What was the
original sin? I remember a discussion about this long ago when I was in the
seminary. Some theologians say it was disobedience. Others pride. But the
answer that struck me as making the most sense is that the original sin was
ingratitude, a lack of appreciation for all the wonderful gifts we have been
given. That ingratitude causes us to be dissatisfied, to want ever more, and
then to clutch at what we have, to fear the loss of our goods, to become stingy
and selfish and self-centered, then to be greedy, grasping, and finally to
steal and become violent.
I thought of
this again last week when the City Council of our neighbors in Marble Falls
unanimously passed a resolution informing the Federal Government that they did
not want any facility established in their town to process, house or detain any
of the immigrants crossing into Texas. The most curious piece of this
development is that no one, anywhere, has proposed such a facility be built in
Marble Falls. But the gentleman who put this item on the City Council agenda
stated “we’re just afraid it will come
our direction.”
He is absolutely
correct that the motivation behind this is fear. I believe such fear – and it
is indeed fear that drives this – stems from ingratitude. As we look around the
various areas of central Texas most observers would consider Marble Falls a
rather fortunate and blessed place. Economically it is doing OK, the average
income and average net worth probably sets it in at least the median category
for central Texas towns. And it has the benefit of beautiful scenery and fine
natural endowments. In short it seems like a place that should engender
gratitude. But instead these blessings have had the opposite effect, and
instead of gratitude have motivated fear.
Seeing this makes
me re-examine my own attitudes. Do I see the blessings I have as something I
need to defend and protect, as something I must keep other people away from, as
something to clutch and grasp at, as causing me to fear others and do all I can
to keep them away? That does not seem a very pleasant way to live. It certainly
does not seem a very Christian way to live.
St. John in his
first letter (1 Jn 4:18) states: “Perfect
love casts our fear.” I think a spirit of gratitude goes a long way to
casting out fear as well. For if I am truly grateful for what I have as a
blessing, I know also that the source of those blessings has not dried up. I
can be confident that as long as I do not block them by grasping to what I
have, but keep myself open to receiving those blessings, they will continue. We
are blessed. And knowing that is the best antidote to fear. We are blessed.
We don’t need to
fear the children and women fleeing violence and poverty.
God
Bless,
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