We're told that we can be anything, so we're grateful for nothing.
We are entitled to everything we have and more.
We're not inspired to live a common life because we're told to dream of uncommon things.
While dreaming, we are unaware of everyday miracles.
We are blind to a God involved in the day-to-day.
We don't honor what appears to be normal because we're better than normal.
We forget to honor anything.
While living, we are ignorant of any divine interventions.
We make casualties of humility and vision.
We don't want to rise out of ashes because we're too good to be thrown in with that heap.
We've surpassed the ashes.
While burning, we curse God for the fire.
We're told to be radicals, different, set apart.
We've been given keys to the kingdom.
We hate being brought low.
While believing, we reserve the right to doubt.
We are often ignorant and arrogant.
We're known to confuse self-glorification with Christ's eternal agenda.
We're learning as we go.
After dying, we ask our old selves for advice on living.
We are those annoying Christians.
...ramble on...
You pretty much hit the nail on the head. We are a living out a life of contradictions. We have taken the idea of entitlement to all new levels.
ReplyDelete2 few lines that stuck out to me:
ReplyDelete"We're told that we can be anything, so we're grateful for nothing." - That's too true. I would add that we tend to dream about doing everything while actually doing nothing.
"We don't honor what appears to be normal because we're better than normal.
We forget to honor anything." - That's a sad reality, one with no honor or wonder. Very few things are revered in our culture. I'm stuck trying to think of something that still is... grandmothers, maybe.
One note: I think some of the old optimism of the late 20th century has been shattered in this one. I think Americans are starting to believe (at least a bit) that the road to greatness is a long and hard one.
As you wrote, this hasn't helped much with embracing the ordinary. Instead we still feel entitlement saying, "Other people just don't recognize how big I'll be one day. I'm on my way up."
Ironically, I think most American Christians (especially younger ones) would agree with your critique of the group they are a part of. Myself included :)