The sermon at church today was about fear and accountability. The question was posed "what are you afraid to know"?
We pretend not to know about all kinds of shit. About war, poverty, oppression, addiction, violence. We pretend not to know because we are afraid someone might ask us to step up and work to stop them. We're afraid because once we know, we become accountable.
But it's not just the big things. We pretend not to know we are hurting a friend or ignoring someone who needs us. We pretend not to know the people who've hurt us or how to stop them. We pretend not to see the self destruction of the people we love.
What could we do anyway?
Action is scary. It makes us vulnerable and insecure. Often times it makes us the target of harsh criticism, cruelty and malicious intent. We weigh the pro's and con's and often the con's win out. We opt to remain safe and comfortable, after all who would blame us? So we remain silent...complicit. We fool ourselves into believing that we can't change anything.
But in our hearts we know that's bullshit.
We have the power to change everything by changing ourselves. By owning up to the choices we do and do not make. By being accountable for the things that we know.
Today I was given the option of helping to put someone in prison. Someone who has caused irreparable harm to this town and myself. The prison industrial complex is fucked, but this person is pretty fucked as well. What are my options here? Say nothing and watch this person destroy the lives of others? I don't think I can do that anymore. I've done that for far too long.
I've got alot to think about.
From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded. (Luke 12:48)
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