But I’m fighting back fear as I watch it collapse.
Years ago, I read a book called Rogue Economics about our economy of consumerism based on unsustainable and unethical systems. The author predicts that global capitalism will eventually collapse and I’ve been thinking about this as I go around my house touching things and thinking, “What if I can’t buy that any more?”
Vitamins, makeup, junk clothing, Chinese-made electronics, cheap plastic toys, Frank’s Famous Red Hot Sauce?? Could I live without the things that were shipped to me from afar if the global economy collapses during the coronavirus freeze dance? Could I learn to pay the actual price of things that were made locally and adapt our buying habits as a result?
The thing is, I don’t even like consumerism. Deep down, we all know what international trading does to Mother Earth but watching it all crash and burn is terrifying and painful.
I feel like one of those sandwich board freaks who yells about calamity as spiritual vengeance. I know that’s nuts but don’t you sometimes wonder: Is Mother Earth shutting down globalism because she’s tired of being abused by our piggish consumerism?
I’m not saying that is the case. I don’t think Mother Nature is a person that put coronavirus on us to give herself a break, although she will get a break now from things like needless commuting polluting the air and single-serve plastic items from sporting events and conferences.
But what if the astrologers are right and there are positive lessons for all of us to learn from this? Not as a punishment but as an opportunity! What if the most destructive systems collapse for good and better new ones take their place? What if we build a better world from this scorched earth instead of going back to our inefficiencies? What if we learn to live more simply off of our local economies? Wouldn’t that be something?
I am trying to cling to this as I face the anxiety about weeks inside and a crashing economy. You never know what blessings a painful time can lead towards. I once again refer to the Chinese proverb about the man, his son, and his horse. The story goes like this:
Sāi Wēng lived on the border and he raised horses for a living. One day, he lost one of his prized horses. After hearing of the misfortune, his neighbor felt sorry for him and came to comfort him. But Sāi Wēng simply asked, “How could we know it is not a good thing for me?”
After a while, the lost horse returned and with another beautiful horse. The neighbor came over again and congratulated Sāi Wēng on his good fortune. But Sāi Wēng simply asked, “How could we know it is not a bad thing for me?”
One day, his son went out for a ride with the new horse. He was violently thrown from the horse and broke his leg. The neighbors once again expressed their condolences to Sāi Wēng, but Sāi Wēng simply said, “How could we know it is not a good thing for me?”
One year later, the Emperor’s army arrived at the village to recruit all able-bodied men to fight in the war. Because of his injury, Sāi Wēng’s son could not go off to war, and was spared from certain death.
We are in a scary time but we have to avoid calling it “good” or “bad” since we simply don’t know what we are being pointed towards. We can only take it one day at a time. Do you have food today? Do you have fresh air today? Do you have love in your life today? I suspect we are made of much heartier stock than the Target economy would have us believe and maybe we are about to find that out for certain.
I’m holding to these thoughts to fend off the fear. I hope they offer you some hope too.
