Religious Education Update: December 21, 2008
Finding Light in the Darkness
The closing days of 2008 seem dark indeed, with the gloomy economic news reports keeping step with the shortening days. In casual conversations, I speak with people who have lost their jobs, lost money in the stock market, or who face salary cuts.
I’m reminded of the challenges of earlier generations. My father went through college during the Great Depression, and finally graduated with his doctorate in sociology, supporting himself with student jobs or teaching elementary school. He was poor in worldly goods for years. My mother-in-law grew up in Germany and faced huge food shortages after World War II. She survived a hard winter in Germany by the good fortune of receiving food packages from by her American fiancé, the soldier who fell in love with her during the war. Both of these individuals were frugal with money and food for the rest of their lives, never forgetting their hardships. They taught their children, including my husband and me. about valuing our prosperity as we grew up.
I believe that the light in this dark winter will be found in the compassion in our hearts, and in gratitude for our personal blessings. We can share our light with others by offering encouragement to those who are searching for work, financial and volunteer support to food banks and homeless shelters, and a focus on what we truly value. It is within our powers to help light and hope return to our nation.
What a miracle it would be if the current difficulties cause all of us to rethink our consumption driven society, and consider sharing our resources with more equity. The leaders in our country during the depression and the Second World War promoted the general welfare of the people, through work projects and international treaties. I am hopeful that the new administration in Washington, may also choose to improve our world in solving our generations’ huge challenges.
Marlene Abel
Director of Religious Education
The closing days of 2008 seem dark indeed, with the gloomy economic news reports keeping step with the shortening days. In casual conversations, I speak with people who have lost their jobs, lost money in the stock market, or who face salary cuts.
I’m reminded of the challenges of earlier generations. My father went through college during the Great Depression, and finally graduated with his doctorate in sociology, supporting himself with student jobs or teaching elementary school. He was poor in worldly goods for years. My mother-in-law grew up in Germany and faced huge food shortages after World War II. She survived a hard winter in Germany by the good fortune of receiving food packages from by her American fiancé, the soldier who fell in love with her during the war. Both of these individuals were frugal with money and food for the rest of their lives, never forgetting their hardships. They taught their children, including my husband and me. about valuing our prosperity as we grew up.
I believe that the light in this dark winter will be found in the compassion in our hearts, and in gratitude for our personal blessings. We can share our light with others by offering encouragement to those who are searching for work, financial and volunteer support to food banks and homeless shelters, and a focus on what we truly value. It is within our powers to help light and hope return to our nation.
What a miracle it would be if the current difficulties cause all of us to rethink our consumption driven society, and consider sharing our resources with more equity. The leaders in our country during the depression and the Second World War promoted the general welfare of the people, through work projects and international treaties. I am hopeful that the new administration in Washington, may also choose to improve our world in solving our generations’ huge challenges.
Marlene Abel
Director of Religious Education
posted by ddodd @ 2:38 PM
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