Generation ME!

  Today after another trivial day, I found myself sitting in a seat on the train ready to go home. I was sitting in my own self misery about the condition of my current life. (It is after all a favorite past time of mine). All of a sudden I heard an ungodly wail from a woman five seats ahead of me. At first I thought something physical had happen to her but as events continued to  unfold, I realized it was something far worse. Her daughter had died and she was pleaing with the other person on the phone to tell her what to do. She was paralyzed. She didn't seem to know what to do. I felt for the woman in a way I have never felt for another human being. I think death has a way of connecting people in extraordinary ways. No matter where one is in life, a universal principle most of us have to acknowledge is death is simply around the corner waiting for its next victim. I wanted to do something for the woman but what really could I do. Everyone else on the train seemed unphased as though this  was typical of a the daily commute from the city to our small towns. So I did the only thing I knew to do. I prayed.
   The woman ended up getting off the train. The rest of the way home I found myself contacting my closes family members and reminding them how much I loved them. I was actually a bit embarrassed because the responses were overwhelming appreciative and surprised. It made me realize just how much I take my family for granted. I never go out of my way for anyone in a real or meaningful way. I wish I can say that my experience on the train would change my habits but I know it won't.
   It's only recently that I have began to realize how much I have become apart of the larger trend of Generation ME! What do I mean by this? Well it's this generalized idea that I was raised in a culture that finds value in individualism. Not that this is an entirely bad concept but think about it. How often in life were you told "to do what makes you happy"  or "you need to do whats best for you." We were pushed to find that one thing that made us different and special. It was in these talents that we developed abilities that then led us to placing ourselves above our peers. We placed ourselves on a pedestal. To be honest I enjoy myself on this pedestal. Perhaps it's conceited but I think if most people were honest they would admit to the pride they feel in their own pedestal.
   I often laugh at myself because I do take pride in the gifts I have and what makes me so different from the next person. Why do I laugh at my ridiculous behavior? Well think about it, I am putting myself up on a pedestal for gifts that God gave me. Who am I to take credit for the work of my God? There is great value in realizing that we were each beautifully and wonderfully made with certain spiritual gifts. One of my favorite passages in the bible is when Paul is speaking in 1 Corinthians 12. He is speaking on the terms of spiritual gifts saying that God has given to each their own but it is not meant to be used for individual purposes but instead meant to build up the body of Christ.

          "But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of the body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ." 1 Corinthians 12: 11-12

  I guess the point is that I need to remember that the world doesn't revolve around me. I wonder what it would look like if I actually lived as a member of the body of Christ instead of as a severed part.

I love this song and think you will too!
My Own Little World - Matthew West