Genre: Opinion/Argumentation

I never used to think of myself as elite upper class. I always grew up thinking of myself as a middle-class kid from a middle-class family. Part of the 99 percent, you know? Well, I dined out for all three meals today. About $50 NZD altogether. Yes, that's entirely too much money to be spending on food and I don't normally do that. It's actually kind of disgusting, isn't it? If I would just forgo that for a week or two and cook pasta instead, I could save enough money to buy a brand new Wii for my flatmate's birthday. Or save a few families' lives in another country somewhere. I'd probably be healthier, too. Here's where I'm going with this: I'm not in the 99%. I'm not in the 53% either, in case you were wondering. I'm in the 1%. Anyone who makes over $34k USD per year is in the top 1% of elite wealthy people in the world. Yeah, you heard me right: there are all kinds of people getting checks and foodstamps from the US government who are actually in the top 1% of the richest people in the world. That's how big of a deal this is. Almost half of the human race alive right now represents the bottom 5% of income earned in a given year. Think about that: that's billions of people getting only 5% of the money in the world divided up among all of the while most of the people reading this are probably all the way at the TOP of the pyramid. And yeah, I know: it's just too big. You can't even get your mind around it. I'll tell you straight up that I can't. Something about the knowledge that if I'm ever sad or annoyed about anything... well, there are people just a few islands over who are being methodically raped / sold into slavery / tortured / executed / etc (three letters which cover a lot of things I'd rather not even think about.) Oh, and then I guess a lot of them are dying and going to eternal Hell that is horrifying beyond our wildest dreams. And I get sad about some sports team losing some ball game. Why am I not sad about that? I mean, it's not like it's a big deal or anything, right? Or if I'm ever happy about much of anything... well, there are people right now who are being saved from all of that even as I type this. So why am I not completely ecstatic about that? Why am I not celebrating and shouting and telling everyone I know? I think the answer is disgusting and obvious and simple as human nature itself. Out of site; out of mind. And what does it take to wake us up? There's this big game we play of materialism and society and status and madness. It's the water we swim in. What does it take to snap us out of it? I've been given this beautiful and amazing life for no apparent reason while other people my age have sons and daughters eating mud and drinking disease and dying of starvation. And that's why we need pain. That is exactly why we need sorrow to break through all of our first-world comforts. That's why it's a good thing that my body has started to fail me more and more each year. What it takes to shatter the illusion that I can live for myself. That's why all of us need to see the stars and get the flu and lose everyone we will ever love. It shakes us out of our happy fantasy land and into real life -- even if only for a few minutes before we stick our heads back in the sand. We go to ridiculous lengths to keep ourselves distracted and stuck inside our own tiny empires. TV and Facebook and shopping malls and commutes and weekly schedules. And it ALWAYS eventually comes crashing down, because there is meaning to life and it has *nothing* to do with any of that stuff. You never could take it with you. Anything or anyone or anywhere: it will all leave you eventually. We all want to be the center of our own little world. We all want to get everything and give nothing. Reality is the direct opposite if that. We live in an incalculably huge, enormous, beautiful and terrible world. And none of us are anywhere near the center of it -- but for those who have been given much, much will be expected -- and he who seeks to find his life will lose it. And we want to tell ourselves there's a certain point of "good enough" where you can't ask for any more than that, right? How much giving is enough? You've got to be smart and not stupid. You've got to be more sensible than to just ruin yourself, right? And I try to convince myself that I'm doing the best I can with what I have. But the more I think about that phrase, the less I'm sure what it even means. And really, when it comes down to doing the BEST with what you have... is there anyone who ever does? 1 Hey Brad, as always I enjoy reading your thoughts. Whenever I think about the whole "People starving in Africa" topic, I prefer to remember that the goal is to help bring them a higher quality of life, not to drag us down to a lower quality of life. If I don't do this then my mind can't turn off the GIVE MORE mode -- to the point that I think if I'm not living in a cardboard box then I should feel guilty, and that is not how it should be. You're also right that we could all use a reality check every once in a while, but I don't think that we need to lose everyone we ever love to be blindsided by reality. Being broken for a time can definitely be a good thing, but the point of brokenness is to be built up stronger than before, not to be crushed into oblivion. "But for those who have been given much, much will be expected -- and he who seeks to find his life will lose it." -- Absolutely! I REALLY like this Bible verse, and I think you hit the nail on the head there. We've been given a lot of