Sunday Musings – October 14, 2018
On this brisk, cool fall morning here in West Virginia one might think that all is right with the world. In many respect, all is right with my little corner of the world. I have a safe, warm home with a fully stocked refrigerator, a body which is healthy enough to take care of my home and myself, loving friends close by and the luxury of time, energy and conditions to contemplate what it might mean to be a contributing, ethical person. Whether or not I attend a religious service it is incumbent to review how I spent my time and energy this past week and what changes I could make this week to come closer to living a life which is consistent with my ethical or spiritual beliefs or what I say are my beliefs.
It will come as no surprise to any reader it is much easier and comfortable to take the moral and spiritual inventory of “those other people” who fall short of living a responsible, compassionate life. I just read an article in the local newspaper about the effort of the local police department to do a more effective job of getting the drunk drivers off the road by arresting them. This is in addition to the attempt to reduce the impaired driving or other behavior related to addiction to drugs other than alcohol. I think that surely we do not need more people in our jails and prisons. Surely we do not need to continue to judge and punish those with an addictive disorder or even those who misjudge the amount of alcohol or other drugs the non-addicted person can inject and still safely get behind the wheel of a car. After all, I managed to drive home late from Pittsburgh unimpaired by alcohol or other drug use. Of course, I was tired and, if truth, be told, it would have been much safer to have ridden a train or some other public transportation. I could also have refrained from attending an evening event in Pittsburgh or stayed with friends in Pittsburgh. My self-centeredness, however, wanted to both attend a play production with a friend, sleep in my own bed and follow my normal Sunday routine.
It seems every day I make decisions which do not always feel self-centered, but which potentially affect many other people. Yet, it is much easier for me to observe and pronounce judgment on others. Just the other day I was remarking on the decision of the United States to sell arms to Saudi Arabia because it is good for the economy of the United States. I could cite numerous instances of being able to catalog the “sins” of my near and far neighbors.
Obviously, as a citizen, I do need to make decisions about who to vote for and what policies to question or support. I must confess to no shortage of opinions on a wide variety of issues. I frequently talk and act as if my answers or opinions are far superior to those of “others”. Perhaps I could approach these decisions with bit more humility?
The primary moral dilemma for me, when I slow down enough to be thoughtful, is how to be an active member of my community, while staying open to listening and learning. How do I speak out for what I think is just and not be judgmental or self-righteous?
I was thinking of these questions while enjoying a delightful production of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice last evening at the Pittsburgh Public Theatre. It would be easy to judge the mother in the play whose primary goal is to locate suitable husbands for her daughters while also enlarging the coffers of she and her husband. Thank goodness that practice is less common today. In some places, more woman have the option of choosing a career of their choice. Yet, in many respects to a more or lesser degree in various parts of the world, we continue to treat women and others as second class citizens. I am sure I was not alone in thinking that much progress has been made since the time depicted in Ms. Austen’s novel. Yet, to what extent to I, as a white, privileged male in the United States, continue to directly and indirectly support policies which devalue women and all “those others” in our community.
Last, but not least, can I continue to take a very personal moral inventory without making a spectacle of myself clothed, as I am, appropriately in sackcloth and ashes. The challenge of the play last evening was perhaps how to turn up the lights as we look at ways we devalue each other and do so with love and a sense of humor. Can we laugh with each other while being serious about making changes? Am I willing to do this? Thanks to Kate Hamill for her adaptation of Jane Austen’ novel.
Written October 14, 2018
On this brisk, cool fall morning here in West Virginia one might think that all is right with the world. In many respect, all is right with my little corner of the world. I have a safe, warm home with a fully stocked refrigerator, a body which is healthy enough to take care of my home and myself, loving friends close by and the luxury of time, energy and conditions to contemplate what it might mean to be a contributing, ethical person. Whether or not I attend a religious service it is incumbent to review how I spent my time and energy this past week and what changes I could make this week to come closer to living a life which is consistent with my ethical or spiritual beliefs or what I say are my beliefs.
It will come as no surprise to any reader it is much easier and comfortable to take the moral and spiritual inventory of “those other people” who fall short of living a responsible, compassionate life. I just read an article in the local newspaper about the effort of the local police department to do a more effective job of getting the drunk drivers off the road by arresting them. This is in addition to the attempt to reduce the impaired driving or other behavior related to addiction to drugs other than alcohol. I think that surely we do not need more people in our jails and prisons. Surely we do not need to continue to judge and punish those with an addictive disorder or even those who misjudge the amount of alcohol or other drugs the non-addicted person can inject and still safely get behind the wheel of a car. After all, I managed to drive home late from Pittsburgh unimpaired by alcohol or other drug use. Of course, I was tired and, if truth, be told, it would have been much safer to have ridden a train or some other public transportation. I could also have refrained from attending an evening event in Pittsburgh or stayed with friends in Pittsburgh. My self-centeredness, however, wanted to both attend a play production with a friend, sleep in my own bed and follow my normal Sunday routine.
It seems every day I make decisions which do not always feel self-centered, but which potentially affect many other people. Yet, it is much easier for me to observe and pronounce judgment on others. Just the other day I was remarking on the decision of the United States to sell arms to Saudi Arabia because it is good for the economy of the United States. I could cite numerous instances of being able to catalog the “sins” of my near and far neighbors.
Obviously, as a citizen, I do need to make decisions about who to vote for and what policies to question or support. I must confess to no shortage of opinions on a wide variety of issues. I frequently talk and act as if my answers or opinions are far superior to those of “others”. Perhaps I could approach these decisions with bit more humility?
The primary moral dilemma for me, when I slow down enough to be thoughtful, is how to be an active member of my community, while staying open to listening and learning. How do I speak out for what I think is just and not be judgmental or self-righteous?
I was thinking of these questions while enjoying a delightful production of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice last evening at the Pittsburgh Public Theatre. It would be easy to judge the mother in the play whose primary goal is to locate suitable husbands for her daughters while also enlarging the coffers of she and her husband. Thank goodness that practice is less common today. In some places, more woman have the option of choosing a career of their choice. Yet, in many respects to a more or lesser degree in various parts of the world, we continue to treat women and others as second class citizens. I am sure I was not alone in thinking that much progress has been made since the time depicted in Ms. Austen’s novel. Yet, to what extent to I, as a white, privileged male in the United States, continue to directly and indirectly support policies which devalue women and all “those others” in our community.
Last, but not least, can I continue to take a very personal moral inventory without making a spectacle of myself clothed, as I am, appropriately in sackcloth and ashes. The challenge of the play last evening was perhaps how to turn up the lights as we look at ways we devalue each other and do so with love and a sense of humor. Can we laugh with each other while being serious about making changes? Am I willing to do this? Thanks to Kate Hamill for her adaptation of Jane Austen’ novel.
Written October 14, 2018
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