Do you believe our society is greedier today that it was
twenty years ago? Ten years ago? Five years ago? I can only imagine you’re
nodding affirmatively. I agree with you.
I wonder if it’s because we’ve been esteeming ourselves
rather than esteeming others. We’ve been listening to those who told us to love
ourselves so the world will love us. But if everyone is busy loving themselves,
then who’s loving others?
The capacity to put the needs of others ahead of our wants
cannot be nurtured in a culture that sends a message of entitlement running
through our veins. No wonder our hearts have turned cold.
One of my favorite exercises to
test the warmth of high school students’ hearts is to propose the following scenario:
“Last week someone made your
all-time favorite cookies. I don’t mean slice-and-bake or add-water-to-the-mix
cookies. I mean, real homemade cookies.”
I continue, “A friend comes by
to see you. There are only two cookies left on the plate…a nice, big cookie and
a small cookie that must have been the last bit of dough. Your friend is eyeing
those cookies. What will you do? Will you offer your friend the big cookie or
the little cookie?”
Here are a few of their
responses:
- “I’d give ‘em the little cookie, of course."
- “I don’t have to give ‘em a cookie. They both belong to me.
- “I’d give ‘em the little cookie, so they know who’s boss.
- “On a good day I might break them both in half and make things equal.
- “I know you want me to say that I’d give ‘em the big cookie, but hey, I gotta’ take care of myself first.”
So, are you grateful for what
comes your way? Are you as greedy as a tenth grader?
What’s in your heart?
No comments:
Post a Comment