Humanity is like an ocean, a great sea, or in our microcosmic experiences of corporate management and labor, media, organizations, churches, schools, family, friends, and neighborhoods more like a collective pool. Pushing the metaphor: everyone “in the pool” shares the same water and is co-dependent upon that water. If any one chooses to pollute, all are hurt somewhat and the composite effect is the overall negative contamination of the pool. This we do by our collective and individual daily choices. Maturity should bring social responsibility to keep the pool clean.
Our precious children haven’t the political voice to control or legislate the barrage of immoral influences actually aimed at them through products, images, advertisements, and role models more of polluters than cleansers. Naïve and gullible by nature, just as their ancestors, children of the communication era are born without media filtering devices in their brains or even the skills to avoid immorality. Sadly, far too many follow, imitate, and internalize the impurities poured into their water. Disrespect, selfishness, promiscuity, and cruelty are broadcast and marketed to them 24-7-52. The kids see pathetic adult examples of corruption, greed, sexual perversion, drug abuse, corporate and individual crime, cheating, stealing, and global pollution. They see; on their home TVs and on channel one—every morning in the public schools—their own respected and evolved society, through its government: killing, destroying, controlling and conquering other societies.
What does this do to the simple, young, and innocent that may not perceive or comprehend the pollution that they swim (drown) in? In time they may learn about: theology, philosophy, democracy, the bill-of rights, capitalism, corporations; and the complexities of international economics that collectively cause, and then cleverly defend their part of the pollution. As they become educated and aware of: hypocrisy, greed, and sin; they will try to remember that maturity should bring responsibility.
Jesus, our pure gift of living water from God, entered our polluted pool to mentor us in purity and cleansing. The cross is the symbol of his sacrificial death and resurrection elevated for us to look up to from the pool. We can help or hurt the pool, our choice is “clear” if we look up in every decision that we make at home and at work.
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