Witchvox Article

Author: Keyokwee
Posted: July 25th. 2010
Times Viewed: 1,571

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 6 additional articles- View them?

Other Listings: To view ALL of my listings: Click HERE

Email Keyokwee... (No, I have NOT opted to receive Pagan Invites! Please do NOT send me anonymous invites to groups, sales and events.)

Home - TWV Logos - Email US - Privacy

News and Information

Chapters: Pagan/Heathen Basics - Pagan BOOKS - Traditions, Paths & Religions - Popular Pagan Holidays - TV & Movies - Cats of the Craft - Festival Reviews - Festival Tips - White Pages (Resources) - Issues/Concerns - West Memphis 3 - Witch Hunts - Pagan Protection Tips - Healing Planet Earth

Your Voices: Adult Essays - Young Pagan Essays - Pagan Perspectives (On Hold) - WitchWars: Fire in the Craft - Gay Pagan - Pagan Parenting - Military - Pagan Passages

Pagan Music: Pagan Musicians - Bardic Circle at WitchVox - Free Music from TWV

Vox Central: About TWV - Wren: Words, Wrants and Wramblings - Guest Rants - Past Surveys - A Quest for Unity

Weekly Updates: Click HERE for an index of our weekly updates for the past 6 years

W.O.T.W. - World-Wide Networking

Your Town: A Link to YOUR Area Page (The largest listing of Witches, Pagans, Heathens and Wiccans on the Planet)

VoxLinks: The Pagan Web: 8,000 Listings

Your Witchvox Account: Log in Now - Create New Account - Request New Password - Log in Problems

Personal Listings: Pagan Clergy in Your Town - Adult Pagans - Young Pagans - Military Pagans

Events: Circles, Gatherings, Workshops & Festivals

Covens/Groups/Orgs: Local Groups Main Page

Other LOCAL Resources: Local Shops - Regional Sites - Local Notices - Global/National Notices - Local Skills & Services - Local Egroups - Political Freedom Fighters

Pagan Shopping: Online Shops Index - Original Crafters Sites - Auction Sites - Pagan Wholesalers - Pagan Local Shops

Web Site Content (including: text - graphics - html - look & feel)
Copyright 1997-2013 The Witches' Voice Inc. All rights reserved
Note: Authors & Artists retain the copyright for their work(s) on this website.
Unauthorized reproduction without prior permission is a violation of copyright laws.

Website structure, evolution and php coding by Fritz Jung on a Macintosh G5.

Any and all personal political opinions expressed in the public listing sections (including, but not restricted to, personals, events, groups, shops, Wren’s Nest, etc.) are solely those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinion of The Witches’ Voice, Inc. TWV is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization.

Sponsorship: Visit the Witches' Voice Sponsor Page for info on how you
can help support this Community Resource. Donations ARE Tax Deductible.
The Witches' Voice carries a 501(c)(3) certificate and a Federal Tax ID.

Mail Us: The Witches' Voice Inc., P.O. Box 341018, Tampa, Florida 33694-1018 U.S.A.

Witches, Pagans
of The World

Current Topic
Editorial Guide

NOTE: The essay on this page contains the writings and opinions of the listed author(s) and is not necessarily shared or endorsed by the Witches' Voice inc.

The Witches' Voice does not verify or attest to the historical accuracy contained in the content of this essay.

All WitchVox essays contain a valid email address, feel free to send your comments, thoughts or concerns directly to the listed author(s).