Friday, August 19, 2011

Bad Times as a Gift from God

It occurred to me recently that the bad times we have all been experiencing are a gift from God. As a collective whole, our society has gotten to the point where many of us expect a certain lifestyle. This should not include anything we have not planned for--not emergencies, not setbacks and certainly not (unplanned) children.

It does not even occur to us any more to help each other and so many children are being raised without any knowledge of a Power higher than themselves. It is no wonder these children are now rioting throughout the "civilized" world for the latest toys. This is, apparently, what this generation considers "civil disobedience." I would suggest to them that they read up on Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi's philosophies and find out what civil disobedience is really all about.

I think this economy is a gift to us from God, frankly. We need some shaking up--our whole society does. Since we don't seem to appreciate what we've been given, it is being taken away so we learn to feed each other instead of sitting at the table with our too-long chop sticks starving because we don't see the option of sharing.

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Absolutely, the only way we can truly grow in wealth is if we learn to use it correctly. Until then, it's two steps forward and one step back.

Anonymous said...

This is a time for God to grow us up. We've been spoiled brats too long, and now the whole planet's paying for it. I hope those of faith will take the time to lead in growing up instead of whining like the rest. Peace.

Michele said...

this post could not have come at a better time for me! last night, once again, I suffered horrid pain. this time, from my front tooth. which radiated out to my other teeth, as the root is partially exposed. and as i mentioned on my blog in a post about it, i felt like God turned His back on me when i pleaded with Him to stop the pain as my priest asked me to say to God in prayer. i was even in tears because of the pain, and feeling abandoned by God.

I think what we don't realize is that God is there for us even in our most intense moments in life. I did not feel His presence like i usually do. I seriously felt Him withdraw from me. and to be honest, that hurt. it really did.

Now, i find myself having to go to confession because of my disappointment that I felt He had turned His back on me in a time of serious intense crisis. iam at the point where i don't want to ask anything more of Him because I don't want to feel that abandonement again. suffice it to say, it was a dark moment for me.

thus confession. i will be having a talk before confession with my priest. as i said, your post could not have come at a better time.

Staying in Balance said...

Oh, ((((Michele))). I'm so sorry you are going through so much pain. I think the dentist needs to do whatever is necessary to help you.

God has not abandoned you. Be sure of that.

Anonymous said...

I've had this thought periodically. It doesn't make me any more eager to go through a depression (if that is indeed where we're headed), but I know that all of us--myself included, however much I may think my priorities are better ordered than others'--can do with some spiritual checks.

Barbara Schoeneberger said...

I said to my husband that when more people are suffering from rolling blackouts and brownouts in the heat of summer, they might wake up to the fact that maybe the ones who think they know everything about how we should live don't know anything at all. Only through suffering, sadly, do people wake up and look at themselves and what they need to change about how they are living their lives. I'm not exception.

Staying in Balance said...

Yes, I think suffering is often the wake-up call that we, as humans, need.

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"Slavery ended in medieval Europe only because the church extended its sacraments to all slaves and then managed to impose a ban on the enslavement of Christians (and of Jews). Within the context of medieval Europe, that prohibition was effectively a rule of universal abolition. "— Rodney Stark

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