GOOD & EVIL ---

At least one of you knows which is which

The other night we were in a situation where the topic up for discussion was prayer.  Along the way, toward the end of the session, the problem of evil in the world came up.  The all pervasive presence of evil in the world was the provocative attitude of the moment.  Yes, the Devil is the one who runs the world and we don't have much chance of winning, or at least that is what it seems like.  I don't have to tell you that I have had a thought or two about this over the years.  You don't have to tell me that you too have had a thought or two about the same topic.  Because it is such a common thought and a common topic I decided that I would make it a little interesting and a little lighter than what it can turn out to be when it happens over the Thanksgiving table when Uncle Shatterdipicous [Nasty Greek] brings it up.  So, here we go.
One of the problems we have with Good and Evil is that we sometimes have a hard time telling them apart.  That's why I got the bright idea to put up the Kanji symbols for the two.  Now, except for my Japanese friends, I doubt that any of you know which is which.  Which is the point.  There is Good that we know is Good and there is Evil that we know is Evil.  We sit here thinking that if it were always that easy, life would be smoother.  Ha!  Think again.  Most of you adults know that sometimes the sweetness of the evil is mighty inviting.  C'mon, admit it.  I'm going to leave that one alone.  After all, I don't want to get too graphic.  I still have to have a good enough conscience to be able to sleep tonight.
Now, what about when Good and Evil look exactly the same?  It happens all the time.  We know a lot of goods and evils that serve two purposes.  What about certain insects that are harmful to us but also help to keep our world in balance?  [All except for mosquitoes]  How about the plant that you love to have in your house, except when you have a child who may be tempted to put some of it in his mouth and die?  How about fire?  How about the Sun?  How about our fellow humans?  How about that essential being, water?  Now, water is an interesting one.  Water can be its own enemy.  Did you ever think of that?  Every time you go for a swim, just remember that you are using the nature of water against the water itself.  If only we could do that for all the evils that we encounter.  Wouldn't it be nice?
Finally, I got riled the other night because the topic was naming our times as so evil that there could never have been any time worse.  The devil is getting the upper hand.  Now listen, I'm an old man.  I know that there is a lot of evil in the world.  I also know that it's not a newcomer.  If you want to see some evil, read your history book.  If you've thrown your history book away, read the Bible.  You'll see that they had short-changers, slave drivers, murderers, rapists, whores, rustlers, religious sex under the altar, for money, of course,  the selling of war prisoners to the allies to use in wars away from home, gambling, drinking, gerrymandering and watering the tavern wine.  I could go on, but I won't, it only continues.  It gets more common because the population grows, but nothing changes, except that as humans get smarter they find slicker ways to get it done.
There were some champions of the Good in the room too.  It is also true that we human beings have come a long way on the good side.  We still live the commandments to take care of one another.  We have better medicine, better transportation, better communications, better education, better understanding of language, better engineering, better food to balance our diet.  What about Doctors without Borders; Amnesty International;  Habitat for Humanity;  National Association of Free Clinics;  Salvation Army;  St. Vincent de Paul;  Non-Profit hospitals and schools;  Non-Profit special housing cooperatives;  non-profit rehabilitation centers, Monasteries...I could go on and on,  but I will finish by reminding all the pessimists in the room of the helping reaction that occurs in times of natural calamities.  
The existence of Good and Evil side by side in the world, starts with the ability that we humans have of choosing ourselves over everything else.  It's easy to say, but the complications that this simple reality causes are enormous.  So outlandishly enormous that even Uncle Shatterdipicous can't bring them back to size...certainly not at Thanksgiving Dinner.


OK, you win.  The "Good" is on your left.  The "Evil" is the other one, on your right.