Consumption Habits

"Think very carefully about your choices. You have planted a large crop, but your harvest is small. You have food to eat, but it is never enough to satisfy. You have something to drink, but you are never filled. You have clothes to wear, but they are not enough to keep you warm. You earn a salary, but the money runs out quickly, as if there are holes in your pocket.” (Haggai 1:5-6 VOICE)

In a nation where consumerism drives the economy and capitalism is worshipped, spending is seen as a sign of success. A certain amount of consumption may be necessary for survival, but it should not be mistaken for progress. Think about your choices carefully. Do you notice an imbalance? Are you planting more than you are harvesting? Does your life feel meaningful and fulfilling?  

Lately I have been more conscious of my consumption habits. If I added up all the food I eat, all the products I buy, all the media I consume, all the utilities, fuel, and services I use, it would be substantial. What I give back to this world is negligible in comparison. However, without intentional mindfulness, I can go through a day without being aware of my habits. An honest evaluation reveals that many of my choices are lopsided. They use up more resources than they add value. This realization is uncomfortable; thus, I am resistant to accepting it. Yet, I sense the need for change. 

K-Pop and Goliath

“He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:40 NLT)

David was a young boy when he fought against Goliath. He was an unlikely hero-- untrained and under-equipped. Yet, he took what he knew, the slingshot and a few smooth stones, and brought down a giant. I was reminded of this story recently when an unlikely group of young people brought down giants. 

K-pop, or Korean pop music, is known for its army of superfans--aka ‘stans’. They are mostly known for promoting short videos of their favorite artists on twitter. As a middle-aged woman, I, for one, did not think much about them...until the last few weeks. During the global protests against racism, K-pop stans figured out a way to drown out racist twitter hashtags. They took what they knew best--organization, mobilization, and maximization of algorithms--and kept bringing down giants. They did what grown-ups, like me, couldn’t do. Their actions have inspired me to think of what little skill sets I might have at my disposal. I have had to take an honest inventory. It does not seem like I have much to offer in the grand scheme of things. Yet, I have decided to take whatever I have in me and sling it against evil. 

Within Your Reach

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” (Ecclesiastes 9:10 NIV)

Window cleaning is one of the chores that I rarely do. There are several legitimate reasons why I put it off. In my home, I can reach about 30% of the windows by myself. If I have a ladder and someone to help, I could clean more--but even then, I can’t reach 100% of all the window surfaces. Since I know I can’t complete the task to my full satisfaction, I resign myself to unclean windows. Today I did something different. I cleaned whatever I could reach. I even stood on a chair and cleaned parts that were a bit of a stretch.  My windows are not significantly cleaner than they were before, but I did what I could--which is better than nothing. 

Some days this world seems wrecked beyond repair. Sickness, suffering, poverty, violence, greed, hatred, destruction, loss, oppression...the problems feel overwhelming.  I would like to help, but much of it seems outside my reach. Thus, I procrastinate; I make excuses. I resign myself to the injustice and suffering. I wait for others to join me with ladders, but even then, there is only so much we can do. It feels pointless to clean up one little corner of the world when the rest will remain a mess. But, maybe it isn’t? Perhaps I could go ahead and start doing what I can on my own. Instead of focusing on what is outside my power to change, I can do what is within my reach. I can share what I have, encourage one person, cheer up someone who feels melancholy, talk to someone who is lonely, clarify what is confusing, or clear up one misunderstanding.  Whatever my mind and hands find to do, I can do it with all my might. What I do will not significantly improve the world, but it is still better than nothing. 

Powerful Tyrants vs. Good Leaders

“Take a good look at the way they live, and let their faithfulness instruct you, as well as their truthfulness. There should be a consistency that runs through us all.” (Hebrews 13:7 MSG)

Mahatma Gandhi was one of the world’s most inspirational leaders. He led millions of Indians to peacefully stand up against oppression from colonialism. He modeled humility, truthfulness, consistent morality, simplicity, inclusivity, and commitment. Other famous world leaders --including Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King--followed his example. Gandhi was not tall, rich, or handsome. He didn’t brag about how great he was. Instead, he lived what he preached. There was never any discrepancy between his actions and what he asked others to do. Gandhi was a modest, caring leader who was willing to sacrifice himself for the good of others. 

