The Myth of Sharing
Does anyone else specifically remember the first time you were told that you had to share? Wow, what an ordeal. An immense battle of the wills and you’re not even 2 years old.
But what happened? Our parents hounded us about the importance of sharing with our peers for a few years, but before long we were on to other things; our colors, abecedary, and long division. Sharing became a thing of the past. A relic of a past life. By the time we’ve made it to our 16th birthday, we’re getting our own cars, our own cell phones and we’re desperately trying to get our own place.
Then we wake up one morning, married, but we still want it our way, so we make comprimises. We pursue our own jobs, eat our own fast food, and hide inside our own suburban castles.
When things don’t go our way in the relationship that we promised would last forever, we go our own way - maybe we get a divorce, maybe we burrow into pigeon holes. All the while we are deeply entrenched in our own careers, jet skis, weekend condos…its all ours…its all MINE.
The American Dream is the seductive voice that has been speaking to us since our parents stopped warning us: “sharing is for losers, have it your way“.
It’s the myth of sharing - that we grow out of needing each other like we grow out of diapers.
The Gospel calls you…and me…to interdependency. We don’t have to take a vow of poverty, and we sure as hell don’t take the pot of gold all for ourselves.
Last 5 posts by Mark
- God is Wholly - October 2nd, 2008
- The Great Moderation - September 30th, 2008