Thoughts on Indifference and Love
Even though the world seems to have gotten smaller with all our connections, commnications, travel abilities etc., I would argue that in a way it has gotten bigger- and this is a problem. I think people only have the ability to hold genuine concern and care -real love- to that which is personal.
bigger world = less indepth knowledge = less personal
When things are impersonal, it's far easier to feel indifferent. (Or perhaps obsess over unknowns but that's a different blog) I guess you could make argument that not knowing about something in the first place makes you far more indifferent so that now in our knowledge/enlightenment, we can have far more fervor and passion than ever before about more things. But perhaps our knowledge of the world's "going-ons" actually diminishes the amount of passion/love we should hold for our own local communities/reality and props up our ability to feel indifferent towards things we should feel more towards. We thin ourselves out and can't devote as much love as we should. As well, the more things we are enlightened to- the more we intentionally feel indifferent towards. For example- I hear about a landslide that kills thousands of people across the world. Sure I could send them some money to help in thier rebuilding and what not and then I could feel good about not being indifferent but after my cheque has been sent is this landslide and the individuals it has impacted going to be a big concern for me? No, I'll become indifferent. Have I diminished thier plight, made it less dramatic and immense, taken away some dignity, by suggesting my money will solve thier problems? I'm not saying that aiding in disaster relief is not a worthy cause, I'm suggesting that if I really wanted to be loving I'd move to the community were the landslide happened, get to know the people, get my hands dirty and help them- with them. Make it personal. Ok- not so probable- How many people really want to relocate? That means we should start with our own communities. Our communities might not have the same kind of "disasters" we hear about on the news but you've got to recognize they are not perfect. We are so indifferent to our own reality that we often don't know the names of our neighbours let alone the names of the local families that are stuggling. We have become impersonal and so we are indifferent.
How do we make life/reality personal? How can our relationships become real?
bigger world = less indepth knowledge = less personal
When things are impersonal, it's far easier to feel indifferent. (Or perhaps obsess over unknowns but that's a different blog) I guess you could make argument that not knowing about something in the first place makes you far more indifferent so that now in our knowledge/enlightenment, we can have far more fervor and passion than ever before about more things. But perhaps our knowledge of the world's "going-ons" actually diminishes the amount of passion/love we should hold for our own local communities/reality and props up our ability to feel indifferent towards things we should feel more towards. We thin ourselves out and can't devote as much love as we should. As well, the more things we are enlightened to- the more we intentionally feel indifferent towards. For example- I hear about a landslide that kills thousands of people across the world. Sure I could send them some money to help in thier rebuilding and what not and then I could feel good about not being indifferent but after my cheque has been sent is this landslide and the individuals it has impacted going to be a big concern for me? No, I'll become indifferent. Have I diminished thier plight, made it less dramatic and immense, taken away some dignity, by suggesting my money will solve thier problems? I'm not saying that aiding in disaster relief is not a worthy cause, I'm suggesting that if I really wanted to be loving I'd move to the community were the landslide happened, get to know the people, get my hands dirty and help them- with them. Make it personal. Ok- not so probable- How many people really want to relocate? That means we should start with our own communities. Our communities might not have the same kind of "disasters" we hear about on the news but you've got to recognize they are not perfect. We are so indifferent to our own reality that we often don't know the names of our neighbours let alone the names of the local families that are stuggling. We have become impersonal and so we are indifferent.
How do we make life/reality personal? How can our relationships become real?
posted by June-Star at 11:29 AM
2 Comments:
I never thought about it in that way before, but you are right more knowledge about more of the world can lead to indifference about and lack of personal connection to things and people we should care about both in our communities and farther away. I realize I am not that involved even in my own church community let alone in my city. Thanks for sharing your insights Jen. You challenge me to change.
A lot of it is about making things real for yourself. In a way it's a waking to and an absorption of life. I think people try very hard to keep things impersonal or try to make things personal for thier own motives: ie. sell you on an idea. Often we are just too busy to feel anything towards things we should or have been oversaturated by feelings, emotions and desires through the media, entertainment and ad campaigns
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