Do we have a Responsibility to Care?
Caring is a gift, don’t waste it, why?
This is not an article aimed at telling you what to care about. I hate being told how I should feel about something.
If I don’t care, I don’t care. No matter how much you believe I should.
Caring comes from the heart, identifying the need is from the mind.
I have really struggled with this. We live in a world where lack is common.
Life seems like a game of musical chairs with fewer and fewer chairs. The people without chairs are thrown into difficult situations.
Painful, soul destroying situations. That anybody with compassion finds totally unacceptable.
So caring on a conceptual level is easy, there are so many things that we would want to improve but where do we start?
In my passionate youth, changing the world was the goal. I hated older people who said charity begins at home.
How could they dismiss the poor and needy?
They would say, in the event of problems on a plane put your own oxygen mask on before helping others.
So how do we tackle the great need?
In my first article on this subject, a writer commented that she had done more for the homeless in the past, but had been unable to maintain it. And she hoped to do more again in the future.
This is my experience and intent too. Why do I feel so guilty?
I didn’t create the mass problems that exist.
I know I can’t fix it, but to stand helplessly watching, is it really a choice?
So where is the balance between helplessness and empowerment?
Lots of people block out the need, get on with their lives. Are they wrong?
I have a suggestion, a piece of advice that might help with the guilt.
Some things can touch you so deeply you cannot accept it. You know you need to do something. You have a moral responsibility.
Or do you? Sure if you have time, money and motivation why not?
But is that your life? Responsibility is the ability to respond, do you have the ability to turn your goodwill into action?
Would that action derail progress in your own life? Could that delay greater future assistance? Could disorganised efforts now, push back a sustainable future effort?
We may need to end up like the man in this story,
There was a great storm by the sea and hundreds of starfish were thrown onto the beach. A man quickly tried to throw as many as he could back into the sea before they died.
Another man said “it’s pointless, what difference will it make?, there’s too many.”
The first man picked up another starfish and threw it back into the sea.
“All the difference to that one.”
We may never achieve what we hope, but the bits we do could be priceless for someone.
Your very belief the world can and should be different, creates the energy of change. It wakes up others to the need and desire to change the unacceptable.
Balance is needed to maintain a lifelong effort and recharging is vital. This may feel like you have failed or given up.
But true caring will again whisper to your heart to go again when you have the resources to help again.
The ego makes you feel everything depends on you. Your failure is the cause of the pain. It makes you feel shameful and guilty for not doing the impossible.
The power of our creation comes from our joy and gratitude, we need to detach from suffering to create the resources to deal with suffering.
Walking away from suffering can help us gain the resources to return and address it.
Trust the opportunities will arise to create improvements in the lives of others after you have done it for yourself.
The suffering won’t disappear in your lunch hour, it’s limitless, your energy is not.
A song from Jesus Chist superstar seems to sum it up.
Everything’s Alright.
[MARY]
Try not to get worried, try not to turn onto
Problems that upset you
Don’t you know
Everything’s alright, yes, everything’s fine
And we want you to sleep well tonight
Let the world turn without you tonight
If we try, we’ll get by
So forget all about us tonight
Sleep and I shall soothe you, calm you and anoint you
Myrrh for your hot forehead
Then you’ll feel
Everything’s alright, yes, everything’s fine
And it’s cool and the ointment’s sweet
For the fire in your head and feet
Close your eyes, close your eyes, and relax
Think of nothing tonight
[JUDAS]
Should have been saved for the poor
Three hundred silver pieces or more
[MARY]
Try not to get worried, try not to turn onto
Problems that upset you
Don’t you know
Everything’s alright, yes, everything’s alright-
[JESUS]
Surely you’re not saying we have the resources
To save the poor from their lot
There will be poor always, pathetically struggling
Look at the good things you’ve got
Think, while you still have me
Move, while you still see me
You’ll be lost, and you’ll be sorry
[MARY]
Sleep and I shall soothe you, calm you and anoint you
Myrrh for your hot forehead
Then you’ll feel
Everything’s alright, yes, everything’s fine
And it’s cool and the ointment’s sweet
For the fire in your head and feet
Close your eyes, close your eyes, and relax
[MARY & WOMEN]
Close your eyes, close your eyes, and relax
Close your eyes, close your eyes, and relax
Close your eyes, close your eyes, and relax
Close your eyes, close your eyes, and relax
So maybe Everything’s all right. Your chance will come to help others but put your oxygen mask on first.
Thanks for reading, if you want to support me, buy me a coffee. Thank you.
