AND THE GREATEST OF THESE IS . . . GREED?

20100113.002 AND THE GREATEST OF THESE IS . . . GREED?

Recently a major chain grocery store where I live has started a renovation. Because of this renovation they have moved to a temporary location. Hopefully, within a year, they will move back to the location near-by and I will get to shop at the new up-graded store. And it will include a gas station. Of course, what is really strange (and what brings me to my current topic at hand) is there is already a small mom & pop gas station on the corner. Rumor has it that the mom & pop gas station is holding out for a cool $1,000,000.00 (that is one million for those who can’t count those zeros that fast) as the selling price to this major grocery chain. And of course, the rumorists go on to note that there is no way that this afore mentioned grocery chain is going to pay $1,000,000.00 for this two pump gas station. So, why would this mom & pop station request so much? Simple! GREED! If you didn’t get the reference from the title. 1 Corinthians 13 ends with this passage, “And the greatest of these is LOVE” So I did a play on words here.

Of course, what is really sad is that our country is founded on greed! Don’t get me wrong, I love my country! I love those who fight for my country! I love my government even though it feels like they want to deny me simple rights. Having said all of that, I also realize that the greed that drives our country, the greed that has driven the big corporations to give their top CEOs’ millions of dollars as bonuses, is the same greed that is driving this mom & pop station to their demise. And it is sad that they will eventually close and they will cry foul on the grocery chain. But the problem was, to begin with, greed!

But, greed is even more entrenched in our society than simple money matters. Greed is also coupled with power. And often times, if you don’t see someone fighting for more money, you see them fighting for more power. The same force of greed is driving them.

SO, the question that comes to mind is, “Is there a way to curb this drive without putting a damper on the actions and livelihood of our country and our economy?” In other words, can we stop greed with out stopping how we “do business?” I am afraid the answer is, I don’t know. What I do know is that I can only control one person - ME! And I hope a pray that my friends will follow suit and try to control that inner deamon called greed! - Blessings to you all - DL