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Article Specs
Article ID: 13727
VoxAcct: 378129
Section: words
Age Group: Adult
Days Up: 40
Times Read: 757
RSS Views: 14,335
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Riches Upon Riches
Author: Keyokwee [a WitchVox Sponsor]
Posted: July 25th. 2010
Times Viewed: 757
I have to really be concerned at the debate that is now waging in many religions over “wealth”. Must we walk in sackcloth, be dirt poor and have no possessions to show just how truly pious we are? It’s a central focus around so many religions: To be or not to be wealthy?
Whatever! Why this obsession with money? What about the gist of your religion? What about the “concept”? Let’s examine the “concept”.
If you want to be a good person:
Love your fellow man.
Don’t break the laws.
Always help out the less fortunate.
Leave the judging of others to those whose hearts are not clouded by the event so that common sense, truth, and justice prevails.
Be grateful for what you have.
Plus a few dozen more?
These are all very good and necessary goals to strive for and certainly make living in communities easier. We have our guidelines and such for interactions with each other. So what’s the fuss all about?
Oh yes! Money! Or better yet, the love of it. They were not kidding when they said that this was the root of all evil. Humans do stupid things in the pursuit of it including murder. We even roll in it–just very seldom help with it. It never fails; no matter what our religious affiliation is, or even if there is no affiliation, when money comes into play “concepts” fly out the window.
Ironically, the reaction of humans is the same whenever we come into contact with it. Do we not all then become blind to the needs of everyone around us? Focusing solely upon the constant acquisition of wealth -- you can never have enough of it or the things it buys -- do we not become deaf to the cries of our fellow humans, all of our fellow creatures, and Mother Earth? Seeking only the proud boasting games and rounds of parties and gaieties to be found in our status with other fellow wealthy company --hidden, buffered and protected by our gated communities -- we somehow believe that the one who has the most, wins…
Just what? I’ve yet to figure out. If you and your family’s needs and futures are taken care of, and you still have “that much money”, and other’s are still suffering, ….uuhhh… I think you lost the “concept”. I mean it here, folks. Just how much do you truly think you need? And once that is taken care of, at what point does your sense of shame step in and point out the ludicrous truth?
It’s discouraging to watch those who have so much believe that their charitable balls and endless rounds of galas are a sign of their spiritual “concept”. “After all, look at all the good that was generated for their favorite cause!” I’m sure the local opera and museum are well fed now. And your saving of this Art Expo for underfunded polo ponies…Well, truly touching.
But— You were given this life path not because you were entitled to it but because this is your test. So now… where is your heart?
Have you ever thought about going down to the local homeless shelter, or food bank in person? Did you ever look into the eyes of those who are receiving that food or those blankets or clothes? Did you ever get your hands dirty that way? What you just spent on your “charity ball” most likely could have funded the true needy for a year at the local food bank. While you were dining on that caviar and drinking champagne -- toasting all your successes and that all-mighty bottom line and dollar -- there were others in the cold, sick, shivering and hungry, and many of these, including children, are also homeless.
Wasn’t part of your “concept” to help these people? They were often put where they are by the ‘chosen ones’’ desire for more money and more riches. And when the time came when you could have truly shown your heart…where were you?
Please don’t give me that lame excuse of how ‘that’s just the way things are’ or ‘the poor are always with us’. Right now, the patient poor are critically de-hydrated and are starving to death. Where are you?
Anyone with common sense would know that in times like these, your true worth is grounded in easing the suffering of as many of the less fortunate as possible. This is your duty to humanity. This is your test! Is your ‘final answer’ really going to be to rub into the ground the spirits of the people who worked at the plant you just closed? To evict the homeowners from the property you foreclosed on? To deplete retirees of their life savings in various ponzi schemes or risky stock options so that you may continue in your blatant, disgusting displays of excess? Or to, by your silence, support those who do?
Really?
I’m not advocating giving away all your possessions. I’m advocating that you open your eyes and find out what your “concept” of “riches” really is. Where is your heart? If our lives are only dedicated to the pursuit of something that is lifeless -- and that for some screwed up reason we believe will bring us happiness at the expense of the living -- I think it might be time to go back to the drawing board for a new “concept”!
It’s just too bad that giving and helping each other only becomes popular at certain times of the year and even then, it gets trampled to death under this love of money. Oh yes, do make sure you get in your tax exemptions by the end of the year!
So much for not helping so many. It’s truly a shame! If we could foster a little more humility and compassion and a lot less entitlement -- because this is not a race to acquire the most; the race is supposed to be to help the most -- quite possibly more of our fellow humans could be reached and helped thereby promoting a sense of “Good Will Towards Man” all year long.
Who knows? It may even come back around to benefit you. Because we all know that once a “concept” catches on, you can do a lot with it.
ABOUT...
Keyokwee
Location: Montague, California
Other Articles: Keyokwee has posted 4 additional articles- View them?
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