Does Our Comfortable Living Make Us Blind To Evil

We lead comfortable lives here in America, a reality shared across the Western world—Europe, Australia, and beyond. In our pursuit of prosperity, we've achieved a level of financial success unprecedented in history. With disposable income left after bills, we live like modern royalty, surrounded by luxuries such as homes, TVs, cell phones, internet, and vacations that we eagerly showcase on social media.

This era of abundance characterizes American Exceptionalism. It's not about asserting superiority but acknowledging that, historically, only the privileged enjoyed such opulence. Now, everyone can access life's luxuries. However, this abundance has led to a societal shift, a loss of perspective, and a certain naivety regarding the realities beyond our borders. And this has caused many of us to lose our way and our Faith. 

In our bubble of comfort, we assume universal values, believing everyone cherishes life, loves their children, and desires safety. Unfortunately, this assumption blinds us to stark differences. Groups like Hamas, driven by ideologies vastly different from our own, prioritize a different world beyond this one. Their actions, such as heinous acts against civilians -- beheading baby's, raping women, kidnapping civilians, reveal a stark contrast in values.

In times of conflict, Israel, in its pursuit of protecting its citizens, issues advance warnings before engaging in retaliatory actions, emphasizing a commitment to minimizing harm to civilians. In contrast, Hamas, driven by a different set of values (as they believe in an immediate journey to Heaven through martyrdom), takes advantage of this by urging civilians to stay put, manipulating global perceptions of their actions.

It's a clash of values—between those who cherish life and those who, tragically, do not. Understanding these distinctions is crucial in navigating the complexities of conflicts happening far beyond our comfortable lives.

Why did this happen? How could people be so evil? How could God allow this to happen? These questions linger, and while I, a mere peon, may not articulate this in the finest fashion, I sense an answer. The occurrence of such events is intertwined with our collective descent into narcissism. In our self-centered pursuits, we inadvertently closed our eyes to God, pushing Him aside. Perhaps not a deliberate act for all, but it happened nonetheless. Israel, too, let their guard down, and in their celebration, Hamas struck, awakening us to the harsh realities of their way of living and thinking.

Have you ever felt a loss of faith? What did you do to reclaim it? For me, it involves simple acts like prayer and attending church. When faith falters, these foundational practices serve as beacons, guiding us back to a place of belief. If you find yourself adrift, persist in these simple acts, for they may, in time, rekindle the flame of faith.