Occupy Nothing

Before social media, if you wanted to torment someone, express your political views or rant about anything, you needed to do it in person.

Perhaps you followed someone around shouting at them in public, like the slave girl in today's reading.

While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, 'These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.' She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, 'I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.' And it came out that very hour. But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. - Acts 16:17-19

What makes this reading so interesting for me is the fact that Paul got so angry that he called the demon out of the girl.

In his determination to avoid torment, he used his power of faith to free the girl of her demon, yes, but also to take away the source of income from her masters.  You could almost say he provoked them to action against him.

He and Silas were tortured and imprisoned following this outburst.

So, what is the lesson here?

Some might see this as justification for taking a stand against the capitalists who seek money over wellbeing, while others may see a zealot who uses faith to corrupt the established order and economy.

We still have these differences today.

Rather than coming together, I feel we are pulling apart.  In an effort to be free of the influences of any one religion, we eliminate all religious symbols and messages from our society, creating a secular culture.

On the other hand, religious zealots are taking their messages to the extreme, literally waging war on society.

The schism is getting wider and more and more people are in danger as a result.

We can disagree with the way people choose to make their fortunes, and we may find ourselves jealous of their successes, but should we undermine their efforts in the name of our faith?

There is a movement in this country among the young to create a future that is socially responsible, where business is based on a mission of doing good.  I think we nee dot give that movement a chance.

We adults and seniors can learn from the socially conscious generations and discover a new way to combine economic growth and spiritual growth with social justice.

Let's face it.  We failed.

We can make good mentors.  But first we have to ditch the hatred.  We need to be real.  We need to listen to our young and be willing to work with them.

Maybe it is time to Occupy Nothing.  And in the process we will have peace.

More to come...