Priorities

In today’s busy, complex, painful, difficult, hectic, confusing life with ideas and choices competing unceasingly for our attention and commitment, keeping a firm grasp on our soul’s priorities is seemingly impossible.  There is just too much stuff!  Great ideas.  Indulgent experiences.  Immediacy and urgency.  Each force pushes towards our core, demanding time and presence. 
 
I find myself rationalizing much of what happens.  Whatever the choice, it needed to be done.  Great indulgences enjoyed without a second thought, I didn’t pay for it after all.  Blind and deaf to the needs of those around me, others have employed the grand schemes to deal with these individuals.  In short the focus is on me, the immediacy of my family, and tangentially on those I care about, at least for the moment.
 
I apologize if I sound cynical or as if I am in the middle of a long whinge.  I’m not.  There is nothing especially different today from yesterday or the day before.  Nothing traumatic has occurred in my life which is driving my awareness.  More than anything else the contrast between those indulging their every whim versus those struggling to stay alive or dealing with an overwhelming trauma has come into stark focus.  People are dying.  Compassion seems to be extremely scarce.  People are dying with empty bellies.  People are dying with hearts longing to know what it is like to be part of a family and in a relationship.  People are wondering, lost and vulnerable to the evil forces which haunt all.
 
In the midst of this there are “those” who have lost their ability to see reality.  “They make sure their banquets are well-furnished with harps and flutes and plenty of wine, but they'll have nothing to do with the work of God, pay no mind to what he is doing.  Therefore my people will end up in exile because they don't know the score.  Their “big men” will starve to death and the common people die of thirst.” (Isaiah 5.12, 13) 
 
I have been in “their” camp, far too often.  Today I’m with God.