What Are You Doing Out There?

There is a wonderful scene in The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail in which Henry (Thoreau) has been thrown in jail for not paying his taxes. Waldo (Emerson) is told that Henry is in jail and rushes to Concord to help. Waldo shouts at Henry, "What are you doing in there?" Henry shouts back, "What are you doing out there?" What cause do I deem worthy of jail? Our culture strives to keep us occupied with things that distract us from real life. We don't have time to help others, we can't help ourselves so we look to our government to take care of us. Doesn't matter that they are involved in another "Mexican War" that is as unjust and unnecessary as the first one. Doesn't matter that business experts are corrupt, make poor decisions, bankrupt their companies and then ask the government to bail them out, I won't protest any of these decisions by going to jail. I may complain but I won't take a risk and refuse to be a part. Now the auto manufacturers are lining up with hands out . . . . .help. . . . .help. When and where does it stop, in the cycle of history it is probably time for GM to go out of business, they will be replaced by Kia or another company who will then be replaced in a century or so. We never learn from our past, we just study it. How could it possibly apply to the present? Henry David would tell us to not pay Caesar what he requests while Christ said to, "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's." A dilemma? An out? We can continue to live in our big houses and complain? We can demand the latest technology and pay off our conscience? No, Christ has called for the ultimate sacrifice, our lives. He wants us to let the government take its share while we focus on the hurt and pain of those around us. We are to build reasonable homes, drive reasonable cars, limit our debt to a house and spend our resources building an eternal kingdom while modeling the life of Christ. Thoreau and Christ, both would say over and over and over. . . . . simplify. . . . . .simplify. . . . . share with those who have not. . . . . .simplify. . . . . . love those who are unloved. . . . . . . simplify. . . . . . . .follow after His path. . . . . .simplify. Waldo didn't get it. Do you?