That s not so bad. Everybody s doing it, we reassure ourselves, setting our consciences at ease. They sure got what they deserved, we say, applying a measure of justice to strangers that we would not accept for ourselves or apply to our own family and friends. I am merciful. I am forgiving, we lie as we nurse grudges, plot revenge, and pass judgment on others.
Every day is a lie.
I begin every morning by grinding coffee beans produced by workers who do not receive a living wage for their labor. I put on clothes that were assembled by children under conditions of near slavery. I enjoy work for which my education prepared me well, an education I was able to receive because I was not born into poverty but into a family that could provide opportunities for me to pursue my interests and nurture my abilities. Our sin is so deep, so complex, so treacherous. Our sins are so intertwined and convoluted.