One morning on my way to work I came across what appeared to be an emergency scene. You know, like when there’s a fire or traffic accident and all the response vehicles are there with all the lights flashing and people scurrying about their business. Although there was a fleet of vehicles with lights active and a whole team of guys ready to do their job, this scene was different. These were the cable guys. At 6:30am, we had what appeared to be a “cable emergency”!
I had to laugh to myself thinking how cable TV could be so important that it would ever require this kind of response. Then I began to think of the people who at that very moment might be experiencing a morning with NO CABLE. Oh, the infamy. I could picture peoples day coming to a screeching halt as they checked their TV sets and screamed to family members, “the cable’s out”, with panic in their voice, not knowing how this could be possible. I imagined how some, even though they might already be running late, picked up their phones to call and find out what’s wrong. “How could they let this happen”, they might say. The thought really had me laughing as I arrived at work.
It got me thinking how we react to life’s injustices and what really qualifies as an injustice. Does cable fit in to this category? What about a long line at the grocery store? What about being in that line at the store behind someone using government assistance coupons? What about being in a hurry and being behind someone who has the nerve to drive the speed limit!? What about bad or no reception on our cell phone?
I could go on and on with examples of so-called modern day injustices that we react very strongly to, that we spend valuable time discussing and complaining about, that we wish we could eradicate once and for all! The fact of the matter is…these do not qualify as injustices, but just inconveniences.
So what is an injustice? What about people dying every day from hunger? What about people dying every day from sicknesses that there is treatment for? What about people dying because there isn’t enough clean water to drink? What about people sleeping in the freezing cold because they have no home to live in? Shall I go on? “How could God let this happen?” is the common cry we hear. “If God is good then how come…….?”
Well let’s see. Is there enough food on earth for everybody? Do we have the vaccines and medicines to treat the ill? Could we provide clean water for everyone? What about shelter? Do we have the financial means to provide homes for the homeless?
The answer is YES. God has provided us with the resources to take care of all His children. The problem is that the rich countries get richer and the poor countries get poorer. Now that’s not to say that no one is helping, because there are many, many great organizations that are out there doing a great job, the problem is that the need is greater than what’s being given. We’ve all heard it before, but I just wonder what would happen if we reacted to the real injustices like we react to our cable going out. What would happen if we took action like we do when the TV screen goes blank?
I think it could change the world. By Glen Bryant
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