"I must live in His presence, commune with Him continuously and seek to know His mind. Unless I have seen something there with God, I have nothing to say here to men. May the Lord be merciful to us that we may forever live before God and fear Him."
- Watchman Nee, Spiritual Authority
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Okay, so today at UMHB is an event I think is called "Sole to Soul", where you are supposed to not wear shoes.
Why? It wasn't really made clear. Something about people over in another country, far far away, not having shoes.
Does it matter? Of course not. But you better not wear shoes today, or else you hate people who don't have shoes, right?
Sigh.
Needless to say, I wore shoes today. I just DON'T UNDERSTAND this stuff.
Firstly, if I'm going to support something, I need to know what it is. Who are these people? Are we just giving a generic "shout out" to people who don't have shoes? Do they have a name, so I can pray for them? Or is there some kind of organization that I can give money to so they can have shoes? Is not wearing shoes for a day really that sacrificial? I think even more so would be to challenge everyone on this campus to give up their favorite pair of shoes for someone else who doesn't have any.
But I'm conflicted; my first reaction is to react like I just did, difficult and stubborn. But I do like balance. Where's the balance here?
To say that people who are wearing shoes today hate people who don't have shoes is just as bad as saying that people who aren't wearing shoes today are ignorant, conforming, and don't really genuinely care.
What's your opinion on this stuff? I'm approaching this from a state of disillusionment with "raising awareness". I feel like it's not very effective. But, it's easy. I don't want to go with easy. I want to go with challenging and sacrificial. I want to be challenged to pray every day for 30 days for a country, or to give up some of my favorite things so someone can have enough money to go overseas and reach these people. Is it too unfair for me to say that people who participate in easy "awareness-raising" activities don't actually care? I want SO badly to be able to say that, mostly because it's easy to conform to. All you have to do is not wear shoes and you are loving people! But Love needs to cost me something. Is this not a legitimate problem with today's society, that we want the greatest benefit for the smallest cost? The smallest cost-to-benefit ratio, if you will? Isn't this completely backwards from the Kingdom Jesus proclaimed? Did He not say that to find your life, you have to lose it?
To be fair, I doubt any of this is running through anyone's mind on campus right now.
I think this is a problem of mine: I read way too much into simple ideas/actions based on problems I see with society as a whole, thus making me slightly dramatic at times.
But at the same time, I feel like at least SOME of my point is valid.
So tell me the truth - is what I'm saying true at all, or should I just give it a rest?
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Comments on "Conflicted":
2. Andrew
- 03/04/2010 6:17 pm CST
I'm with you, though I've softened a tad (a TAD!) to the whole "raising awareness" movement. One of the problems with doling out foreign aid is just the fact that we don't know who needs the aid. And, over time, it does seep into the public consciousness. To give a small example, the other day in class, one of our professors asked us, "What is the number one killer of American women?" Several people immediately shouted out "Breast cancer!" Actually, the answer was heart disease (which is also the number one killer of men), but the pink ribbon campaigns and such are so imbedded in our consciousness, that it was just the first thing that came to everyone's mind. And, in the last two decades, great strides have been made fighting breast cancer. People are more likely to help if they are informed about the issue.
That said, the walk without shoes thing seems pretty stupid. I wouldn't have worn shoes either. And if you don't even know who it's being done for, they aren't doing a very good job of "raising awareness." 
3. Dad
- 03/04/2010 8:38 pm CST
I'm with you, Molly. It's not that it's bad to do these things. It does some good. But I think people feel like they're "really doing something" when, really, the cost was minimal and was more than made up for by the feeling of moral accomplishment that often times far outstrips any good that was actually done.
I loved your idea of doing a "shoe drive" - to get people to donate shoes. That's more concrete (assuming there are cost effective ways of actually getting the shoes to the people who need them).
4. Zach
- 03/05/2010 4:53 pm CST
I'm glad I'm not the only one annoyed when there are "raising awareness" things where no one tells you what you are raising awareness for!
I like your idea of giving up your favorite pair of shoes to people who have none instead of just not wearing them once. You should talk to someone on campus about how to organize something like that. Assuming, like mr bill said, there is a cost effective way to get the shoes to them. (otherwise you could find a local homeless shelter?)
anyway, good thoughts, molly!
5. UMHB_Student
- 03/20/2010 10:53 pm CDT
Hey,
I don't know if the publicity was just not adequate and the people promoting did not explain the purpose but sole 2 soul was more than just "raising awareness".
Soul 2 Sole started last spring and the purpose was two fold: to raise awareness of people who are less fortunate but more concretely in the sub and at hardy there was a donation table set up where a person could donate $10 to hope for the hungry for the children at the orphanages in Haiti. The idea to wear no shoes was sort of an advertisement. For example say you had no shoes on and some one asked you why you could say " well I am wearing no shoes to remember the orphans in haiti and you can actually help provide them with shoes for a donation of $10"
This year in light of the earthquake I don't think they were using the money for shoes but instead relief efforts. So the event had a purpose even though it was I guess not clearly communicated.
Although I do agree in general there needs to actions to personally help people that you are "advocating" for by "raising awareness"
Leave a Comment:
I totally get you on this! We do have to show grace and realize we usually don't know the whole story, or also realize that pointing out others' wrongs can be Pharisaical, so like you said, there does need to be a balance.
But it reminds me of that facebook update thing with women's bra colors "to raise awareness of breast cancer." That's stupid. At best, it reminded women of a disease that kills, which they probably needed no reminder of in the first place; at worst, it made men picture women in that various shade of bra. It irritated me no end, so I'm like you, I think. Put the name of a beloved woman who had breast cancer as your status - that's much more poignant.
Oh wait - that has nothing to do with your post. :) Yes, if there is no sacrifice, it does nothing. Now I'm done. :)