The one needed thing

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.

Germ warfare

You must have noticed how keen the advertisers are to have you worry about germs and bacteria. I'm not often on the side of advertisers, but in this case I can see their point.

After all, think of the other things we might be concerned about...

• World recession and the euro-crisis fills the headlines - which leads us to recognising that money is a particularly unreliable god
• Debt, the collapse of banks and the inequalities between the 'fat cats' and the rest of us - which challenges us to think about our personal spending and borrowing habits as well as to face our own greed
• The world running out of mineral and other vital natural resources, even drinkable water - which raises difficult questions about our own lifestyles
• The inequalities between the Western world and the under-developed nations - which touches on the existential guilt of those in the West for using much, much more than our fair share
• The rise of the BRIC nations (Brazil, India & China) and the decline of the West - which leaves us apprehensive about the future and challenges the basis of our security
• The rise in sexually transmitted infections and HIV - which belies the popular notion that sex is just for fun
• The breakdown of family life - which leaves us uprooted and blown about, feeling alone in a difficult world, trying to find some sort of connection
• And our place in eternity - which forces us to recognise our mortality and the choice of which God we serve.

It's no wonder we keep worrying about the germs instead.

And yet - if that is all we dare focus on - we miss out on the opportunity to find a God who is utterly reliable, knows all about justice and loving relationships, and can deal with our personal greed and insecurity and offer peace in the midst of a troubling world. And who then equips us to go and make a life-changing difference for others.

Alternatively, we can carry on worrying about the germs.