Under The Olive Tree

FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH

I had the privilege of some extended discussions with some very interesting and conscientious people this weekend. I learned a lot. If only I could capture in writing some of the expression and communication that took place.

One point in particular that stood out to me was about value – and another was about motive.

There are some things, experiences, relationships, insights, activities, events, images and even sounds (hereafter referred to as “things”) that we value – and there are some that we place little if any value upon. Unfortunately, in our present world condition, we tend to value material things above the mystical – not all of us of course, but as a global institution we lean in that direction.

Often, the public value of things is based on very subjective qualifications. For instance, those individuals who excel at certain sports are rewarded monetarily in a fashion that is disproportionate with their overall contribution to the international community. Why? Simply because they work in an industry that generates massive amounts of revenues, and they are somewhat dubiously disproportionately rewarded. Do you know anyone that is really talented at croquet that receives the same compensation?

The Chinese are a bit the same in a different way. Because they are willing to work under conditions that you or I would consider to be a form of servitude, they get all the business. Their economy is poised to become the largest economy in the world in a very short time – and with this economic growth – they will acquire a variety of influences on a global scale, influences that are not necessarily reflective of what they have to contribute. They already enjoy some of these influences to a degree that is uncomfortable for some – take the oppressed people of Tibet as an example.

This is where value becomes an important discussion. The manner in which we come to our conclusions as to the value of things will define our policies and actions regarding those things. If all we value is money or material gain, then it is easy to surrender a culture, a society, an individual, a concept, a standard, or a moral code in the pursuit of that gain. In addition, those who control access to that material power can begin to dictate our course and actions, sometimes even our thoughts. We all become slaves of a false appropriation. Few are willing to make the sacrifice of confronting the beast – the personal cost is prohibitive.

Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.

We need to return to a more sensible acknowledgement of our humanity. We need to examine our motives, and if in so doing we discover that we have compromised our most basic dignity for gain – then our inner man should rise up and condemn the murder and slaughter of our conscience in all its manifestations.