Faith Meets Life: Olympic achievers and the influence of the poor
Most of us find mild satisfaction in owning the latest communication technology. It isn't just because the technology itself is interesting. Owning the latest devices lets others know that we are always available to do more, that we are in demand, and that we are ready to engage others to get things done - in short, that we are achievers, ready to multi-task at a moment's notice.
Our society places a high value on achieving. A little while ago I watched the movie, The Pursuit of Happyness. Set in an American city, it makes assumptions about the high value of achievement — that hard work is the path to the fulfillment of our dreams.
Today, the Olympics brings to the fore our society's valuation of achievement. For two weeks we are showering glory on the athletes who, at great cost to themselves and to all Canadians (through tax-supported training), dazzle us with their athletic prowess.
In contrast, there is the classic Christian notion that God has a special interest in the poor, the weak and the vulnerable. Jesus famously taught that the “poor,” the “meek,” and the “humble,” will inherit the earth.
The 19th century philosopher, Fredrick Nietzsche - also famously, but not quite as famously - lampooned this teaching as a celebration of mediocrity and failure. He argued for the formation of the “superman” who would be above this sort of “debilitating and pathetic” Christian ethic. An argument, in one form or another, not lost on Adolph Hitler and other modern despots.
Jean Vanier differs. In a recent book, called Living Gently in a Violent World, he describes his success in the British navy and then as a scholar earning a PhD in philosophy. Yet, Vanier says, after all that his knowledge was “pretty limited!” He learned most of what he considers valuable from the disabled and through inter-religious conversation as he has befriended the poor around the world.
Recently people from the church in which I work cooperated with people from other nearby churches. The circle of cooperation grew to include local visual artists and musicians, some of them Christians and others not. We put together a multi-arts coffee house to raise support for Haiti relief. For our town it was a great success. Over 100 people came. Over $1,000 was raised and matched by the government.
One of the things I love telling about this event is how it started. I was leaving a coffee shop one morning when Carl, a former street person who has been sheltered by our churches, approached me. He said, “Hey, we have to get together and do something for Haiti.” After I emailed a few people about what Carl had said our cooperative venture started to come together.
This week, Olympic athletes will continue to receive their gold, silver and bronze. Great for them, and great that people can come together from all over the planet to compete. I suspect though that there are many other events going on in our communities that involve the poor, disabled and otherwise marginalized that contribute even more to the life-blood of our society.
We can learn some things from the athlete-celebrities whose images are everywhere this week. But if God has a special place in his heart for people in trouble then, as Jean Vanier suggests, we non-“disabled” can learn even more from them.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
Our society places a high value on achieving. A little while ago I watched the movie, The Pursuit of Happyness. Set in an American city, it makes assumptions about the high value of achievement — that hard work is the path to the fulfillment of our dreams.
Today, the Olympics brings to the fore our society's valuation of achievement. For two weeks we are showering glory on the athletes who, at great cost to themselves and to all Canadians (through tax-supported training), dazzle us with their athletic prowess.
In contrast, there is the classic Christian notion that God has a special interest in the poor, the weak and the vulnerable. Jesus famously taught that the “poor,” the “meek,” and the “humble,” will inherit the earth.
The 19th century philosopher, Fredrick Nietzsche - also famously, but not quite as famously - lampooned this teaching as a celebration of mediocrity and failure. He argued for the formation of the “superman” who would be above this sort of “debilitating and pathetic” Christian ethic. An argument, in one form or another, not lost on Adolph Hitler and other modern despots.
Jean Vanier differs. In a recent book, called Living Gently in a Violent World, he describes his success in the British navy and then as a scholar earning a PhD in philosophy. Yet, Vanier says, after all that his knowledge was “pretty limited!” He learned most of what he considers valuable from the disabled and through inter-religious conversation as he has befriended the poor around the world.
Recently people from the church in which I work cooperated with people from other nearby churches. The circle of cooperation grew to include local visual artists and musicians, some of them Christians and others not. We put together a multi-arts coffee house to raise support for Haiti relief. For our town it was a great success. Over 100 people came. Over $1,000 was raised and matched by the government.
One of the things I love telling about this event is how it started. I was leaving a coffee shop one morning when Carl, a former street person who has been sheltered by our churches, approached me. He said, “Hey, we have to get together and do something for Haiti.” After I emailed a few people about what Carl had said our cooperative venture started to come together.
This week, Olympic athletes will continue to receive their gold, silver and bronze. Great for them, and great that people can come together from all over the planet to compete. I suspect though that there are many other events going on in our communities that involve the poor, disabled and otherwise marginalized that contribute even more to the life-blood of our society.
We can learn some things from the athlete-celebrities whose images are everywhere this week. But if God has a special place in his heart for people in trouble then, as Jean Vanier suggests, we non-“disabled” can learn even more from them.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
