Christmas Day

12/25/2010 Human Observations
Happy Birthday Jesus.
What can one person do, not to change the conditions of the people in the world, but to improve the conditions of the people in the world? We can consider the subject of respect.
I was born naked, so I brought nothing into this life; just like every other person born on the earth. From the moment of my birth, all that I possessed was given to me, including opportunity, privilege, and favor. When I was an infant all of my efforts had no effect on what I was provided. Independent of my efforts, I was fed. Independent of my efforts, I was clothed. Independent of my efforts, I was housed. The only thing that has changed since the wonderful day of my birth is my perception. All that I now, or ever will possess is given to me; or better said, is made available for me. Has my perception become so self important that delusion now guides my mind? My efforts have not created a new earth, nor have they added a single inch to my height. My efforts have not changed the color of my hair, nor improved my eyesight. My efforts result in what is at best cosmetic changes to what was already in place. Since I had no power over what attention and provision I was given as an infant, I cannot recognize myself as being in possession of a special right to those gifts above the rights of any other human born on the planet. The recognition of this reality is the beginning of respect for the other co-inhabitants of our earth. We are all in this thing together.