breathe free and snicker

Sunday September 19th, Amos 8: 4 Hear this, you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land, 5 saying, "When will the New Moon be over that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?" It has been interesting to watch this being played out in such grand proportions lately. We have see the very large and arrogant beg for bailouts and then maneuver for buyouts and bonuses. The intent was for a stabilized economy and jobs, the result, a continued crumbling economic outlook and company closings with everyone except a few at the top standing there with the pockets empty. To the denizens of Wall Street and “K” street I draw you attention to verse seven. May it open your eyes to the destruction around you. Amos reminds us, we have been down this road before, it has been trod by every major empire in history shortly before they fell. And it will be heard again because that is the way of human nature, while most are content with community there are those few who quest for quantity and control. In the end they lose, as do we, by their winning. What bothers me is how their victims seem to cheer them on. The cynic in me says it is because deep down inside we may find the desire within ourselves to be able to look down on the huddled masses yearning to breathe free and snicker just a bit at their plight. The theologian voice says it is because we are all at the same time saint and sinner. The synthesis tells me it is something we must all guard against within ourselves as we look to the Lord for guidance each and every day and forgiveness along the way.