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THIRTY-FIVE REFLECTIONS FROM THIS BLOG

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BEING MORE INTENTIONAL ABOUT VERY ORDINARY THINGS - THIRTY-THREE

This is the thirty-third in a series of periodic reflections on the "ordinary things" that many people do on a regular basis without much thought. During this pandemic, I am developing a need to "rage, rage" against haste and laziness and replace it with care and attention. My hope is to become personally more intentional about doing ordinary things with care and focused attention, while inspiring others to maybe do the same.

ITS  REALLY ABOUT ARROGANCE

When it comes to trying to understand the present social unrest and the dramatic upheavals in our world, I try to find the common denominator. It occurred to me the other day, that the common denominator underneath so many of our social problems today is plain old arrogance. Arrogance  is an attitude of superiority manifested in an overbearing manner or in presumptuous claims or assumptions. 

When it comes to our present policing problem, it's not about all policemen. Most policemen are probably hard-working and ethical.  It's about the arrogance of a few policemen which has led some of them to be able to literally "get away with murder" in the past.  Get rid of arrogance and you will probably solve the policing problem pretty quickly. 

When it comes to racial tension, it's not about a difference in skin color. Racism at it's core is about arrogance, an arrogance that believes that white people are inherently more intelligent, more honest and more capable than people of color.  Get rid of arrogance and you will probably solve many of the racial tension problems pretty quickly. 

When it comes to women's role in society, it's not about sexual difference.  Sexism is about arrogance, an arrogance that believes that females are inferior to men in intelligence, ability and emotions. Get rid of arrogance and you will solve many of the problems around the unequal treatment of women.  

When it comes to the sexual abuse crisis, it's not about the fact that it exists in the priesthood just as it does in the culture at large. The problem is the arrogance of some churchmen who turned their heads and covered it up to protect their reputations and the institutions they supervise rather than the children and families they are called to serve. Get rid of the arrogance and you will solve much of the present sexual abuse crisis. 

When it comes to corporate greed, it's not about the failure of a free enterprise system, it's about the arrogance of a few business leaders who deliberately put profits ahead of the health and welfare of the community at large, like knowingly selling asbestos-laced baby power that causes cancer.  Get rid of the arrogance and you could probably strengthen the free enterprise system. 

Arrogance has at its root a fixation on "me" instead of "we." Arrogance is a failure to consider the fact that we, as human beings,  live in community and, as members of that community, we are responsible to and for each other! United we stand. Divided we fall. 

SEEING THE BEST AND THE WORST IN PEOPLE

I have said many times during this pandemic that we are seeing the worst and the best of people. 

I just read the story about two young Peoria, Illinois, boys who were robbed at gunpoint by two thugs of their $30.00 in cash at their lemonade stand. When the news got out their neighbors and fellow citizens started a donation campaign that brought in thousands. Even the police chief brought a line of police cars to show support, to buy their lemonade and make donations. 

We are all familiar with crude and rude people who could care less about other people.  Selfish to the bone, they are often loud and proud. They have to be noticed. 

There are people who do care about others and do whatever they can to help. They are magnanimous with their time, their talents and their resources. They are often quiet shining examples of "loving one's neighbors as oneself." They often do it without fanfare, attention or the need for credit.  

WHERE DO YOU STAND?

Do you stand on the side of anger and bitterness?

Do you stand on the side of mercy and encouragement? 

“Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another. Let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.”

Zechariah 7:9-10

SIX MONTHS AND STILL LIVING A NIGHTMARE

I HAD NO IDEA IT WOULD LAST THIS LONG

AND IT'S NOT OVER YET