We're at war, there's global warming, famine and genocide are occurring in Africa, the Brazilian rainforests are disappearing, species are becoming extinct, the stock market is crashing, and there are sundry other crises and troubles that confront us daily. What are we to make of them? There is an interesting story in the bible where a woman has bought some expensive fragrances with which to bathe Jesus' feet. Judas has a fit, that money could have been put to better use, taking care of the poor, he said. The bible says that Judas takes care of the common monies and his real motive is that he's skimming money from the community (sound familiar?). Jesus instructs Judas to lighten up, let the women give him a gift, for the poor you will always have. Clearly he wasn't suggesting that one shouldn't be charitable, but that one needs to find joy and happiness in life, for it is all too short. But troubles and problems in the world will always be with us. We need to balance making the world more just and fair, with the need to enjoy and appreciate each breath of life.
