The Smell of Indifference

Gangrene.  

Working in the hospital I saw people infected with this potentially deadly condition.  But before I saw it, I often smelled it.  

The death of tissues does not look pretty and it certainly doesn’t smell like roses.  Ask anyone who has worked with, lived with or loved someone who has suffered from this odorous malady and they will tell you it is not appealing. 

I contend that indifference is a form of gangrene eating at our nation’s citizens.  It’s not hard to spot if you simply open your eyes to see or take a deep breath of the toxic air called tolerance that is polluting our society.  

Gangrene.  Nasty stuff.  

But here’s the thing…it doesn’t have to be deadly!

Curing gangrene takes aggressive treatment.  Depending on the extent of damage, treatment can involve debridement, antibiotics, vascular surgery, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and possibly even amputation.  Death of the individual does not have to occur.  But it takes awareness of the situation.  One cannot ignore the problem or hope for the best.  

Trust me, I have seen people who have tried those methods and it hasn’t ended well.

So how does America treat the gangrene epidemic eating at her tissues?  

I purpose it will take a Variety of treatments…but it all begins with acknowledging the countless forms of indifference in our own lives.

Watching the news, does it bother you when you hear of violence and death or does it not affect you because you feel safe?

When you hear stories of people who are swindled out of money, what emotions do you feel…or don’t you feel?

As you watch reality TV and you see people acting one step above brute beasts, what do you think?

Passing a homeless person on the street, do you even see them?

If you see a car broke down on the side of the road, do you stop to help?

When you hear of wars, bombings, beheadings and riots do you think to yourself, ‘good thing that’s not happening here’?

All these are forms of indifference.

Indifference must end!

WE MUST START CARING ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORS!

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[There is no commandment greater than these.”Mark 12:30-31

Being aware is the first step to recovery.  

More aggressive treatment will be required.  Amputations may need to be made. Pain will be felt.  But without treatment, it is certain death will come.

Questions: 

Do you agree with my diagnosis of gangrene in our country? Give examples of why you agree or disagree.    

What treatments would you recommend to help our nation heal?    

What are some examples of how we can “love our neighbor”?