Unintended Consequences

September 9, 2012

One of the grand principles of the universe is that, “for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Whether it be physical, mental, or spiritual the principle holds true. One of our homes when I was a child was just off the corner of 12^th Street and camelback Road in Phoenix. My father purchased a property with a two-bedroom home, and two small rental homes. This reaction was precipitated by a work accident in which he severely injured his arm and head and was unable to continue working as a carpenter (one of his many occupations).  Soon after we moved there, he found a government auction selling government apartments. He purchased eight units, had the units cut so each unit had two apartments, moved them onto footings on the property, restored them and after significant pressure from neighbors, city government, etc. rented all the units and moved forward with raising our family. My mother was always in the thick of things, working like a mule, first to restore the units and make them rentable; then continuing by cleaning, renting, and taking care of all the other necessities. To be just a little political, it makes me feel real uncomfortable when people are unable, or unwilling to participate in their own “opposite and equal reaction.

I can’t help but be just a little incredulous as I hear stories of people who give up on spiritual or physical things just because can’t see the point. When a person stops working because they, “just aren’t being fulfilled”, or when someone decides that God is mean and/or doesn’t exist, the “opposite and equal reactions profound. In the first scenario, people have three basic choices; make something happen, give up eating and other necessities, or go for the dole. Fulfillment is often in the eye of the beholder and will never be satisfied because each time we cross over the fence for greener pastures our eyes quickly reveal the truth that it really isn’t any better. Contrary to what might be bantered around welfare is no picnic and the taste must be acquired over a long period of time. If one is particularly interested in seeing long-term servitude to public assistance, Aldus Huxley’s, Brave New World, the travesty of the American Native programs, and the horrific spectacle of America’s millions on public assistance.

The story about my father and mother is not unique. I have personally known hundreds, if not thousands of people who have found themselves out of work, physical/mental capacity, or lacking in spiritual knowledge and faith. For the legions who have made the equal and opposite reaction happen by hard work, prayerful decision making, and creative management of the future, success has been sweet and powerful. Have they all returned from the horrors of lost jobs, security, income, and faith the first time out of the box? No, but they just kept trying, praying, and working together to make the leap of faith to better futures. Those who determined to go without physiological needs soon found their fate to be one of starvation, servitude to the welfare systems, or returning to the agony of employment.

Easy? Not even close! Possible; absolutely.