Ashes IV

. . . do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets . . . 

 - From Matthew 6

So much talk about hypocrisy. But I feel as I always have: perhaps people that point out hypocrisy in others had better keep their mouths shut. Call anyone else a hypocrite, and you are declaring open season on others, to watch you closely for your own inconsistencies.

We are all dust. All ashes.

The 1970s song, "Dust in the Wind," by the group Kansas, used to strike me as horribly negative, depressing.

But I realize now, that despite it's somber tone, it actually is quite liberating:

Drop the facade. It's going to be okay. Life is short and you should have your hands full taking care of your immediate needs, and the needs of those immediately around you. It's not about you.

"Self-identify" describes nothing, if it doesn't describe a doctrine, distinctly to draw attention to one's own self. It's what you would expect from a wealthy culture that has, probably, too many options for people; when most of the world is starving.

I read where a 20-something made a life choice that impacted his immediately family, most specifically, his parents. They had to choose between eternal, universal values, and remaining in the life of their adult child. They chose the child . . . which in turn created another cycle of people around them having to come to grips with their own values and importance of friends and family.

There was a rippling effect, which is more than evident to those closest to these choices "that don't impact anyone else." Do the ripples continue out, into areas we cannot see, that we can barely imagine? Do millions of these faint ripples combine in society, and they are they partly responsible for some of society's most pressing problems?

The parents had to move and make new friends, because they felt that the old had shunned. Their child, commenting about this misfortune of his parents, blamed the erstwhile friends (not his parents). He said that "They were treated that way because of me." He said this, without any remorse, second-guessing, or any sense of guilt.

It's not about you. Our decisions do affect others. You can't get into someone else's mind and force them to think differently. And as to the faint, distant ripples that emanate from our choices: maybe one day we will be able to measure that. For now, I think the safe bet is to think of others. Yes, put them first. Consider their world, their needs. It's not about you.

Jesus directs us to do our good deeds, secretly. This rules out almost any behavior that puts oneself on display. Giving your alms publicly, and announcing it to others? Isn't that like telling everybody you're all for higher taxes, to take care of the poor?

We're just ashes. It's not about you.