Why Let Death Damper My Fun in the Sun?
Posted in Once I Was a Kansas Girl and tagged with America, Christianity, Europe, Happiness, Hell, Selfishness on August 15, 2008Did you catch the story a few weeks ago that happened on a beach in Italy? A couple of Roma (Gypsy) girls drowned, and while their bodies were still on the beach covered with beach towels, sunbathers continued enjoying the sun nearby as if nothing happened.
This story struck me for two reasons. First off, the fact that these were Roma girls means something. I heard a national talk show host talking about this story, and he glossed right over this fact, clearly not understanding the history behind it. Gypsies have been a despised people in Europe for hundreds of years, and have been subject to enslavement and ethnic cleansing. Because of the discrimination they face, they often are seen begging and often travel from place to place. Though I don’t know that the sunbathers knew that the girls who drowned were Roma, it certainly seems likely considering the reports say that they had been begging prior to getting into the water.
Secondly, the response of the Italian sunbathers to the death of those around them was a sharp reminder to me that I all too often take this attitude towards the spiritual death of those around me. Like those sunbathers, I have fun and pursue my own interests, not letting the thought that those around me are actually dying dampen my day of fun in the sun.
American Christianity is really good at this. We spend our money on Christian trinkets and read the latest self-help books with a Christian veneer trying to learn how to be happy. How easy it is to forget that my own happiness is not my reason for being here!
This story has spurred me on to try to be more purposeful in everything I do. May God open my eyes to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of those He has placed in my path, and may He give me what I need to address them.
August 15th, 2008 at 7:37 am
I missed that story, but did you hear about the man that got ran over and no one helped for several minutes? And the woman up in NYC that died in the waiting room of the psych hospital? It just seems that no matter where, people are growing insensitive to the needs of people around them.
Great post and reminder!
August 15th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Thanks for stopping by my blog today! I’ll be back to visit yours again! Seems like you have a great, unique perspective!
August 16th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
I had not heard of this story – then again, I don’t have cable, so I don’t hear a lot of news.
Your take on things is interesting…and I think very true. Apathetic…I think that’s what we’ve become as Christians as a whole. (Certainly not everyone because I’ve met some really Christ-filled Christians)…but as a whole…yeah, that’s us. Perhaps that’s why we’re scrutinized so strongly in the secular media?
August 16th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
You know…I have to say that I really appreciate your honest and heartfelt blog here. It takes some huevos to speak the truth like this in a public forum! I love meeting someone who is willing to stand up and talk about God in a possitive and encouraging way!
hi-d