Published May 13, 2008 by

Distorted petrol price perspectives

“Prayer is the answer to every problem in life. We call on God to intervene in the lives of the selfish, greedy people who are keeping these prices high,” Twyman said on the forecourt of the petrol station in a neighbourhood of Washington that, like many of its residents, has seen better days.

“Lord, the prices at this pump have gone up since last week. We know that you are able, that you have all the power in the world,” he prayed, before former beauty queen Rashida Jolley led the group in a modified version of the spiritual, We Shall Overcome.

“We’ll have lower gas prices, we’ll have lower gas prices,” they sang.

At the weekend, Twyman had led a group of around 200 people in prayer at pumps in San Francisco, where petrol is nearing $US4 a gallon (3.8 litres).

What a freaking crock.

Meanwhile…

Cyclonic death in Burma and earthquakes in China.

Christianity Social Justice

Death petrol prices suffering

Published May 9, 2008 by

Contagious suffering

I think we in the West are all rather good at this whole avoidance thing.

Avoidance to suffering that is. We are skittish when it comes to grief, to age, to disaster. Because it amplifies that we are a) ignorant b) negligent c) tightfisted. There may be some generosity when it comes to disaster but I truly wonder how it balances out comparing to the frequent self-serving purchases we make to satisfy our own deep-shallow holes?

I stopped reading the papers a couple years back (past that now) because it was all too much – that was after I asked God for a bit more awareness around being compassionate… that’s one way to shut of the stream.

I was tempted to turn the news off tonight, because it was too full on.
I’m dragging out going to see my grandpa at the hospital, because I know things will hit home when I do.

I’m am as at fault as any.

It seems to be the visibility of suffering that evokes this fear… perhaps we think we can catch it?

Then perhaps we should be trying catch it?

Christianity

suffering