We are a cause oriented society. It is the "in thing" to be a part of some great cause. There are scores of them to choose from. Green is a great one. The goal is to save the world from ourselves - to encourage our use of all forms of natural products. If you like things of the sea there are several causes you might consider. Whales need to be saved. Seals are adorable and need to be saved. Birds? There are always some flying creatures that need our rescuing efforts.
Human rights advocates are big. These are always good causes. The list of human rights is endless. There is always a minority group that is being mistreated. As I looked at this interesting cause I discovered that almost everyone is in a minority group. You really need to find out which one you belong to.
People are very serious about their causes. They give their money. They march in the streets. They chain themselves to some object and wait for someone to cut them free. There are some really serious people who go on hunger strikes for days. Occasionally, you hear of someone setting themselves on fire.
There is a driving force behind this cause phenomenon. It makes a person feel good even if nothing changes. They wear various symbols on the clothes or attach bumper stickers that read "Blow you horn if..." to their cars.
Here is a thought about the reasons behind the cause movements. Could it be that there is a spiritual vacuum deep within a person that drives their involvement? Every one has a spiritual need. It may be hard to identify it but it is there. Most people would probably never admit that a spiritual vacuum exists in their souls.
God has created us with needs. The Bible tells us that we as His creations are a trinity in our very make up. We are body, soul and spirit. I like to think in some way our needs can be broken down into these three categories. We have emotional needs. Our physical body has needs. Our spiritual needs are deeper and maybe harder to identify but nevertheless they are there.
Our emotional needs usually find expression in relationships. A good relationship can take us into realms of delight. Our physical needs can be met in a dozen different activities. Our spiritual needs? These maybe a little more difficult to assuage. They are strong. They may be be the strongest of needs. However, identifying or even recognizing we have that need is at times very hard.
It was St. Augustine who said, "Thou hast made us for Thyself. And our souls are restless until they find rest in Thee." Of course, the regular cause seeker would not consider this concept because it has to do with religion and the whole God thing. They need something more tangible. Something they can do themselves. Some good that they can find fulfillment in by doing it themselves.
So off man goes in search of his cause. He ignores any inner plea that might come from deep within himself that his need may be spiritual. That's too simplistic. There must be something out there that is bigger and better.
I often imagine our Lord sighing as He watches us madly dash around the world trying to keep a tree alive or a fish from dying. "This is my cause." we think, "This is why I live."
The good part of all this madness is, God is patient. He lets us run our course. He is never angry when we run out of causes and somehow realize it was really Him that we needed all the time. He waits and embraces us in love when we come to Him. That's Who He is.
Human rights advocates are big. These are always good causes. The list of human rights is endless. There is always a minority group that is being mistreated. As I looked at this interesting cause I discovered that almost everyone is in a minority group. You really need to find out which one you belong to.
People are very serious about their causes. They give their money. They march in the streets. They chain themselves to some object and wait for someone to cut them free. There are some really serious people who go on hunger strikes for days. Occasionally, you hear of someone setting themselves on fire.
There is a driving force behind this cause phenomenon. It makes a person feel good even if nothing changes. They wear various symbols on the clothes or attach bumper stickers that read "Blow you horn if..." to their cars.
Here is a thought about the reasons behind the cause movements. Could it be that there is a spiritual vacuum deep within a person that drives their involvement? Every one has a spiritual need. It may be hard to identify it but it is there. Most people would probably never admit that a spiritual vacuum exists in their souls.
God has created us with needs. The Bible tells us that we as His creations are a trinity in our very make up. We are body, soul and spirit. I like to think in some way our needs can be broken down into these three categories. We have emotional needs. Our physical body has needs. Our spiritual needs are deeper and maybe harder to identify but nevertheless they are there.
Our emotional needs usually find expression in relationships. A good relationship can take us into realms of delight. Our physical needs can be met in a dozen different activities. Our spiritual needs? These maybe a little more difficult to assuage. They are strong. They may be be the strongest of needs. However, identifying or even recognizing we have that need is at times very hard.
It was St. Augustine who said, "Thou hast made us for Thyself. And our souls are restless until they find rest in Thee." Of course, the regular cause seeker would not consider this concept because it has to do with religion and the whole God thing. They need something more tangible. Something they can do themselves. Some good that they can find fulfillment in by doing it themselves.
So off man goes in search of his cause. He ignores any inner plea that might come from deep within himself that his need may be spiritual. That's too simplistic. There must be something out there that is bigger and better.
I often imagine our Lord sighing as He watches us madly dash around the world trying to keep a tree alive or a fish from dying. "This is my cause." we think, "This is why I live."
The good part of all this madness is, God is patient. He lets us run our course. He is never angry when we run out of causes and somehow realize it was really Him that we needed all the time. He waits and embraces us in love when we come to Him. That's Who He is.
Good stuff Gerald. Been thinking through some of the same thoughts myself. Wrote a post about it myself just this morning.
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