When Enough is Enough

Often times I'm struck with how God works on people. I just finished a book called 'Lucky'. It was about the beatitudes and framing them around the word lucky (as the author explains that is how it is in the Greek) - For example, How lucky are you who mourn, for you will be comforted.  Interesting how it kind of changes the perspective, eh?

One of the last chapters talked a ton about social justice and how it needs to be based around something, not just 'morals'. It was a great eye widener. How often do we impose our morals on others? ...and the thing is, where do those morals come from? For the most part, I would say mine are biblical, but they have a huge healthy dose of North American culture.

As I hinted in my last post, social justice has been percolating in my head for quite some time. S graciously listened to me passionately rant and talk and cry and so on for a couple of hours last Sunday. There are so many issues in our sick world: the sex trade, poverty, rampant disease, racism, greed/gluttony pushing sales, etc. 

So many of those issues though are related. For example, (I know I'm over-simplifying) disease and poverty.  In cases of extreme poverty where there is lack of clean water, disease is often extremely prevalent. I listed to a TED talk about diarrhea once - it claimed that it is the number one or two killer in the entire world. Isn't that crazy?! It's a symptom of a much greater issue, a canary in a huge mine, if you will.

Talking about these issues doesn't do anything to rectify them.  Bringing awareness is great, but again, doesn't really do anything. Educating the masses is the same.  What changes things? I submit that these things along with personal choice does change things.

Enter "Enough Is Enough". It is an idea.  It asks the question 'is enough, enough?' Is what we have on our plate at supper time enough, or too much? Do we have enough clothing, or too little, or too much? Is the time we spend online enough, or too much? Are we giving enough? Are we sleeping enough? Are we praying enough? Is our level of global awareness enough?

You get the picture. It is simply the first question. It's not the answer to all of these social justice issues. It is, though, something each and every one of us can do. When we live within our means, let our awareness change our action, and actively look for the next step, we can actually address that which is unbecoming in our world.

For me, this is changing so much of what I think about and do. Am I closing my computer enough? Ha - no. Can I start? Yes. Am I exercising enough? Almost. Can I do more? Yeah, if I get off the computer ; ) .  That's just the beginning!

How about you? When is enough, enough?

xo,
J

soli deo gloria