Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Calling a Spade a Spade

I just read an amazing article by Kay Warren (you know, the wife of that dude who wrote that book???) about human nature and our capacity for evil. I found it refreshingly honest, freeing, and a bit frightening all at the same time. I can't say I was surprised by anything she wrote. I'm well aware of our propensity to do wrong and have been ever since I became a Christian over 12 years ago. However, I think there's something inherent in our culture that allows us to pet, coddle, and justify our sinfulness. We're not that bad. We categorize "wrong" things together with swear words and credit card debt. I think that somewhere along the way, it's easy to lose sight of how broken we...you and me...really are. Even those we put up on a pedestal. It's easy to do. It's tempting to want to believe in humanity. To put your hope in a person. In a vision. Believe that we can change. Believe that, deep down, we really are good people. That I can make myself whomever or whatever I want to be. Believe that you hold the key to your destiny and all that rot. But we simply don't. We never have, and never will. From birth, we are broken. And will be until the day we die.

I think the message of this article is a bit hard to swallow. It's not a lighthearted read. But it ministered to me nonetheless.The truth is, I don't think we in America think of ourselves as "evil." We're not burning down villages or committing genocide or anything like that. We're good church-going folk, we pay our taxes, we provide for our families. But I think of the utter selfishness that plagues us, and it frightens me. I see it even within myself. We are willing to go to great lengths to have our "rights," even, and especially, at the expense of everything and everyone else around us. As long as our needs our met, right?

I find myself coming face to face with my own selfishness as I try desperately to mother these 4 precious gifts that God has given me. They remind me, every day, of how absolutely selfish, shallow, and self-centered I truly am. Parenthood will do that to you. Thank God we have a Savior, right?

Anyway, enjoy the article. I really didn't mean for this to turn into a rant. Sheesh.

4 comments:

Erin said...

I tag you!

Kathryn said...

I haven't read the article yet, but I loved your post and I agree with you! I'm going to go check it out...

Kristin said...

Hey, Kay's going to be participating in a live, online chat on Oct. 29 from 2-3 p.m. EDT at http://Abunga.com/AuthorsAtAbunga. You all should join in, if you can. It will be a time to ask her questions and hear her thoughts.

Angela said...

Thanks so much for that info, Kristen. I will definitely have to check that out. Thanks for passing that along.