Following a recent deluge in which some houses had been flooded, I heard the local politician saying on the radio that "they will do everything necessary to ensure this doesn't happen again". I'm sure he was well intentioned, but I'm also sure he had flood barriers and better warnings in mind, rather than addressing the root causes - changing planning regulations to preclude building housing on flood plains, or addressing the causes of climate change.
We go to great lengths to treat the symptoms, but won't address the root causes.
We will bankrupt the economy and enter recession, putting hundreds of thousands out of work, in order to save the big banks
... but we won't stop them gambling with other people's money.
We will tighten the benefits system and hamper the poor, increase tax on middle-income workers, and make public sector workers redundant
... but we won't tackle legal tax avoidance by the richest individuals or corporations
We will improve town-centre policing, train and employ more liver specialists, and introduce security measures at Accident & Emergency departments
... but we won't tighten alcohol licensing laws or ban it being sold below cost price.
In order to improve the nation's mental health, we will reorganise parts of the National Health Service, improve access to therapy and spend huge sums on researching new medications
... but we won't talk about the depersonalising impact of living a consumerist and materialistic lifestyle.
And in the personal sphere, we'll do anything to have peace. We learn meditation techniques, download the 50 most relaxing tunes, and reorganise our schedule in order to get a bit of 'me-time'
... but we won't put our lives into Jesus' hands.
We'll do anything to give life meaning. We work hard for years to gain promotion to earn more money to buy more things to seek fulfilment
... but we won't accept the Lord, the author of life.
How often we'll do anything ... everything ... except the one needed thing.
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