Hello from beautiful Montana:
Yesterday we attended church at the open and affirming global denomination we attend occasionally. I was impressed when the Pastor talked about how every religion and spiritual following talks about the dangers of greed.
When he mentioned that greed was the basis of six of the ten commandments, I was surprised. When I reflected on the financial crisis I could tie all ten to a love of money and power.
Finance became more important than family.
As a child, my mother used a little game to teach us the ten commandments and told us that if we would just follow them, we would be okay in life. (If you are interested in learning the memory game, let me know. I taught my grandkids to memorize the ten commandments in ten minutes.)
As a family educator, I can see not only financial disaster, but relationships are suffering.
The Broken Commandments by those who should know better.
- Thou shalt have no other gods before me.(Money and power have become the driving force behind most decisions. Getting more and more in order to be the top of the pile)
- Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images.(How many CEOs have luxury cars, planes and multiple homes? In Montana some of them have built obscene 10,000 square feet houses in the mountains and then spend 1 week a year, if that, there.)
- Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain.(Are they praying or playing by saying "Oh, My God?" when the stock market goes down?)
- Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy.(Banks and stores are now open 24/7. Workers are no longer given a day off to spend with their family)
- Honor thy father and thy mother.(Need we remind you about Mother Earth and Father Time and I can testify how very few strong family relationships are honored and treasured.)
- Thou shalt not kill.(Those in charge may not have directly killed individuals, but many have lost their own lives, both physically and spiritually from the stress of trying to keep up with the Joneses.)
- Thou shalt not commit adultery. (So many are seeking solutions at a mistress named work, and neglecting their own loved ones)
- Thou shalt not steal. (Oh brother, need I say anything here?)
- Thou shalt not bear false witness.(Again, lying is so commonplace that it is modeled in advertisements and most people no longer even consider it wrong.)
- Thou shalt not covet. (covet means to want, want, want, I see so many families-including my own- who do not think through what is a want and what is a need.)
Thank you for allowing me to rant and rave. I am in a position to see the trickle down effect of greed to the lowest common denominator: the children. They are the ones who are losing the most when their families lose housing, food and security.
If we need a guideline and road map for life's journey, we have to look no further than the ten commandments. Perhaps we all need to review them daily and teach our families.
Love,
Judy H. Wright aka Auntie Artichoke, family relationship coach and author
PS: Feel free to comment, let's discuss this.
