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Friday, November 26, 2004
Making the World a Nicer Place From Which to Go to Hell
Years ago I heard a sermon, part of which was a heap of scorn laid at the feet of those who spend their lives making things better here on earth. "All those people do is to make this a nicer place from which to go to hell," quoth the minister. "Better they should work to change the minds of those around them who are making the world bad and ugly. Fix the hearts of the bad guys and the conditions which are made miserable by bad guys' badness will automatically improve and stay better." Well, you can't argue against that. No. You can't. Not unless you call merely spouting drivel an argument. I, personally, can argue endlessly for or against every possible side of every issue, and I can't argue against that thinking, so you can't either. The man was right. ON THE OTHER HAND... the efforts of do-gooders may not add anyone to God's Kingdom, but I like them. I would rather live in a community of do-gooders than in a place where people like that don't roost. For example, what possible difference does it make whether a neighborhood contains a few individuals who pester the rest about property upkeep, issue warnings and issue award citations, get ordinances passed that make junky properties expensive to own? Aren't those characters just wasting their lives annoying the slobs of their world? Probably, but they're OK with me. As a matter of fact, I have two home-owners upon whom I wish them to turn their attention. Yes, in even this ratty, flea-bitten ghetto there is a self-appointed homeowner committee which issues nasty letters to those who fail to cut the grass on time. Without them, weedy refuse-strewn yards would be everywhere I look. Although their strictures do not have the force of law, no one likes to get a cut-your-grass letter. So there they are, whoever they are, making pests of themselves, wallowing in self-importance, taking pictures of ugly yards, sending out mean letters; I bet they are a pain-in-the-backside bunch of bossy bozos. I like them, though. They aren't getting anybody to heaven, but this area could look a lot worse...and no doubt would, without do-gooders. For all I know, they may not even believe in God and so would not be candidates for the job of regenerating the hearts and minds of their generation. Hey, they might live, die and splash into hell like a frog in a pond, but in that case it would be a deal like Martha Stewart in jail...the hell improvement committee. No, I know that isn't funny but I'm just saying...there's something to be said for do-gooders. And this was it.
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