Beyond Me

This week I continue my trend of last-minute writing. This has nothing to do with the very intentional Just in Time manufacturing model Toyota developed to improve efficiency, economy, and responsiveness. It has more to do with procrastination, trepidation, and reactiveness.
In my youth, technology promised to free us from our burdens by wonders laying just beyond the horizon. It was an apt metaphor; that horizon is always beyond us. Technology has relieved us of many chores, some which we might still rather do, but she has also introduced many new necessities. Instead of the life promised in The Jetsons, we have a life where many families struggle. Both parents must work just to make ends meet paycheck to paycheck. Our tasks may not be as physically taxing but they are far more mentally and psychologically onerous.
     Instead of being freed to pursue higher goals we are tied ever tighter to subsistence. Instead of just food, shelter, and clothing we have added laptops, cell phones, cars, appliances, etc, etc, etc. Our list of needs has grown to such a length that few will fill it. To what end?
     It is telling how vocation has changed in today's society. Instead of priest, religious, or family it now means professional, tradesperson, or labourer. Economy has been elevated from a means to an end. Religion is being reduced to a quaint practice one may engage in private, but it must not interfere with daily life. Families, rather than being served by legislation, are being assailed.
    Social norms are surrendered to autonomy, yet we are no longer free to choose our associations; those are now hereditary. Regardless of personal and family history every individual somehow belongs to groups which are either oppressed or oppressor. Patriotism is being replaced by guilt, resentment, or, more often, a combination of both toward these vague entities. We are all victims and we are all victimizers by assigned associations. No personal acts can vindicate us and none can raise us above repression. Evil trumps good; one bad act cancels all gain. In today's woke society; I'm bigoted because I'm Catholic, I'm privileged because I'm white, I'm domineering because I'm male. Christ's redemption is old superstition and there is no redemption for whiteness or maleness.
     I say it's time to lasso this beast by the tail. Send economy back to being a means and raise faith and family to primacy. We've had the tail wagging the dog for too long. How we'll do that is beyond me but I'll start with prayer.
     Next week: Distraction
                                                                 God bless

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