Disposable Bags

   
     I was driving down the road one day when almost out of nowhere a gray plastic bag came fluttering down through the sky, much like a butterfly flapping its wings desperately trying to stay a flight amidst the rushing wind. As the bag whipped around propelled by semis and other vehicle drafts my mind wandered off on a tangent, is the site of pollution like this so common that we just look at it like it is as natural a part of our environment as the little butterfly flapping its wings bouncing around from flower to flower seeking out nectar? Shouldn't the site of trash just floating around in the air, bother us? I, along with all the other commuters didn't even tap our brakes, we just scooted on down the road, rushing to make our destination on time. I'm not saying I hoped to see every car on the freeway screeching to a halt as someone voluntarily gathered up the bag, but I really was wondering did that bag even catch anyone else's eye? Did the fact that trash was just freely, casually floating around the sky bother anyone at all?
      Then more recently, my sister and I were sitting out in a shallow section of one of our myriad rivers in East Tennessee when a "dad" and his two young children happened up on us there in the eddy we had plotted. Besides the fact that this individual was in more ways than not exemplifying the epitome of bad parenting skills, when he finished his can of beer, he submerged the can in the pristine water, and when he apparently thought the can was filled with enough water to sink the can he released it only for it to float downstream. His comment, "Shoot I thought I had enough water in it to sink it, oh well, it will be way on down the river soon." Donna and I both sat perplexed by the mindset of this person to sincerely think that out of mind, one way or the other, was somehow okay and therefore let’s go get another beer!
      My take away? As a society have we become so numb that as long as it doesn't directly affect our normal run of the day it's okay? It is almost like does litter really exist if we can walk by it and it doesn't impact us personally. Being a river kayaking enthusiast I see disregarded tires along the banks or in the waterway almost every time I hop in my yak and make my way down a river. Thought process of the person that disposed of said tire? If I throw it in the river, lake, creek, or stream it's not my problem anymore, out of sight out of mind. Is that the new norm? Have we become a disposable, non-participating society that can comfortably exist by either driving on by, burying the problem, or allowing it to float on downstream so someone can deal with it later?
       Problem is we haven't just become a "trashy" society when it comes to plastic bags and beer cans, I believe if we will be brutally honest we have become that same society in terms of injustice, bigotry, and humanity. If we see wrong and our comment is "Well I haven't ever acted that way so don't blame me or put me in that category." are we excused and get a free pass or golden ticket? Well, no you may not have been the one that carried out the injustice and true you may never be someone that acts that way, but does that dismiss you from being involved in seeing it end? With that mindset, we are no better than the guy that floated the can on downstream to allow someone else to deal with the problem of pollution.

     If we see homelessness and walk on by, wanting to make sure we get to where we have to be on time, is that person any different than that disposable bag floating around the sky? As long as we walk on by the person maybe he will just float on by and someone eventually will pick him or her up. Landfills bulge with waste and we cover the trash up with dirt, pack it down, and move on to the next site. Is that what we have done as a society? Pile it up, cover it up, pack it down, and keep on producing more and more until we eventually run out of places to hide it any longer. When is it time to do something? Who should be doing something? If we push it on down the river is it really gone, or is it just creating a problem that our children's children will deal with later? Jesus said this, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:40. My interpretation, if we pollute or don't respond to pollution we aren't responding to God's creation which in essence is God. If we walk by indifferent to all injustice, hiding it hoping no one sees it, or even pushing it on down the line for someone else to deal with it, then we too are disregarding the commandments that we have been given by which to live. Jesus asked, “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" If we know what our brother needs and he is asking for it, and we don't respond are we not guilty? If we see injustice whether we are directly a part of it or not, do we get a pass on stopping it or being a part of the solution to stop it? Or if we ignore it because we aren't to blame for it, are we not giving our grandchildren a snake when they need a fish? 

     You have to decide, I can't decide for you, but keep the words of the theologian John Wesley in mind, "What one generation tolerates, the next generation will embrace". Or should we keep more in mind the words of political philosopher Pete Singer as he woefully proclaimed, "What one generation finds ridiculous, the next accepts; and the third shudders when it looks back on what the first did." The questions you must ponder are which generation are you living in today and what role will you play in making things right?

Coach Carter