Pronghorn Photo: Herd Mentality?
Such a term as herd mentality is often taken to mean you just go with the flow of the crowd you are with, group think or the popular conventions of the moment. Such people are often referred to as lemmings because of the inaccurate myth that these little rodents commit mass suicide following their leader over a cliff.
While individual freedoms and liberties are to be cherished we at our peril forget that although we are individuals we live in community. Democracy is not anarchy and neither is it communism it is something different and special.
Democracy is individuals living in community. Here lays the tension where the rights of the individual citizen collide with those of the community of citizens.
While individual freedoms must be safeguarded the health of the community must likewise be protected. I have benefited from those who have volunteered in helping me such as minor hockey coaches that patiently practiced my hockey skills, team work and leadership. For many years I have volunteered at my local Church on various committees, with youth and young adults, the poor and homeless, giving blood, helping the disabled, with the city clean parks program and in other ways.
To those who have a herd mentality, caring for those they live in community with I say thank you. To those who have never done so I say please do so…
A herd can be a beautiful thing…
Who has volunteered to help you in your life and how have you volunteered to help others?
Photo by Chocolate Girl
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I have a mini van to transport my pod as we move around the countryside looking for a feeding spot.
One thing I have pondered is the incompatibility of spending my Saturdays on some charity project vs. spending it chasing the longhorns about on the local mountains with my camera. I can soothe my seared conscience a bit by doing a charity fundraiser sporting event, but there is nothing quite like the one-on-one interaction of doing charity first hand.
Do you think caring for others is more about sacrifice and putting your interests on hold? Or is it more about changing the things that we hold dear?
ROFL
Excellent comment Looney!
I thought you guys traveled in flocks….
If you use the photos you take of the prong horns to better society or to promote groups that do likewise (for no charge) is that volunteering?
We give to charitable organizations that do benevolent works that aid society, Church, World Vision etc….However I personally think it is invaluable to also do something in person if at all possible…which then fits well with your questions:
“Do you think caring for others is more about sacrifice and putting your interests on hold? Or is it more about changing the things that we hold dear?”
- I should probably just mention the Good Samaritan here, what did they do? But let me extrapolate (as I am prone to do :) We are to lead sacrificial lives….but I find it interesting that the more we beg God to transform our lives the more our sacrifices don’t seem like sacrifices but seem like privileged gifts given to us!
Personally I have found that if I do a sacrificial or charitable deed such as volunteering because I find it a felt need of mine to do so or a requirement to appease my conscience it has less power in my life and often it works less powerfully in those I am striving to aid. When we do those deeds for those reasons we are the same as the World but if we have God’s transforming power energizing our lives we do these things because it is who we are in glorifying God. We die to self and He lives through us and this is when we truly live. Where is our treasure?
I find the prime directive as delineated in the Westminster Confession to be very helpful….
What do you think?
There is room to both think for oneself, in my case through a Biblical worldview and also have a concern for specific persons, Western society and the world as a whole.
I share my life's work in person and online. Once I am no longer a student, my focus will change somewhat.
I hope you enjoy my graphs finale and my report on last night's Zidane game at Swangard.
Hi Kingpin,
I agree that there is room to be an individual and of course there is family life also…however I also believe that Scripture should lead us towards community both as the Body but also in engaging with the world around us. When we engage with the world it provides opportunities for us to express grace to others.
I will beam over to check out your soccer report!!!!
Yes.:)
'and also have a concern for specific persons, Western society and the world as a whole.'
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