No time? Or we just don't care?

“Instead of saying “I don’t have time” try saying “it’s not a priority,” and see how that feels. Often, that’s a perfectly adequate explanation. I have time to iron my sheets, I just don’t want to. But other things are harder. Try it: “I’m not going to edit your résumé, sweetie, because it’s not a priority.” “I don’t go to the doctor because my health is not a priority.” If these phrases don’t sit well, that’s the point. Changing our language reminds us that time is a choice. If we don’t like how we’re spending an hour, we can choose differently.”

                                         Wall Street Journal

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Priorities are a thing

Because priorities are lived

Priorities are expressed in action

and priorities reveal our values

if we want to know what we really believe

What we really love

Who we really love

then all we have to do is look

at the priorities

we have encoded into behavior

it is indeed true,

that all we have to do is

when explaining our actions

add the phrase “it is not a priority”

its disturbing

I didn’t call you, because you are not a priority

I didn’t tell the truth, because being honest isn’t a priorities

I didn’t listen, because caring isn’t a prioriy

I don’t eat well because health is not a priority

That’s harsh

On a spiritual level it gets even worse

I don’t worship because connecting with the Sacred isn’t a priority

(Or I don’t get up and watch the sunrise, because the Sacred isn’t a priority)

I don’t pray because opening my heart to God isn’t a priority

I don’t forgive because reconciliation isn’t a priority

I don’t give because helping the needy isn’t a priority

I don’t include, because welcoming the stranger isn’t a priority

I don’t follow the words of Jesus, because…… ???

You can finish that one for yourself

What is it we put above love?

Who is it we put above Jesus

This seems like a pretty critical question

Because it appears that too much of what we do

What we say

How with think

Suggests something quite troubling

That while being rescued from our errors might be a priority

While escaping divine retribution is a priority

While being blessed by God is priority

And having God protect us, and give us wealth and power

Is a priority

While using God as an excuse to manipulate and abuse is a priority

Following in the footsteps of Jesus

Isn’t

It is interesting to me that the book

In His Steps

Which popularized the phrase “what would Jesus do?”

Emerged during a period of American history much like this one

During a time when the rich reigned

And when economic inequity was a harsh reality

When the rich indulged

And the poor suffered

The author posited, by way of the novel

The basic question

What Would Jesus Do?  WWJD?

Well?

Right now, what WOULD Jesus do

About the immigrants

About inequity

About injustice

About the lies, and the greed, and the hate?

What would Jesus do?

He would love

He would welcome

He would open his arms to the little ones

To the poor and vulnerable

And as to those rich rulers

Those rich men feasting at the table?

He would love

He would welcome

He would seek reconciliation

And transformation

Jesus number one priority is always simple

Loving people into eternal wholeness

Loving people into healing, and hope and joy

Loving people into generosity

Jesus’ priority is clear

Is ours?