gifts, both tangible and intangible, over the course of our lives. We should be using those gifts to make the world a better place. However, neither of us are Superman (you're more like Batman anyway). So although we can not save the world single-handedly, we can make a world of difference within our sphere of influence. At least, that's how I try to roll. =) Coderman @ September 12, 2012 2:31 am 2 This reminds me of a topic we discussed during a religion class at good old St.Mary's High school. Only a few of us are going to be like Mother Theresa... What about the individuals who are invalids , who cannot give of themselves? Are they going to earn their place in heaven? My teacher, Sister Alice, who, by the way taught my sister, your aunt Claire , taught me and my children.! said something I will never forget. "They also serve, who only stand and wait" they give the rest of us a reason and a way to serve God. We may not be able to "SAVE THE WORLD" but we can contribute in some way where ever we are... Love you Brad Please pray for me and my up coming surgery. You can help one person right now by doing that... Grammy Mary Grammy @ September 12, 2012 2:51 am 3 There are a whole lot of ways in which I couldn't have said this better myself! Brings to mind a LOT of different scriptures...like Isaiah 58, 1 Timothy 6:6-10, & Matthew 16:24-28...& on & on. I think that Cody's right about not being Superman, & Grammy Mary is right about contributing where you are, but I also think that you're on the right track...are we really doing the best with what we have? The answer is probably no. It's definitely possible to steward resources differently than we do, & to live with less & be content, & to take the money saved & use it to relieve suffering & advance the kingdom. There are a lot of practical ways to go about doing that...it takes wisdom & prayer to know exactly what you should be doing yourself, I guess. How do you think you go about becoming the sort of person who REALLY cares, thinks, & prays about human suffering? Grammy Mary -- I haven't met you, but I will pray too! SP @ September 12, 2012 3:37 am 4 I agree with you Brad. I also agree with your family and friends. As Coderman pointed out, I don't think we should feel guilty about not living in a cardboard box. I mean, how can we look after others if we're not in a position to look after ourselves, right? It is all about doing what you can where you can. A little bit can go a long way. And it's not always about giving away money or material things either -- it's also about using your gifts, skills and wisdom to help others so that they can help themselves (whether those people who need help are across the world or right under your nose; whether they're starving or just need advice) I'm still getting to know you, but knowing what I know so far, I think you're already making a difference in people's lives -- by your music, by sharing your thoughts on this blog (so even if those people who're reading this are the elite 1%, you're inspiring them to go out and do their bit for the world!), by caring for your friends, family, and for the less fortunate. If you want to do more, that's great and it is your choice what you do, but I don't think we have to feel like we're not doing enough. At the end of the day, every little bit helps. And also I think it is more meaningful to the giver and receiver, if help is given freely with love in your heart rather than tainted by feelings of guilt and obligation. Just my thoughts anyway ^_^ miniNinja @ September 12, 2012 4:47 pm 5 About being happy / sad about those things... yes, out of sight out of mind -- but also, I think that to some degree -- if we constantly think about those things all the time, then paralysis comes in. The state of the world is so huge I doubt any human could properly contemplate all those things at once and respond appropriately. Or at least, I can't. When I worked in NGOs I remember the shock and sadness that hit so often every time a disaster struck and we collected donations...... to the point my mom told me that if I wanted to work there I had to get past the emotions and get on with it. About waking up and pain: yes, absolutely. But I agree with Coderman -- that the point of brokenness isn't to be crushed into oblivion... hmm, this is a topic that is too wide to broach in a comment box. Hmm, there is so much you have written in your post and as always I find my mind spinning as I try to pen down here the things I am thinking!! Discuss next time I see you? 6 WOW! So I have some seriously *wise* friends and family! I think I'm even more fortunate than I knew, because that definitely counts on the list of things I have going for me, you know? Coderman, Grammy, SP, miniNinja, and Mel -- all you guys: THANKS so much for the encouragement and extremely wise words! It means a lot to me. Also: Grammy -- I'm definitely praying! Big Bad Brad @ September 18, 2012 10:38 pm 7 Seriously: I keep re-reading these comments and they really hit the nail on the head in so many different ways. With that said, invitations all ACCEPTED to talk more about it... Big Bad Brad @ September 18, 2012 10:41 pm Leave a comment Name (required) Mail (will not be published) (required) Website BM@W Whatever that means. This is the site for all kinds of thoughts from the mind of Brad Moore. Whether those thoughts are coming from an eloquent musician / thinker / writer - or just from a Nebraska farmboy who somehow wandered into a South Pacific island nation... you may have to decide for yourself.