It is one of the most perennial of sounds — children playing gleefully in a park. They romp and run, and screech, and cry — all without restraint — they are totally free. Soon, however, that liberty becomes significantly curtailed. We must be educated in the ways of the world, and in the values of our community.
Now that there is virtually no religious upbringing in public schools, the secular culture is doing most of the training, and the results are not pretty. We are unhappy and lost — rife, unbridled consumerism has replaced the gods or God in our lives. (1) But even more telling, we are not purchasing products to enhance the quality of life, to improve our aesthetic understanding of the universe, but simple to buy for the sake of buying.
To further magnify this egregious point: a piece of newly purchased clothing is only worn seven times before it is discarded. (2) Against this backdrop we have the alarming realization that young people no longer want children. But are we surprised? One of the core traits of religious study is a demand that you look at yourself and your place in society and the beyond. This inquiry allows us to question what is, not just accept it.
Children afford all thoughtful people a chance to improve humanity through their progeny — to be better, so to speak, than their parents. It is a restatement of history to note that a lack of population is part of what collapsed the Roman Empire. To keep its economy growing, Rome invited strange people to cross its frontier. (3) Their children had very different values than the indigenous ones, ultimately destroying the Latin world.
Yes, children are a gift to the betterment of man. Having and raising loving and well-adjusted beings, however, is difficult. But it is not a challenge that should be dismissed lightly. The future of our civilization depends on these citizens of the future. The eminent politician, Mitt Romney, (4) leaves us with a thought: My mother and father gave their children the best endowment of all – the endowment of unlimited love. They thought profoundly about who we would be, and substantially less about what we would do.
A closing thought: We live in interesting times. Our age will undoubtedly be viewed as a transitional period — but where are we going as a species? The family has always been an intrinsic element of humanity. It provides the first line of defense against the chaos of life by giving us its warmth and moral principles. Without healthy and happy children our extended family will never grow, never ameliorate. There will be no new Enlightenment. (5) They provide us with the unsullied imagination to solve the dilemmas of modern times. And in the final analysis, the greatest blessing children provide is that they give us hope for a positive and dynamic future.
To sum up: This week, we spoke about children and their value to our civilization.
To be noted: From Voltaire (6) — God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.
Just for fun:
For reflection:
This week, on your introspective walk, please ponder what family means to you.
Every day look for something magical and beautiful.
Don’t be a wage slave – critical thinking is great!
Quote: Young people give us inspiration.
Footnotes:
1) Why are young people so miserable?
2) How Many Times Do We Wear Our Clothes? (Not Enough!)
3) Immigration: How ancient Rome dealt with the Barbarians at the gate
4) Mitt Romney