3.16.2011

It is commendable to approach choosing a side of the fence with caution. You will find that both sides have good reasons and facts, so, you have a choice of which reasons and facts you want to value. This may seem a vague, idealistic thing to say but Faith is choosing to believe in something, it is not a perfect knowledge. When you apply that to something not quite as controversial as religion but still as controversial as buying organic it's simpler to see. I value supporting my community, having a well off economy, keeping my body healthy,  and taking care of the environment, but the facts and research will never give me a clear answer on the perfect way to do that. We are people and we are imperfect, corruption is rampant, but so is the clean desire to spread wellness and peace. Money, greed, and ignorance all taint the research and the established systems, but I won't use that as an excuse to dismiss the ideals that provoked me to act. Unsurity should not be an excuse for laziness. Finding this lack of black and white choices brings the danger that you'll lose the motivation to act in either direction, and possibly, failure to act is the most dangerous outcome of all. GMOs could ease world hunger, but there are incalculable risks involved. The USDA labeling system seems to be corrupt but it still insures a certain amount of quality, buying out of season fruit is a fine luxury to be enjoyed, but buying local helps your community, the economy, and the environment.  I could look at those conflicting ideals and throw my hands up in the air, bury my face in the sand, and choose ignorance, or i could act according to my knowledge. Choose to have faith, and although my knowledge is imperfect, follow through on that faith with action.
This concept has been predominant in nearly every aspect of my life lately. trying to write it as it applies to some of those aspects is overwhelming, but i feel appeased enough to fall asleep having covered this topic. 

2 comments:

Becky said...

Love these thoughts, Sarah. I'm in the thick of this too. Perhaps we will be all our lives, as it requires constant looking and adjusting and "keepin' on keepin' on"?

Anyway, thank you. I loved this.

TileFloorsHurtMyFeet said...

This is an admirable and personally productive stance to take. It always has and always will come down to balancing the conflicting values, benefits and costs of your choices. The most important thing is that you actually think about and choose to act, not simply let it passively happen to you. I am proud of you.