In comparison, Hitler was a powerful tyrant. He convinced his followers that they were superior and more deserving than those around them. His speeches stoked divisiveness. He promoted nationalism, racism, and violence.  Hitler was known for harming the world, for injustice, and for the degradation of humanity.  He was a prideful bully who regularly sacrificed others for his own benefit. 

Inspirational leaders are good role models. Faithfulness, truthfulness, and integrity shine through in every aspect of their lives. Their speech and actions are congruent. Leadership is not about gaining and maintaining power or popularity. Good leaders feel the weight of responsibility. They understand that everything they do can influence others. They lead by example. They are thoughtful and considerate with their words and lifestyle choices.  They motivate others to become better human beings. They bring out compassion, virtue, sincerity, and decency in their followers. The need for good leadership is more urgent than ever, but we must resist the urge to tolerate tyrants. 

“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” (Mahatma Gandhi)

Dangerous Delusions

“How long will you set your heart on shadows, chasing your lies and delusions?” (Psalm 4:2 TPT)

The Dunning-Kruger effect is a form of cognitive bias in which people who are incompetent also lack self-awareness of their incompetence. They operate under an illusion of superiority on all subjects. They know too little to even recognize how little they know. They prattle foolishness instead of deferring to those who have expertise in an area. 

“In many cases, incompetence does not leave people disoriented, perplexed, or cautious. Instead, the incompetent are often blessed with an inappropriate confidence, buoyed by something that feels to them like knowledge.” (David Dunning, Pacific Standard)

We have all encountered someone who displays the Dunning-Kruger effect. Funny videos of toddlers who have no clue about a subject but still claim to be know-it-alls are popular on the internet. This overconfidence combined with ignorance can be amusing in a toddler but disastrous in adults. As children grow up, most of them will learn enough to know how much more there is to know. Unfortunately, narcissistic adults often do not reach this point of intellectual humility. Instead, they make decisions that affect themselves and others based on their meta-ignorance. They may influence others to follow their delusions. The results can be deadly.

Talents and Limitations

“He gave five talents to one slave, two to the next, and then one talent to the last slave—each according to his ability.” (Matthew 25:15 VOICE)

TED talks are short, inspirational speeches given by experts in various subjects. These popular videos are often shared online among friends. Although I am a fan of TED talks, I rarely watch the videos. Instead, I go to the website and read the transcripts of the speeches. I do the same with sermons. I prefer reading to listening. Why? My brain processes information better when it is presented in a written format than in an audible form. It’s like the written word is my native language and audio is a second language that requires additional translation to absorb. I did not realize this about myself until recently. I just thought it was a personal preference, not a limitation. 

Here is another discovery: I cannot sit through media that portrays suffering, captivity, torture, or oppression for any length of time. I know that these things happen in the world, but I do not have the emotional bandwidth to handle watching this in video format. I want to be informed, but not overwhelmed--so I read the news instead of listening to it or watching it.

For some of us, acknowledging talents can be easier than admitting personal limitations. However, a realistic understanding of our strengths and weaknesses can bring clarity. We may want to change others, but we can only change ourselves. Periodic assessments of our values and behavior are necessary since we are continuously learning and growing. Self-awareness comes with contemplation, acceptance, and a willingness to yield to divine molding. 

"Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I'm wise, so I am changing myself." (Rumi)

Interconnected Spirits

“For the Spirit of the living beings was in the wheels.” (Ezekiel 10:17 NLT)

The Book of Ezekiel, with its weird visions and whimsical metaphors, can be difficult to understand. Whirling wheels that turn within each other like gears. Angels with four heads--each shaped like an ox, a human, a lion, and an eagle. A cloud of glory filling every space. The spirit of the living beings connected to the wheels--everything moving together. What are we to make of all this? 

Could it be that all living beings are interconnected? My behavior affects others around me--my family, the neighbors, the nation, the world. My choices alter the environment--air, water, plants, animals. Like concentric circles, we influence each other--humans, oxen, lions, eagles--moving gears on wheels, every species interdependent. Perhaps some day, we shall understand the relevance of this symbiotic relationship. Once we realize that our choices have consequences, maybe we will refrain from exploiting our environment. For the same Spirit dwells in all consciousness and fills every space. We are linked by the glory of God. In Him we merge and emerge as beings.