View From a 14 year old...

It is challenging in my house right now - I'm the father of a 14 year old. Those of you who've parented these beings are smiling right now, and probably sending out prayers for patience. ;-) Fourteen is all about the world according to "me". This is an interesting worldview, as the tens of millions of 14's see the world in their own individualistic ways. My version does not want to hear about facts or truth or an opinion not his own...sound familiar? He's all about attracting attention to himself (he's also an actor) and will lie about most everything.

I found myself the other day involved with people who are much older than my 14 year old - but who had never grown out of that worldview. Once I realized what was happening, I felt this wave of compassion and empathy for those who's view of things was stuck at that level. It is understandable to have a 14 year old worldview at 14 - but how problematic it is when your past 40 (some way past). After the meeting finished, I mused for a while about what could have led to this lack of development - and on the impact of this viewpoint on individual and communal health, wellness and wholeness (HW2).

It's been said that if you don't stand for something that you'll fall for anything. We are living in such a world. A generation of people has drifted away from moral, ethical and theological teachings and living. Corporate and individual greed is at an all time high. Five percent of the population in the U.S. controls approximately 70% of the wealth (the top 1% controls a third). [from "No Common Good?" by Gary Dorrien, Christian Century, April 19, 2011 edition] Mr. Dorrien goes on to say that the very same banks that were "too big to fail" and were bailed out by all of us are now engaging in activities that lead to the last meltdown. Can we expect any different outcome? Are we going to do anything about it? The "world according to me" is unsustainable and unethical - what can we do?

We can get back to the basics of "first do no harm", "love your neighbor as yourself", "helping the least and the lost", listening to a narrative that's not all about our own needs at the expense of someone else. Maybe it's time for a year of Jubilee - forgiveness of debt and return of land. Could you live on less than $2 per day per person in your household? For how long and at what cost to your HW2? Would it show you a new worldview? I'm at the point of trying - to become the change that I want to see in the world (from Mahatma Gandhi).

How about your worldview and your narrative - time to grow up?

Peace,
Dan