Not Sacrificing My Friends for a Free Whopper

Did you hear about this?

Burger King is running a viral marketing campaign that challenges facebook users to sacrifice 10 "friends" from their facebook profile in exchange for a free hamburger. When I first saw the pitch, I laughed. Then I thought a little further and considered taking the plunge. Then I thought even further still and it occurred to me that, while a harmless little tactic to get consumers to purchase more Whoppers, set against the backdrop of the entire mess of humanity, the notion that people would elect to ditch their friends on the way to a free burger makes perfect tragic sense. It's what we do, America: we were created to cherish people and use things in service to that end, but instead we do the opposite: we cherish things and use people.

That's not even taking into consideration the fact that BK could have launched a humanitarian initiative with this schtick. I might even have participated in something like that. Instead, people will drop a thread, albeit virtual and superficial, in their human network, and for what? An unhealthy snack that they probably could do without, keeping our stomachs and spirits bloated and distracted from the desperation of our neighbors who are impoverished of food, water, security, justice, or love.

When we choose stuff over people, everybody loses.

It's the human condition, I guess; and Burger King provided Exhibit "A" for the moment.

Bowling next week at Fun Family Friday

bowling., originally uploaded by jessi..

Let's rack up the pins and hit the lanes! Three strikes in this game and you'll get your first turkey since the holidays... join us for a night of fun at Castro Village Bowl, 6:30 - 8:30 on Friday January 16. We'll take care of the lanes (you're on your own for shoes).

add this event to

Call for info: 510/569-5060 (ask for John)

Struggling to Redeem an Ugly Experience

www.tokbox.com

I'm an angry man.  Angry because my property and the tranquility of my home were violated, angry because my wife is working hard to keep our house and doesn't need this stress, angry that we have to pay a deductible and replace what was taken from us.

All because someone thought it was reasonable to break into my car.

I found out today that there has been a rash of exactly the same crime happening in our little townhouse community, along with home invasions throughout the county of Alameda.  While this brings little comfort, there is something healthy about knowing we're sharing in the sufferings of our neighbors.  

Even as I write this thought down, I realize there are expanding horizons of fellowship in suffering we have yet to taste -- our neighbors in East Oakland and Gaza, Baltimore and Calcutta and Darfur.  

How often am I moved to compassion when the least of my neighbors is in a ditch?  Why do these emotions rise in me only now that I'm the one who has been hit with injustice?

Lord, help my unbelief.  Use this experience to deepen my rootedness in Your Love.

BTW.  If the video isn't showing up, it's also at http://www.tokbox.com/oharaville.