having purposed to discover what the occupiers are about, here is what i gather:
-most of them are upset
-most of them are upset at rich people, large corporations, and wall street in general [some just like being upset]
-most of them needed a place to rant
-most of them have pretty dramatic stories
-most of them consider themselves among the lucky
-many of them have health problems
-most of them don't have health insurance
-most of them are waiting for the next health emergency to force them onto the streets
-most of them are in debt
-and i'd estimate that 99% of them have very large college debt.
most of them are upset because the authorities told them that they need/have a right to higher education.
"they" told them they needed to have college degrees to succeed.
and they can't get jobs.
[funnily enough, the token bottom-of-the-barrel, lowest-on-the-totem-pole job is... waitressing! i thought we made pretty good money..?]
but no, no- "we" have "rights" to do what we want and make a killing for it! because we're awesome and "weee can do annnythingggg!!!"
but we can't get jobs to pay off our college debts for degrees we can't use but we got them anyway because we thought they would turn into jobs! fun, hip, cool, money jobs! like swimming with dolphins! and playing video games!
[personal opinion: don't go to college unless you really, desperately need to.
subpoint a: they don't give you a whole lot of straight-up education. they talk a lot. using your mind is optional but risky.
subpoint b: it costs a lot more than you will probably ever be able to pay, with or without government funding which may or may not exist.
subpoint c: jobs in your area of choice may or may not exist. heavy on the may not.
subpoint d: EDUCATE YOURSELF. go to the library [it's free]. read books, not just twitter. get some legit skills, not just a piece of paper and a $100k bill. learn the truth, learn to think, learn from history, learn because you are a person and you were meant to use your mind! we can talk about this later.]
"they" told them they needed to have more stuff, and nicer stuff, and newer stuff, and more money to spend it on more pleasures.
and they bought it hook, line, and sinker. because we're america and we do what we want.
i think we want a lot.
selfishness hasn't done any of us much good, ever.
but let's just point fingers at other selfish people to make ourselves look more awesome!
"they" told them they needed to have the right to do whatever they very well please.
i think not many people are actually doing what they please right now.. except for maybe complaining.
but some are counting their blessings.
most are "tightening their belts" to use that phrase for the hundredth time this week.
hard work consists of two parts: it's hard and it's work.
but mühsam ernährt sich das Eichhörnchen.
hard, repetetive, laborious, not-fun, strenuous toil [diligence] nourishes the squirrel.
change takes effort and diligence and discipline and probably a healthy amount of humility.
despite theories, propositions, and promises, nobody really knows how to actually change this, as far as i can tell.
america isn't exactly working well enough to keep the whole american dream thing happening anymore.
sad but true.
but there must be small things we can do, personally and collectively.
one acorn at a time, little Eichhörnchen.
be faithful with what's been entrusted to you.
and is it completely upright and honest to blame the "one percent" of rich people?
not to say they aren't to blame.
i really don't know who is to blame.
probably 100% of us. and the devil. and the flesh. and the world. and sin.
and maybe even the grace of God, not letting us continue in it.
we're people. we're kind of a mess.
and this is our country. and we are blessed.
who can help? hmm. maybe somebody big? somebody who can see everything?
maybe God?
i can offer one simple solution:
we need Jesus. we need to let Him be the Lord in our lives.
we need to pray. maybe He will turn this country around. or maybe He'll save people by letting them go through hard times.
we need to be in the Word of God. we need transformed minds and truth on which to stand.
we need hope and security. [it doesn't look like a government, or a reform, or a movement, or a protest, or a degree, or a job, or a paycheck, or insurance will cover that in the long run.]
read the Bible. in it you will find answers and peace and safety and refuge. such as:
those who trust the Lord shall not be shaken. quit freaking out and believe Him already [my own adaptation]. work heartily as unto the Lord. trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding. in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. trust in the Lord and do good. learn, in whatever state you are, to be content. the Lord is your keeper.
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD; I SHALL NOT WANT.
[that means He'll take care of us.]
[He doesn't lie.]
Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
BUT YOU, O MAN OF GOD,
flee these things
and pursue
righteousness,
godliness,
faith,
love,
patience,
gentleness.
[1 Timothy 6:6-11]
more like Jesus, less like me.
less like lemmings, more like trees.
solid, rooted, established.
not shaken, not afraid, not hopeless.
pursuing the right things and being blessed.
pursuing the right things and being blessed.
we are the redeemed.
1 comment:
This could make for some interesting discussion.
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