[August 1998 journal entry]
The following thoughts stem from a breakfast discussion with a small group of young physicians re ‘freedom from affluence’.
- ‘Affluence’ -- a Latin combination that means ‘to flow toward’ -- is a danger, a risk (e.g., false security, isolation/insulation, disrespect toward others, prejudice, exploitation).
- Education, gender, ethnicity, intelligence, health, . . . weave into the formation and expression of affluence.
- ‘Jesus’ claims to experience and to be pointing to what is authentic affluence (i.e., a way of being that is ‘blessed’).
- How ‘free’ from affluence must I be to maintain my integrity? – e.g., sufficiently free to be grateful, to give indiscriminate attention to the human situation, and to accept accountability.
- I continue to find value in Liberation Theologians’ ‘hermeneutic suspicion’ re the perspectives/interpretations of the affluent.
- It is ironic that promoting education, work, and culture assigns value to being affluent.
- At what level should one’s lifestyle, hopes, and goals be set beyond which unrestrained generosity is expressed and below which self-defense and survival dominate?
- ‘Jesus’ -- in Sermon on the Mount type guidance -- calls for a way of being that leads to devaluing material possessions and reprioritizing values.
- I intend to be free from a ‘high maintenance’ disposition toward and experience with material possessions.
- I must overcome affluent habits that keep me from respecting a poor person.
- To promote education is to promote at least some meanings of ‘affluence’.
- Having long-range vision/goals is a privilege of the affluent.
