Or Un

Every child learns to say, “That’s not fair.”
Parents say, “It’s time for bed.” “That’s not fair.”
“Eat your vegetables.” “That’s not fair.”
“It’s time to stop.” “That’s not fair.”
“Give it to your brother.” “That’s not fair.”
Or are kids hardwired for a sense of fairness, at least so, when it suits their needs?

Eventually every parent replies, “Honey, life’s not fair.” It’s true. Life’s not fair, but it’s hard for a child to understand that. Adults accept that life’s unfair, but we don’t like it.

The scriptures say God gives sunlight to both the evil and the good, and sends rain equally on the just and on the unjust, too. Everybody gets rain, or drought, wind or storm, equally. It doesn’t matter who you are. Is that fairness?

Maybe the rain falls equally, but that is where divine fairness stops. Charles Bowen wrote, “The rain it raineth on the just, And also on the unjust fella: But chiefly on the just, because, the unjust steals the just's umbrella.”

If life were fair, then equal hard work would result in equal reward; the wicked would suffer, and goodness would triumph. The unjust would get wet in a cold rainstorm, and the just would be warm and dry. Instead, the depraved prosper, and the honest don’t stand much of a chance. Is it any wonder then that when the greedy cause a fiscal mess, and are rewarded for their failures, that the people simmer in anger?

Let’s Pray: Dear God, take vengeance from our hearts. Instead give us justice. Amen.

Today’s Thought Is: “Nothing is just, the unjust man proclaimed, or un the just rejoined.” ee cummings

Sources:

Poem attributed to Lord Charles Bowen (1835-1894)
Matthew 5:45
Poem by ee cummings