how then to live?

This is the question that faces us, me, in the 21st century. How to live a faith filled life in opposition , as it were,to societal values. Whatever the original intent upon the founding, this experiment in democracy has warped into something that is barely recognizable . Look at the people who frame this debate,look at what and for whom they speak;billionaire oligarchs ,multi national corporations who are faceless,nameless, and never ever held accountable. The Powers and principalities that Paul spoke of , are here and now in control. No secret there.What then can one poor middle aged man do?I can refuse getting involved in their madness, playing their political games, turning their hatred around with steadfastness and humility. I can read the Bible and listen to the revelation,right here and now, not simply from millennia past. I can live accordingly, which does not mean to act is if the past 1500 years have not occurred, as is the case in a recent book.Living like Jesus means going inward,not outwards.It means living a life of unlimited mercy,of forgiveness, of difficult choices .of love and understanding.All of these words are bandied about with such utter contempt that they have lost their flavor,love becomes a greeting card or a movie, instead of,to quote Dostoevsky" a harsh and dreadful thing." harsh and dreadful because we love the difficult, the street person, the drunk, the junkie,the exploited and abused[they run hand in hand] woman,the kid with no adult around,the old person who is as needy and dependent as an infant,and who smiles much less.And to do these things, not for some personal glory,or because there is a reward,simply because our Lord demanded it of us, and gave us this as our calling. To have the son of God strip down to his waist and perform the duties of a servant by washing the feet of his assembled friends is an act of humility and sacredness that is beyond any comprehension.Yet,paradoxically ,that is what we are charged with,to live our lives in emulation of HIS SERVICE.We may need a revolution, the revolution that Jesus calls for is one of love and mercy and service.The world is not yet ready, we,I need to sow those seeds.Today.