When I was a little girl (and I am dating myself here), mothers used to
tell their children things like, "Eat your vegetables -- children are
starving in India (or China, or whatever country was in the news).
It always seemed so silly, and my generation was much more
sophisticated, and so we never said that to our children. Or maybe we
were more permissive, I am not sure.
It occurs to me, however that there were important truths in those
seemingly silly admonitions that we heard and failed to pass on.
First, the statement says we are all connected in a way that we like to deny. Everything
affects everything else.
Second, it says what I consume does affect others, and my personal choices have
an impact globally. To a lesser extent my consumption of vegetables,
but to a greater extent, the size of my house and my car and the
distance I choose to commute affect the use of resources and the
quality of the air and water. It also affects the number of resources
given to me that I use on myself and my family, that are not then
available to share.
As Christians we know that we are not alone in this world and that
what we have been given is not only for our use but rather for the whole
people of God. As we grow in awareness of how our choices impact
others, we will begin to make wiser choices.
It occurs to me just now that the admonition to eat my vegetables
followed the giving thanks for the food. Maybe if we said a grace
every time we bought gas or purchased something or prepared a budget
then we would be bringing an awareness to it that included the giver
and those with whom we have been called to share it.
Lord,
Bless the gifts that we have been given. Keep us ever mindful of
those who have less. May we use these gifts to your glory and to
the building up of your kingdom.
Amen
