Chaplain: On the one-dimensional consumer lens

’Tis spring cleaning and garage sale season. Items are sold or donated that no longer serve us. Good deals are aplenty.

The way of life during the 1920s began to change for Americans. One pronounced way was a rise in wages which paired well with the Industrial Revolution’s increase in machine-made products. More stores and financial opportunities also became available.

Buying goods for the home, shop and lifestyle moved from a chore to an adventure as options increased. Many other changes have occurred in the last 100 years, whereby our relationships have become more transactional. Transactions are more about fairness and less about forgiveness, compassion, kindness, mercy, grace and sometimes even honesty.

A consumer-minded person says: “Did you get what you paid for?” and “Did you get a good deal?” or “What will you have to give up?”

Time is viewed as an investment and too much time is costly. When considering the cost of a relationship, purchase or hobby, at least a 50/50 transaction is expected. If it goes above or below, then it wasn’t fair. If we get more, or a valuable item for less, well then, we are the winner and the seller is the loser — not a fair, beneficent exchange.

In today’s marketplace, the consumer usually has the upper hand, for options are many, and if not satisfied there, you will go elsewhere.

I wonder what it would be like if the multi-dimensional rich, spiritual strengths of grace, mercy, and forgiveness had an equal footing along with fairness in our relationships?  What would our response be like if someone didn’t get our order exactly how we ordered it?

Reaching into our spiritual bank to give mercy deposits, credits that might not be immediately evident.

I have seen grace extended at many American Legion events in ways that let me know spiritual values of honoring purpose and respect remain. When practicing grace, trusting the outcome is not in our hands, but our response is.

How we treat others when the consumer lens is not worn says everything about our character, as their character is not in demand to produce the same result. Let God be the final judge of another’s character.

Kelley Ackerman of Pine Island Post 184 is the chaplain for The American Legion Department of Minnesota.