Response to “A Tale of Two Zipcodes“
I see in your writing what I have seen too many times. I see a simple view of the world; one where we need not consider complexities. It seems to not have crossed your mind that marriage is difficult when you are living paycheck to paycheck. Those who live in Pittsford, your “best of times,” are avoiding the number one cause of divorce.
You also talk about the lack of community service in Belfast. I find it odd that the reason didn’t make itself obvious. When one is struggling to live, it becomes harmful, almost sinful, to disgrace your duty to provide for your family to go serve the community at large instead. To give of one’s money, when one is wanting, and one’s time, when time is sparse, becomes more harmful than spending it on, or with, your family.
I have a cousin. He’s one of the most Godly people I know. Yet, he doesn’t go to church on Sunday. He realises that it is more moral to, you know, make sure his wife is able to stay in a house. It is easy, from a position of wealth, to view the missing of church as something only explained by moral failings. It is easy to say “I am rich because of my morals.” But it is more similar to how Jews and the Samaritans of the Bible were. Jews thought, since they worshiped in Jerusalem, since they were of pure blood, they were morally better. Yet, Jesus went to the Samaritans, or to the poor. He avoided all the rich except for the rich that denied their wealth and their “morality.” Your position makes you sound like the rich young man, who has held all the commands.
Blessings,
Benjamin Eby
