Guilt is Good
Yesterday was Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of the Lenten season for Catholics around the world. Lent is a time for us to reflect on ourselves as sinners, God’s unfathomable love for us, and ways in which we can improve ourselves and grow closer to God. Lent is a time for introspection and penance; a special time of year to experience the grace of God’s forgiveness.
Catholic guilt is the butt of many jokes and generally the first thing people think of when you mention Catholicism. I was reflecting on guilt and shame as I drove home with my family from Ash Wednesday service last night, our foreheads freshly anointed with ashes and the words “turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel” still ringing in our ears.
I began to wonder if guilt is the burden that our society seems to think it is. Has shame become irrelevant in our morally relativistic culture? What happens when it becomes socially unacceptable to acknowledge that some behaviors are indeed, bad or at the very least–irresponsible?
Last night I came to embrace the importance of guilt and shame in our personal development. Knowing that “better” does exist can inspire us to do better, be better, expect more of ourselves. This is the root of our evolution as a society, not the attitude that refuses to declare some behaviors as irresponsible or bad.
After embracing guilt last night, I turned on the computer this morning and was confronted with the reality that we are becoming a culture devoid of it.
Exhibit A: Nadya Suleman
Despite enormous public outcry at a welfare mom using fertility treatments to conceive octuplets, Ms. Suleman has yet to even acknowledge that her actions were irresponsible and shows no shame at the fact that she and her brood will be a drain on the California economy at the worst time possible.
Exhibit B: Parents complaining about cheese sandwich policy in Albquerque.
For those unfamiliar, the Albuquerque Public School system has instituted a policy of giving children whose lunch accounts are delinquent, a cold cheese sandwich, a piece of fruit and a carton of milk for lunch. Parents complain that it singles out their kids as being poor. My suggestion would be, if you can’t afford hot lunch then make your kids a lunch at home. If you can’t afford to make your kids a lunch at home then chances are you qualify for free lunch –and if you don’t you should be grateful that your kids are being fed anyway.
Exhibit C: Minta Garcia’s $800,000 house
Why is it perfectly acceptable to ask the President to help you out with your mortgage? Contrast this with Deborah and Curt Sleeper’s reaction to charitable donations to help them keep their house:
http://caveland.ning.com/profiles/blogs/deborah-and-curt-on-the
My final exhibit, Exhibit D: The Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009
If this piece of legislation passes:
So, under this act the government can readjust the amount I owe on my mortgage regardless of how much I actually borrowed. Congress is leading the no shame revolution.
Guilt is good. I say we embrace its place in our own lives and pray for its return on a grander scale.
