GENTLENESS - The Fruit Of The Spirit As An Antidote To Consumerism

An image of the ocean with the word 'Gentleness' written on it.

Gentleness - "The word is best translated 'meekness,' not as an indication of weakness, but of power and strength under control"

Father In-law: "No matter what you do, it will never amount to anything more than a single drop in a limitless ocean", 
Son In-law: "What is an ocean but a multitude of drops" - Cloud Atlas

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has" - Margaret Mead.

When we begin to move away from consumerism, our steps seem so insignificant, our actions seems so pointless - We are but one standing against a current of mass marketing and shiny things - in danger of being swept away at any second.

We fail to see how our small actions reverberate with a counter-cultural sound, we forget the power and strength of small things, we disdain the tiny mustard seed and do not notice the tree growing in its stead.

Our choices are powerful, our decisions are strength, but in a movement away from consumerism they are never used for selfish purposes. This is the whole point of moving away from consumerism. We look outside of ourselves and at the broken and hurting around us, at the untold damage of our throw-away culture upon the earth.

This is why the power and strength that we have is always tempered with gentleness. It has been part of the system and it has seen the broken.

May we walk humbly on our path, may we recognise the strength and power in our grasp, and may we live gently.

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