The definition of moderation is: “The avoidance of excess or extremes.”
I think one thing we can all agree on, the lack of moderation is overly prevalent throughout our culture. You need only look as far as the Main Stream Media to see the most glowing example of people who do not embrace or even think about moderation. There was once a time where the news provided facts, and that allowed the consumer to form their own opinion, based on the FACTUAL information that was given. I really don’t care if you prefer CNN (future blog post coming regarding CNN, so stay tuned), Fox News, or God-forbid MSNBC. Each cater to a specific group of people and biased opinions are communicated as facts. In all fairness, this is not a judgement on all the programming of each of those networks, but it is rule and not the exception.
I am not even going to touch on politics, that fact that a group of elected officials cannot stop and work out common sense laws that benefit the nation as a whole, is all that needs to be said.
Where else could moderation be considered? Sure, I could suggest a bar, but isn’t that why they are in business?
My suggestion, retail and grocery stores that think all of these self check-out lanes are a good idea. Yeah, I said it…while a few self-checkout terminals are fine, the extreme that businesses are going to, that gives customers the power to scan and pay for their merchandise has gone to far. It seems that the lines to wait are way too long, and heaven forbid that you buy something, like super glue that required your ID to be checked, it would have been easier to wait in the normal checkout line.
It’s fun to be critical of self checkout lines, but in reality there are more important things to note, that have gone to the extreme.
Foul language, also known as Adult Language
Drug Use (that include alcohol abuse)
Pornography
Selfishness (this alone would take an entire day to write about)
“Fact Checkers” on Social Media (Sorry, not sorry, you have to have an handle on the actual truth in order to be an effective and unbiased fact checker).
Violence towards Law Enforcement Officers
Aggressive drivers
Cell phone dependency (I am completely guilty on this one)
There are 2 additional items that have gone to the extreme, these lifestyles are being forced into our lives as adults, and also within the culture and curriculum of our children. Those lifestyles? Homosexuality and Transgenderism
First, foremost, and the most significant point I can make on this topic. If you are an ADULT (in other words, not a child) and you choose either of (or both) these lifestyles, fine that is your choice, I don’t agree, but as adult you have the freedom to make that decision(s). The problem is children (you know, a person that is not yet an adult) are having these lifestyles forced upon them within public school curriculums, kids cartoons, and advertisements via “free” channel apps on your internet based television. This is nothing more than an attempt to normalize a lifestyle that is not normal.
As we look at the world around us and wonder what do we do? My suggestion, take the words of Jesus to heart, when he was asked, “What is the greatest commandment in The Law?”
The response of Jesus, “And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
Matthew 22:37-39 NASB1995
If we take the time to embrace the attitude and teachings of Jesus, we will find ourselves in a culture that takes being a servant leader seriously, and when we have that mindset it not only changes our attitude, but the attitude of those around us for the better.
Excellent