America Has a Lot to Learn

   We are a very proud nation. We are strong. We’ve fought for independence and freedom. We’ve fought for other nations to have a better way of life too.

   But that pride can sometimes be a sore spot. Well, more than that, it can cause us to not only fall (as in Proverb 16:18), it can cause us to fail.

   Americans often take a look at the positive ways we have grown, which is a good thing. We’ve come a long way financially, industrially; we’ve built cities, infra-structures; we’ve negotiated trade with many nations. We’ve made a lot of progress in science and technology. All well and good.

AlcazarMX pixabay.com

   But in looking at our nation’s faults/shortcomings, we seem to only creep along slowly at making improvements to accepting our strength as a nation of diversity.

   Starting out with taking over land that belonged to Indigenous People, killing them or reneging on treaties; with slavery becoming a for-profit business, we have mistreatment of human beings (in many, many ways - too much to go into here). We’ve had strong people, some leaders, some “common” men who have brought to the forefront the need for change - for America to have laws that protect human beings, to improve their way of life, to give other equal opportunities.

   Who could be against something so good as to making America a land that is caring, loving, respectful? Many, many people could and have been against it. And continue to be. They believe they are better or more deserving for whatever reasons, likely due to irrational fears of losing what they have or hope to have.

   Pride is not alone in our failure. Greed is rampant also. Right along with envy, jealousy. We see it every day with corporations’ increasing profits, charging us more and more; in tax breaks for the wealthy, tax back-breaking for the middle-class. We see it in politics, where priorities are placed on the money donations one can receive over the needs of the people they represent.

john hain  pixabay.com

   We have seen it throughout our history. The pride, the greed, the envy stomping over the dignity of human beings, sometimes squelching by way of murder. These arrogant aggravators have gone way beyond the simple goal of looking for a better way of life. They have gone past that to trying to own it all: own people, land, property, money. For what? Really, for what? How does that improve anyone’s life?

Geralt  pixabay.com

   America has a lot to learn. Somehow we got sucked into this illusion that materialism and individualism is the goal of all goals. As if walking all over others to keep increasing one’s wealth is the purpose of life.

   Just stop already. Look around. What are we doing to one another? Why aren’t we walking on the same path? How have we come to this point in our lives where our priorities have gone so far off track?

   The spirit does not want. It only loves.           

   We have so much to learn. There is still time.           Theresa M