(In)convenience
Posted on: December 3, 2015
- In: Everyday Life | Faith | Social Justice
- Comments Off on (In)convenience
So many things are designed for our convenience:
- self-cleaning ovens, which I can appreciate, since I didn’t enjoy crawling halfway into an oven to clean it
- self-defrosting freezers, which I also like, since defrosting the freezer section of a fridge with the help of a hair dryer was less than fun
- no-iron shirts, which I like because I find ironing a shirt well is a challenge
- pre-cooked bacon, which I think takes convenience a bit too far
Our appreciation for convenience spills over into our faith lives as well. Think rosary apps and electronic versions of the Bible that let us turn commuting time into time spent with God. Or diocesan websites that help us find a time to receive the sacrament of reconciliation or a Sunday Mass to attend when we’re away from home. Or even pre-authorized giving, which means we don’t need to write a cheque or find cash for our Sunday offering envelope and we can better plan our giving.
Sometimes, though, our love of convenience can be less than a blessing to others.
Often it’s the same people who serve in multiple roles in a parish or a community organization, or who consistently volunteer at their children’s school in the classroom or on field trips, or who frequently coach or carpool for their children’s hockey or soccer or ringette team. Maybe they see a need and feel called to fill it; maybe others are reluctant to give up their time to help.
People rush to avoid holding open doors for others, refuse to let other drivers merge into traffic, or leave their shopping carts in the parking lot instead of in the cart return. Maybe they don’t want to take the time to be considerate.
People complain about the arrival of refugees or economic migrants when there are already people in need, but they lament the problem rather than contribute to the solution. Maybe it would take some time to sort through closets for items to give to clothing drives, donate a few items to the food bank bin at the grocery store, or urge politicians via e-mail or snail mail to address social justice concerns.
We need to be careful how we divide up our time so we don’t neglect our work and family responsibilities or our need to relax and recharge our batteries. We want to use our gifts well and not keep others from using theirs. But we need to recognize when we’re refusing to serve in some way—even a very small way—simply because it’s inconvenient.
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
Do not say to your neighbour, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
~Proverbs 3:27-28*
(*Scripture quotes taken from the Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition.)
A Catholic Convert in Ottawa 