On of my favorite lines in the whole book is, "The problem is not a certain type of legislation or even a certain politician; the problem is the same thing it has always been. I am the problem." I think I tend to point my finger at what is wrong in the world and say, "So-and-so should do something about it." Who really needs to do something about it is me. I am the problem. I am self centered and self serving. I look out for the needs of me over the needs of the suffering.
He also said, "The problem with this is that it indicates there is less value in what people believe, and what they stand for; it only matters that they are cool." I think I don't often look at what a person believes and says when I look at them. I make snap judgements that don't make them look good or bad. They just make me look uneducated and uncaring.
I want to be the person like Andrew. "dying for something is easy because it is associated with glory. Living for something, Andrew would say is the hard thing."Are we doing the hard things and living for something? Are we taking these principles of social justice into the world and believing in them so much that we can change the world? I think that the simplest of concepts, belief, could change our society.
Amen! If there's one thing this class has taught me it's that any form of social change can't come with 1st educating yourself on exactly what those injustices are before you can fight for the good of anyone else, and often times, as you pointed out, the injustice falls back on the shoulders of you. Before we make any change and make a pledge to live justly, we must do it for ourselves first. I think often times we go on these wild hearted mission trips to foreign countries with the intention to help, but in reality, we do many things because we want to be able to have something to write on our college application or to say "hey look what i do! love me!" I like the contrast you drew between living/dying for someone because seeking glory is not the key to justice, and never is merely realizing that your are part of the problem. Many times, you need to make an honest pledge to change. Most don't even get passed step one.
ReplyDeleteToday in my final reflection paper I wrote about God will reward you when you do things secretly...It is not about the biggest things and what you can show off..such as the mission trips Nick said...but it is about your heart and how you do it and give it. We need to put be earnest and put all of our selves into what we are doing...not just for what we can get out of it.
ReplyDeleteWho doesn't want to be the one pointing the finger? I loved when he said "I" am the problem. I think this emphasizes Heschel's point when he says that not everyone is accountable but everyone is responsible!
ReplyDeleteI absolutley love this book too! This has been my favorite out of the ones we have read, and I'm glad we are reading it as the last book because of the perspective it comes from. He is always saying how "I am the problem." This statement is so true. We are all the problem with not stopping injustice. We just need to face it!
ReplyDeleteGreat Post Abby! I agree with you 100% that Donald's admitting he is the problem is an amazing way to put it. I feel the same way about myself as you do. I find myself pointing fingers at everyone except me. It seems so easy to blame everyone else, when the fact of the matter is that I am the problem. I really enjoy this book and i feel like the author really knows how to get through to people. Not by blaming everyone else, but bye using what he feels is a problem with himself to relate to everyone else.
ReplyDeleteAmen! Until we take PERSONAL responsibility for the problems of the world, how can we expect anyone else to take responsibility for them. I agree that I really enjoy his writing style. It is so relate-able and personal. I love how he doesn't tell me what I have done wrong, but tells us how he has failed as a Christian, and shows us our faults through his.
ReplyDeleteYes! Abby I loved this post! I agree with you completely. I love the way Miller writes and it definitely makes you think at a deeper level. the way he says "I am the problem". I think as human beings we tend to be selfish and judge others when we shouldn't. We should turn and judge ourselves. Nice job!
ReplyDeleteI agree, I also point my finger at other people. It is sometimes easier to do. We should realize that we are also part of the problem and should be working to fix it. Loved the post, Abby.
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