They tell me that this is training for real life, having small amounts of "free" time and having to budget it very carefully. They say that in the "real world" I will be as busy or even busier.
They tell me that it is good to learn to know lots of people and keep up lots of friendships. But at what cost? Does this mean in real life I'm doomed to having many shallow relationships and none with any depth? It seems that I should just adjust, just do the best I can with the material they give me, with the expectations they have.
I refuse.
I have no desire to perpetuate the American status quo, to continue in the pattern of interactions with people in which there need be no discomfort; poking and prodding need not be tolerated. If someone gets too close or does something painful, we cut off the relationship, we move on to something new. We can always say our feelings have changed or we just don't see the point anymore or it's too painful and we cannot [and need not] take it.
So we stay away from people, we isolate and insulate ourselves, we try to get to know people and form a community, but our pride gets in the way, our habits get in the way, our attitudes get in the way, our time management gets in the way. What time in our busy schedules can we sacrifice to get to know other people?
Look at that last sentence again. Time spent getting to know people is a sacrifice? Yes, it is, this is true. But what does American culture know of sacrifice? Investing in people and truly getting to know their ins and outs is not seen as worthwhile, as something worth pursuing. Building a true community in the fullest sense of the word is rare, even for those with the best of intentions.
How then can we achieve such a thing? How can we make a stand to be different, to truly care for one another and to live out the true [and practical, difficult] meaning of love?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment