wealth. When listening to this week’s podcast of On Being with host Krista Tippett and her guest the applied philosopher Jonathan Rowson I was, once again, reminded of a simple statement: “Economic models should be servants, not masters.” I am fully aware that many equate economic wealth with personal and community success and even wealth. Yet, we all know that, in the end, we are all going to die and indeed, “We cannot take it with us.” When we can no longer avoid this core truth which we have perhaps known but not accepted we may begin to contemplate the legacy we will leave. Some will feel a sense of accomplishment if they are leaving economic wealth in the form of currency or in the form of a business to their children and/or grandchildren. Some with feel a sense of accomplishment if they leave many published books, musical composition, paintings or other art. Yet, when many of us think of now deceased ancestors and others we admired and to whom we are indebted, we will think of simple acts of kindness, shared experiences such as reading separate books together, greeting the morning weather, being awoken by a child crawling into bed with one, or falling in love with a person, poem, or idea. Jonathan Rowson is now exploring with others what an economic system which did not have growth as its objective might look like. One might then ask, “What is the opposite of growth?” Is it economic stability? The word economics itself calls up thoughts of complicated economic theories. In case the reader has not been in macro or micro economics class recently, one can google and get an initial list of 25 economic theories or approaches or a much longer list. Obviously, my goal is not to duplicate the information which is taught in undergraduate and graduate economic classes.
Before one studies or debates economic theory it is important to answer Jonathan Rawson’s question of whether we want the theory to be the servant or the master. This will bring us back to what I refer to as core values. Core values determine for me who and what we consider “sacred” or “intrinsically” valuable/important. If for example, I believe that relationships are primary, then relationships always trump tasks or systems. For example, I just came from a restaurant where I visited with a friend over breakfast. Obviously, I could have had breakfast at home. The point was to visit with my friend and incidentally have breakfast. Furthermore the visit to this restaurant was to not only visit with my friend, but an opportunity to treat the restaurant staff with love and respect. In other words, eating out can be an opportunity to gather with neighbors. While it is good that the restaurant business directly and indirectly provides jobs and continues to generate a tax base so that we can, as a communally. pay for the infrastructure which benefits all of us, the larger goal of whatever economic system one is using is to create a community in which all may enjoy the necessities such as food, basic clothing, emotional support and an infrastructure which helps to prevent disease and allows access to heat, air conditioning, and other essentials.
Because I am one of those who often benefit from the current economic system in the United States, it is easy for me to give lip service to an economic system which is the servant and not the master. I must strive to be very intentional about being aware of the price for the advantages I enjoy but which the system denies others. It is easy for me to fall into the trap of thinking I deserve the new, used car I purchased this week, the house and office which I do not share, the ability to have a freezer full of food and many other luxuries. It is easy for me to make a big deal of minor inconveniences or any example of the world not recognizing that my needs are more important than those of others.
On this Sunday Sabbath morning my spiritual intention is to face the price of the luxuries I enjoy but which, by design, denies other the basics. I will not beat myself up, but I will attempt to hold myself accountable and to ask the tough questions of what I am willing to do to institute a system which is more just and equitable.
Written July 21, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
Record high temperatures in large sections of the world, ongoing starvation, great economic disparity, addiction to power and other signs of stress contrasted with simple acts of kindness come to mind this Sunday morning. For many the greatness of a nation correlates with its ability to bully other nations and groups and the extent to which the economic indexes are high even though increasingly the 1 % control a large share of the economic wealth. When listening to this week’s podcast of On Being with host Krista Tippett and her guest the applied philosopher Jonathan Rowson I was, once again, reminded of a simple statement: “Economic models should be servants, not masters.” I am fully aware that many equate economic wealth with personal and community success and even wealth. Yet, we all know that, in the end, we are all going to die and indeed, “We cannot take it with us.” When we can no longer avoid this core truth which we have perhaps known but not accepted we may begin to contemplate the legacy we will leave. Some will feel a sense of accomplishment if they are leaving economic wealth in the form of currency or in the form of a business to their children and/or grandchildren. Some with feel a sense of accomplishment if they leave many published books, musical composition, paintings or other art. Yet, when many of us think of now deceased ancestors and others we admired and to whom we are indebted, we will think of simple acts of kindness, shared experiences such as reading separate books together, greeting the morning weather, being awoken by a child crawling into bed with one, or falling in love with a person, poem, or idea. Jonathan Rowson is now exploring with others what an economic system which did not have growth as its objective might look like. One might then ask, “What is the opposite of growth?” Is it economic stability? The word economics itself calls up thoughts of complicated economic theories. In case the reader has not been in macro or micro economics class recently, one can google and get an initial list of 25 economic theories or approaches or a much longer list. Obviously, my goal is not to duplicate the information which is taught in undergraduate and graduate economic classes.
Before one studies or debates economic theory it is important to answer Jonathan Rawson’s question of whether we want the theory to be the servant or the master. This will bring us back to what I refer to as core values. Core values determine for me who and what we consider “sacred” or “intrinsically” valuable/important. If for example, I believe that relationships are primary, then relationships always trump tasks or systems. For example, I just came from a restaurant where I visited with a friend over breakfast. Obviously, I could have had breakfast at home. The point was to visit with my friend and incidentally have breakfast. Furthermore the visit to this restaurant was to not only visit with my friend, but an opportunity to treat the restaurant staff with love and respect. In other words, eating out can be an opportunity to gather with neighbors. While it is good that the restaurant business directly and indirectly provides jobs and continues to generate a tax base so that we can, as a communally. pay for the infrastructure which benefits all of us, the larger goal of whatever economic system one is using is to create a community in which all may enjoy the necessities such as food, basic clothing, emotional support and an infrastructure which helps to prevent disease and allows access to heat, air conditioning, and other essentials.
Because I am one of those who often benefit from the current economic system in the United States, it is easy for me to give lip service to an economic system which is the servant and not the master. I must strive to be very intentional about being aware of the price for the advantages I enjoy but which the system denies others. It is easy for me to fall into the trap of thinking I deserve the new, used car I purchased this week, the house and office which I do not share, the ability to have a freezer full of food and many other luxuries. It is easy for me to make a big deal of minor inconveniences or any example of the world not recognizing that my needs are more important than those of others.
On this Sunday Sabbath morning my spiritual intention is to face the price of the luxuries I enjoy but which, by design, denies other the basics. I will not beat myself up, but I will attempt to hold myself accountable and to ask the tough questions of what I am willing to do to institute a system which is more just and equitable.
Written July 21, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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