“Selfish attitudes ‘damage childhood”
So states a report published at the beginning of last month by the Childrens Society after three years of detailed research. The findings assert that “the aggressive pursuit of personal success by adults” is now the greatest threat (italics mine) to British children. “Family break-up; unprincipled advertising; too much competition in education; and income inequality;” are cited as key factors. To what extent do you agree?
The more I have thought about these bold and provocative statements the more I sense from much I see around me that they have hit the nail on the head. Could it be said that much the same sort of attitudes have been prevalent in our desire for ever increasing prosperity …. where too late we have discovered the ugly consequences, and now in all sorts of ways face the cost?
Recently I tackled the ivy which had grown nearly to the top of two of the trees along side the pavement outside the vicarage. I cut out some six feet of the large ivy “trunks” in order to save the trees from strangulation. Over many years the ivy had steadily grown up these trees, seemingly not affecting their heath, but without remedial action, the result was predictable. A parable perhaps?
None of us likes challenges which can easily be seen as critical of us, our patterns of behaviour and priorities. The report calls for a sea-change in social attitudes to counter the damage done to children by society –that includes me (and you), for the way each of us thinks and behaves impacts others whether we recognise it or not. The things the report speaks of have been steadily, and maybe imperceptibly, growing year by year in our nation.- like the ivy on my trees – could now be the time for surgery before the damage becomes terminal!
I am reminded of one of the proverbs of the Old Testament, which says simply but directly – “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
With my greetings and prayers, Jim Stevens