Monday, April 26, 2004
We think so small.

I was listening to the news a couple days ago and they were talking about outsourcing -- the buzz word for jobs leaving the U.S. and going to other countries. It's one of the big issues right now, especially with the election coming up, and the basic theme of everyone talking about it is how we need to keep jobs in America.

My question is: Why?

The only way you have that line of thinking is if you consider "us" as America instead of the real truth, which is us = everyone, the whole world. You see it on a smaller level, too. We fear companies leaving St. Louis for San Antonio the same way we fear them leaving for Calcutta. Both are mistakes. Everywhere -- be it St. Louis, San Antonio, Calcutta or wherever -- is populated by children of God, our sisters and brothers. And we all need jobs, health care, food, shelter, clothing, education.

When Jesus passed the cup around at supper with his friends, he didn't say "this is my blood of the new covenant, shed for you and for people who live around here" ... he said "shed for you and for MANY ... for ALL."

Christianity is the most ubiquitous religion in the world -- spread further than any other faith. And at the center of our faith is our belief in our unity as God's children. Our belief that "us" isn't one town or state or even nation ... but all of creation.

And still, we think so small. And it's up to us as Christians to broaded our thinking.

It starts in small ways. Like the next time you hear someone talk about how terrible it is that these jobs are leaving to go to India, stopping and saying:

"Tell me why this is a bad thing? Don't my sisters and brothers in India need jobs, too?" |
Mike at 4/26/2004 09:02:00 PM