I remember an age where issues were singular. It is not as if there was only one issue of the day. It was more that the visible issues were few and our priority ranking of them seemed relatively easy. For me, the haunting issue was Cambodia. A minority was imposing their views on a country and genocide was an open result. As blatant as the problem was, it seemed as though little was being done about it.
I had no idea how to respond. I am not sure I am any wise decades on. I do know that my (our?) awareness has grown. Man’s ability to treat others without respect has no boundaries. Bigotry, slavery of many forms, exploitation, slavery, and genocide can be seen on many fronts. It is overwhelming! As a member of a broader community, I find myself numbed by the images of our inhumanity. It is as if there are so many examples that one does not know where to start.
My ongoing sense of sadness when I think of Cambodia and today’s realities reminds me that there are two things that I can do.
I can look at myself in the mirror and reach for something More. A candid and critical examination reveals that there are chinks in my otherwise perfect exterior. These “chinks” can hurt others. More importantly, if I am willing to be aware, I can do something about it. An old writer asks the question I need to face each morning; “Anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Master irreverently is like part of the crowd that jeered and spit on him at his death. Is that the kind of “remembrance” you want to be part of?” (1 Corinthians 11.27)
I can act on More. It is never enough to deal with what is within. I want (need) to put it into action. I can respond to the individuals around me. I can look for ways to make a difference. “I can” is an invitation and opportunity that opens the door to something better.
