The "Entitlement" Trap

I'm not a huge fan of Oprah's. For those of you who know me well, you are probably chuckling, remembering the times I've called her the anti-Christ. Not because of anything she has done, but because of the power that people have given her: if Oraph says read it....you read it, if Oprah says eat it....you eat it.....
I personally don't believe anyone but God should have such power. But while I was taking my usual vacation after the holiday insanity at The Way Station, I found myself bored and watching Oprah one afternoon and (God forgive me), I liked what I heard.
The episode was about a woman who had tried desperately to get pregnant, going through all of the tests and things that people do for a long time. Then lo and behold, she and her husband conceived and gave birth to a beautiful baby boy for which they were extremely grateful to God.
When he was two, they decided to take a little trip via a commuter plane. The plane crashed, instantly killing the baby she had so longed for and rejoiced over. A week later, her husband died.
The thing that this woman said to Oprah is what really got me. She said she had this thought that if she did everything right, was good, being a good Christian, that God would just bless her and give her all she wanted and nothing bad would ever happen to her.
She realizes now that that isn't how it works. No matter how good we are or bad we are, good things and bad things will happen in our lives. She now lives each day, grateful for the life God has given her, no matter what the day brings.
She had felt an "entitlement".
I deserve good things because I'm a good person.But life isn't like that. Good and bad things happen to good and bad people alike.
I am beginning to see that alot of this comes from the mentality of the country we live in and the times we were born into.
Early on in the 20th century, our country went through some terrible times. WWI, the dust bowl, the great depression, WWII. When we came out of all of these things, I think our country said what I've heard many people say when they experience a hard life: "I'll never let my children suffer like I did."
So we created this world. "Utopia and greed" is how I heard comedian Mort Sol put it.
The suburbs, where everything was neat and clean and looked perfect. No more messes. Think about television in the fifties and sixties. The perfect families who's trials and tribulations lasted a half an hour and were fixed and cured, tied in a pretty bow at the end.
"Father's Knows Best", "The Donna Reed Show", "Leave It To Beaver", ect. We grew up watching these shows, believing that this was how life should be.
If we're good, everything will be "swell". (Isn't that right, Tommy?)
But, what if there's another world. A world where there is trouble that lasts more than a half an hour. Sometimes going on for days, weeks, months, years, even. Does this mean we've been bad? We don't deserve anything good, so this will be our lives?
Is life about what we deserve?
What about our country....now?
"Recession", "downsizing", "bailouts".
The pain and hurt is hitting everyone. Not just bad people, but people who have worked hard all of their lives and now for what?
Maybe we're just thinking about it all wrong.
My husband and I attended a class last year called "Getting Ahead In a Just Getting By World". I think it speaks for itself. It was an excellent time of encouragement and relationships.
One night, the instructor asked "What do you think you should change in your life."
My husband's answer surprised and embarrassed me. But now I see the wisdom in it.
Instead of saying "I think I need a new job," or "I think we should move into a smaller home", "Maybe I should go back to school," or some such thing, he said:
"I think I need to learn to adjust the way I live to my income."
WHAT?
Come on! We need MORE income! I was silently appalled. I think the instructor was a bit speechless. I mean, the whole idea of the class is to "get ahead". Not adjust!
But the truth is, look at what is going on. People who have great jobs are losing them. People with degrees coming out the wazoo can't find employment.
Companies are shutting down and it doesn't matter whether you work in the mail room or the you're the CEO, it's only a matter of time until you're knocked down financially....which in this country effects everything!
So? What if we don't let it effect everything? What if being poor was "swell"?
What if you were financially struggling and thriving.
What if I learned to adjust to not just my financial income, but my emotional, mental, physical and spiritual challenges and somehow I thrived; I was grateful for the life that God gave me no matter what that life was like....easy or hard or painful or mournful.
I do not want my life circumstances to have the power to change me into someone I don't like. Someone negative. Someone fearful. Someone discouraging.
I want to emulate the Spirit of God. Peace, Thankfulness, Love, Graciousness, Kindness.....no matter what piece of "poo" gets thrown in my direction.
I don't want to fall into the trap that I'm entitled to be bitter because life has gotten tough or painful.
And yet.....yet....
I am such an incredible weenie.
I'm human and flawed.
Please pray for me that I could "adjust my life to match my income", whatever that "incoming" is.