Fairness II

 . . . but God will bring them back to you . . . 

 - From Baruch 5

The world is not fair. We are all convinced of that, at least from the purview of our own narrow, self-interested world-view. Someone else got what I wanted. I worked harder for it. But I didn't get it. It's not fair. 

In a perfectly fair world, the woman that I am most attracted to, would be equally attracted to me. 

Isn't romance and love . . . really . . . at the root of our violence and wars? (It's not religion . . . I contend that romantic love has started more wars than religion). And if that is the case, isn't it in humanity's interests, for all people to find a love for life, and to find that love early, and to guarantee that no person in love ever experiences frustration from its lack of reciprocity?

See what a big problem we have here?

We proclaim our understanding of what's wrong with society. We know that we must ensure fairness for all people. But when we take it to its logical conclusion, it gives us all kinds of problems.

In my own experience, those times when I have been treated unfairly resulted in enhanced virtues within my heart. An unfair world makes us less envious, less selfish, less bitter . . . if we respond correctly.

I know a young person that had always been told she had a beautiful singing voice and should go into music in college. But it took her three years to finally get accepted into a good program. She was three years older than her peers. But the faculty and staff, and other students, fell in love with this person that did not take her position for granted. She had learned a very hard work ethic, and valued her professional calling that much more highly.

Perhaps we should just live for the moment, and find someone nearby, who is not feeling very fairly-treated today, and make their load lighter. Perhaps we should support young artists and teachers that are talented and devoted enough, but have been on the wrong end of hiring decisions. There's a lot we can do to make the world a more fair place, but it requires that we actually . . . do . . . something.

But in the end . . . when God promises to bring "them all back to us," it reminds us that He remembers, and He knows. When all is made right some day, you will appreciate it all the more.