I have often said that we live in a disposable society. We throw away everything -- from clothing and shoes to furniture and household goods. Nothing is made with the quality it once was, and if it is, you can bet you are going to pay a VERY pretty penny for it.
We tend to throw away people too. Whether it be because they are old, handicapped, have upset us or our gentle sens abilities, or whatever the reason, we throw people away, end relationships, drop from our lives, ignore, etc.
The sermon in temple a few weeks ago was that we should listen to the rambling stories of our elders, as they have meaning. These are people who have life experiences that they are sharing and we should listen, because these are people, not tape recorders that are to be shut off and put away somewhere. PEOPLE. Listen to them, the Rabbi said, they are not to be thrown away.
That sermon simply reaffirmed my belief that we do indeed throw people away. To drive the point even further home... We were at church yesterday and there was a woman with her, I assume, husband in a wheelchair. He was frail and I am not sure what was wrong, other than he was in a wheelchair. At one point in the service, the priest tells you to offer peace and good wishes to those in the seats around you -- part of community building. Well, not one person extended their hand to this man. Not one! They extended the offer to his wife, but not to him. So I crossed the aisle walked over and extended my hand. He reached out in return and we offered each other peace. Only after that did only one other person reach out to him.
A few moments later when people were walking in the aisles to go receive communion, the woman was having difficulty maneuvering the wheelchair. Again, people just stood there and watched. It was not until I crossed the aisle again to assist her that others finally took action as well.
I am not meaning to be preachy, but this is ridiculous. We need to remember that people are flesh and bone and whether we see the quality in them or not, they are not to be discarded with the trash or put up for give away on Craig's List.
Any thoughts?
Showing posts with label church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label church. Show all posts
Monday, August 25, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
Some respect PLEASE
* before I go on and on, let me just say that this is not directed at anyone in particular and I hope I do not offend anyone...
We went to church yesterday. Now, let me remind you that I am Jewish; maybe not in the full blown religious way, but definitely in culture and heritage. But since hubby is Catholic, I go to church with him from time to time to be supportive. Well, that and, frankly, the sermons (homilies) are sometimes very insightful and give me lots to think about. But I digress from the purpose behind this post. A purpose which is to say, is it so freaking hard to dress in accordance to ones activities? Is it so difficult to honor the places we go with the respect of dressing appropriately for these places?
I know... we live in Vegas and everything is more casual here. But can we get realistic for a minute... Shorts and an "I Love New York" t-shirt to church? Jeans and a backless shirt with last night's make-up sitting in the front row? A Credence Clearwater Revisited concert t-shirt? A dress that is obviously not intended for daytime wearing, accompanied by shoes that are of the same ilk. I mean I know I am coming off as very judgemental here, but I really find that I am offended by the casual nature of our society as a whole.
While church was an obvious example, there have been plenty of other times that I can point out. There was the lady at PF Chang's one night who looked like she had just come in from cleaning out her garage -- seriously -- in mismatched clothes that were ill-fitting and completely inappropriate for a restaurant like PF Chang's; McDonald's maybe, but not PF CHang's. At first I thought she was just there to pick up a to-go order. In her purple t-shirt material shorts that were obviously a size or two too small, old t-shirt with stains all over it and hair that had barely been pulled into a ponytail she was actually there to have dinner. At 6:30 on a Saturday night no less.
Again, I know this sounds judgemental of me, and well, it is. But I am OK with that. There is something to be said for respecting yourself and the people you are around enough to be appropriate. No one is saying put on heels and a prom dress, but come on, at least something that resembles something.
A show on The Strip, tickets $100 or more, deserves something more than a beach cover-up or cutoffs. If you can plunk the cash for the show, then put on some clothes!
Now, going back to church -- back in "the day" people got dressed up for church, you know "Sunday Best" and all that. I am not suggesting that we have to go back to that; but seriously, if you can put effort in to dress appropriately or nicely for work, doesn't God deserve at least that? (OK, that sounded too preachy, even for me!)But you get my point?
We went to church yesterday. Now, let me remind you that I am Jewish; maybe not in the full blown religious way, but definitely in culture and heritage. But since hubby is Catholic, I go to church with him from time to time to be supportive. Well, that and, frankly, the sermons (homilies) are sometimes very insightful and give me lots to think about. But I digress from the purpose behind this post. A purpose which is to say, is it so freaking hard to dress in accordance to ones activities? Is it so difficult to honor the places we go with the respect of dressing appropriately for these places?
I know... we live in Vegas and everything is more casual here. But can we get realistic for a minute... Shorts and an "I Love New York" t-shirt to church? Jeans and a backless shirt with last night's make-up sitting in the front row? A Credence Clearwater Revisited concert t-shirt? A dress that is obviously not intended for daytime wearing, accompanied by shoes that are of the same ilk. I mean I know I am coming off as very judgemental here, but I really find that I am offended by the casual nature of our society as a whole.
While church was an obvious example, there have been plenty of other times that I can point out. There was the lady at PF Chang's one night who looked like she had just come in from cleaning out her garage -- seriously -- in mismatched clothes that were ill-fitting and completely inappropriate for a restaurant like PF Chang's; McDonald's maybe, but not PF CHang's. At first I thought she was just there to pick up a to-go order. In her purple t-shirt material shorts that were obviously a size or two too small, old t-shirt with stains all over it and hair that had barely been pulled into a ponytail she was actually there to have dinner. At 6:30 on a Saturday night no less.
Again, I know this sounds judgemental of me, and well, it is. But I am OK with that. There is something to be said for respecting yourself and the people you are around enough to be appropriate. No one is saying put on heels and a prom dress, but come on, at least something that resembles something.
A show on The Strip, tickets $100 or more, deserves something more than a beach cover-up or cutoffs. If you can plunk the cash for the show, then put on some clothes!
Now, going back to church -- back in "the day" people got dressed up for church, you know "Sunday Best" and all that. I am not suggesting that we have to go back to that; but seriously, if you can put effort in to dress appropriately or nicely for work, doesn't God deserve at least that? (OK, that sounded too preachy, even for me!)But you get my point?
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