Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, and I’m reminded of the sacrifice made by the person who the tradition eventually recognizes. There’s no question I have a problem with many who espouse themselves Christian. While I see a lot of hero worship for the guy they follow, I don’t see any attempt at trying to adopt the values their leader was trying to teach. Rather than being focused on the betterment of others, they’re focused more on their own entitlement. The new Christianity has made a terrifying move from spiritual enrichment to personal advancement. The modern Christian no longer looks out for the interests of others, but their own self interests. And when someone doesn’t fit into their narrow view of civility, rather than learn from them, they chastise. They pervert Christ’s values to justify their own personal prejudice, and rather than work to help their fellow man, they work to deny anyone who doesn’t share their views the same simple freedoms they claim to hold so dear.
Today I saw a man on a corner with a sign, asking for money. A passer by threw him his trash, and shouted obscenities. He was too busy to stop his Lexus, and help him out, but he was more than happy to chastise him for not being clean. If this is how he views the poor, then he should remove that fish symbol from the back of his car. This, by the way, was exactly what I told him at the next intersection.
I normally wouldn’t say anything, I’d just keep my mouth shut, and boil in silence. Maybe it’s because after reading posts on another man holding a sign recently, that my attempt to show the post’s ignorance through levity fell short. I should have just pointed outright that I thought it would have been better to actually help the man, rather than just post jokes about him. Even if you think he’s trying to take advantage of you, you have to ask yourself if a person that would do that is in a better situation, or a worse situation than you are? Either way, you would be better off helping. If he had your opportunities, most likely he wouldn’t be on that corner in the first place. So why not lend him some change? Is it really going to bother you in any way?
Last year I was driving to Crested Butte for the last ride of the season before the heavy snows came. I saw a young man hitch hiking along the highway as a rain, and lightening storm was coming in. This is Colorado, so when I say he was in the middle of nowhere, please realize that this is no exaggeration. I decided that I would pick him up. When he got into the car, he was coughing, and sneezing, and smelled like he spent the night in a dumpster. I drove him three hours out of my way to the town that would get him his next ride. I also gave him some cash so he could give gas to the next person. Did I totally believe any of the stories he told me for the three hours he was in my car? No. Did I totally think that my cash was going to go for gas, and food only? No. Did I care? No. That’s not what it was about. All I know is that he was walking, and I was driving a $40,000 car. It was my responsibility to help him.
Lent is about giving something up for the next 40 days until Easter. It signifies Christ’s withdrawal into the wilderness. So while everyone is giving up ridiculous things like chocolate, or caffeine, or late night snacks, why not try giving up something noteworthy? Give up hate, give up ignorance, give up judgment, give up your preconceived notions about the world, and make a valid attempt to see the other perspective. Try to stop thinking about what you can do for you, and think about what you can do for them. I’m betting if you do that, you will become more like your hero, than you are right now.