Fair's Fair

There are some sayings in the English language that most people agree with out of habit because they seem reasonable.  One such saying is “Fair’s fair.”  On the surface, it is a believable statement and one most would agree with, especially 8 year-olds figuring out how to divide a cookie (one breaks, the other one chooses first).  But the reality is that life is rarely that clear cut.  In education, many students need accommodations in order to succeed.  Years ago when I was studying to be a teacher, we were told many times, “Fair is not the same as even.”  Some kids need more specialized attention or adaptations to the curriculum in order to be on “the same playing field” as other kids.  Those with physical handicaps need accommodations as well, whether it is a ramp to get into a building, material in Braille in order to read or a sign language interpreter, to name a few.
While most people would agree that such sensitivities to people’s needs is the right thing to do, there is still some expectation about “fair play” when all other factors seem equal.  Unfortunately, we still have to deal with prejudices that don’t play fair at all.  Two people, one of color and one white, may have the same job and be paid different amounts.  The same is true about the salary gap between men and women. Fair is not fair.
In the Gospel lesson this week (Matthew 20:1-16), Jesus offers a parable about the kingdom of heaven that challenges all we understand about fair play.  How can those workers who don’t put in a full day’s work get paid the same amount as those who have toiled all day? In our capitalistic economy, this does not add up at all.
And it never will, because God’s economy is completely different than our understanding of fairness.  God’s economy allows an innocent man to be tortured and killed, then come back and tell us how much we are loved.  God’s economy allows for a worker who labors for an hour or two to be just as blessed as the one who labors 8 or 10 hours. 
The analogy is that regardless of how long one is a believer, the reward is exactly the same.  There is no caste system in heaven, with life-long believers getting “more” than those who have a death bed conversion.  All the faithful are treated equally. The more difficult part of this equation is that those who work longer should be celebrating with those who worked only a short amount of time, because they too are part of the kingdom of heaven.  In fact, I believe Jesus is challenging his followers to do all they can to seek out people to come to “work” regardless of the lateness of the hour, and to do so with joy as they are sharing the most precious and important opportunity available. 
Is this fair?  Yes.  What doesn’t seem fair is that we get the thrill of sharing this wonderful opportunity with others and it doesn’t cost us a thing!
In Christ,

Rev. Valerie+

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Give God the Glory

Reflections on Chapters 12-14 of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles Years ago, I had a grandparent chargingly ask me if it was OK for her to be proud of her granddaughter, because she had been taught, “Pride goeth before the fall.”   I assured her that being proud of her grandchild was not a sin when the feeling was offered in thanksgiving of the accomplishment and not boosting up one’s own ego. “Look at what I have done,” has been the down fall of many people because they neglect or forget those that helped them achieve their goals. The Book of Acts shares story after story of the importance of acknowledging that all power and might comes from God, to whom we should offer our thanks and praise.   When our egos take over and we congratulate only ourselves for what we have done, we become idolatrous. Chapter 12 records an terrible story of King Herod’s response to the apostles.   He outright kills James and then arrests Peter, who is guarded by over 30 men. Yet, despite
Read more

A Christmas Poem

‘Twas a week before Christmas and all through the land The Church reminded us that the Savior’s birth was at hand. The season is not about the perfection of glitter But about a loving God who would not leave us bitter. And so God sent us the Son wrapped up like a present In the garb of our mortality, the human flesh of a peasant. The cookies may not be made, the decorations may not be hung, The cards may not be sent, the lights may not be strung. Yet let us all make the true preparations for the coming of our Savior And open our hearts and lives to the Lord’s loving favor. No more precious gift has ever been received. It is up to us to remind the world what we truly believe. Not in jolly old elves, talking snowmen or reindeer in flight But in God, who loves us with all of God's might. So stop for a moment and take a deep breath, As we await the Christ, the true conqueror of death. Let go of the need to fulfill a secular call to perfection
Read more

A Sloppy Track

Reflections on Acts of the Apostles Chapters 15-17 This past Saturday was the 144 th running of the Kentucky Derby.   As with all outdoor events, it is at the mercy of Mother Nature, and sometimes she doesn’t seem to care that the humans prefer sunny, dry weather.   However, a certain horse named Justified was the odds-on favorite to win if it was a sloppy track.   And indeed it was.   Rain poured down for most of the day and it didn’t stop by the time the big race was scheduled to start.   The track was a sloppy as I have ever seen a horse race track be.   Justified loved it – and won. It seems counter-intuitive to me that such adverse conditions could led to victory.   What I would consider ideal conditions (sunny, warm but not hot, dry) was the complete opposite of what made Justified thrive.   The reality is that “ideal” conditions are rare – there is always something that is a bit sloppy or not exactly to our liking.   What is important is how we choose to act in those
Read more