Looking out for myself
I find it funny how blind people can be to their own selfishness. Selfishness is not always bad; in fact, it is at the core of our existence. Most kind acts have some kind of selfish intentions behind them. For some, they believe if they do good deeds they will have a better chance of going to heaven, whatever heaven is for them. While they may be helping someone else, the initial reason for doing the good deed is to try to get to heaven - selfish. Sure, there are some selfless, kind acts in this world. I'm just saying that if you take a look at people's true intentions, a lot of times those intentions are to help themselves.
Would I have participated in MS Walks and try to raise awareness for the cause if i didn't have the disease? No. First, I wouldn't be as aware of it, just like I'm now not as aware of all the other diseases which I don't have. But, more remarkable than that, even if I knew everything I do now about MS, I would not be as motivated to help the cause if I wasn't personally affected. I do the things I do for MS because I want to help myself. Sure, I'll be happy that others with MS also benefit. And the more I learn about MS and the more people I know with the disease, the more I see that benefit. But, the initial reason I got involved with helping to raise money and awareness for multiple sclerosis is selfish.
I don't see anything wrong with that. It's natural to look out for one's own interest and it's honest to admit it.
Comments
If greed makes the world go round, which I'm a firm believer in, I wonder of the motivations of Sister Theresa and Ghandi. Or of the select soldiers on the field as they throw themselves on grenades or into machine gun arcs. The universe is a diverse and marvelous construct where anything is possible. Even pure selflessness.
Posted by: mdmhvonpa | October 13, 2006 02:39 PM
Good point. You can see examples of selflessness throughout nature. An obvious one would be a bee who stings and gives up its life in order to protect the hive. People do the same thing - if one's child was going to get hit by a bus, the parent would instinctively jump in front to try to save the child. It is instincts - we momentarily remove consciousness from the picture and act according to the way we are programmed. Pure selflessness can arise from these instincts.
It becomes more difficult to find truly selfless acts when instincts are removed, and consciousness takes over.
Posted by: J | October 13, 2006 06:43 PM
People are suffering with MS, life is hard living with it. I help to raise money at times to find a cure because a family member has it and because many people have it. Some are in hospitals, some actively in our community and some at home.
I don't need to help to earn my way to heaven. I've learned that God has given us a free gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ, his Son. There is much factual information, however, it also takes a faith in Him.
My adult daughter has had MS since age 30, she is now 39. She has had very progressive MS. She is in a motorized wheelchair and very active in life at this time. It wasn't always like this. There were some very dark valleys. My faith in God was my anchor and sustaing factor during that time as I helped and lived with her 24/7 while she was not in the hospital.
I expect there will be dark valleys in the future. My hope is in God to continue to sustain us and get through each day without the worry and anxiety that I have on my own apart from Him. Without Him I would be a basket case and not much help.
Posted by: Sheila | November 11, 2006 04:25 PM