Rain

Do you think you're God?
     Yes you do. You do if you definitely think you know the future.
     Do you think you know the future?
     Yes you do. You do if you definitely think your income will stay the same forever, or go up. You do if you definitely think no disaster will strike that will empty out your bank account. You do if you definitely think your finances are safe.
     Do you think your finances are safe?
     Yes you do. You do if you often spend money on unnecessary items, especially if they're expensive. You do if you've forgotten - or never knew - how to distinguish between want and need. You do if you don't save money for a rainy day.
     You think you're God because you think it'll never rain.

      We are in a recession. It's pouring outside, and you're stuck in the middle of nowhere. You've got no umbrella, and you're under the open sky. But the American consumer culture hasn't taught you to think logically. You ought to find shelter, or get an umbrella. Instead you keep going, not deviating from your planned path, and then wonder how you got so soaking wet.
     Once, I was talking to a girl about health insurance. She's a student, and I guess she had a part-time job. She told me she pays about $100 a month for health insurance. "That doesn't sound so bad," I said. (And now today, when I know what prices are really like since I pay my own bills, I wish that could be my health insurance!)
     "Are you kidding me?" she replied. "That's really expensive!"
     Oh, wow, I thought, starting to feel bad. If $100 a month is difficult, she must be in a rough situation.
     Just then, one of our friends came over. The first girl turned to the second with a shoe catalog she suddenly pulled out from her bag, and excitedly began pointing to different, brand-name pairs of shoes she wanted. Then, as I stared in amazement, the two of them made plans to go shoe shopping that day.
     I didn't feel bad for her after that.

     Meanwhile, if you are fortunate enough to say it is not raining on you, do not forget it is raining on someone else: on victims of earthquakes, floods and tsunamis, on children living under crushing poverty and disease, on animals that have no homes and will be euthanized in overcrowded shelters filled with sad, scared eyes. Will you offer any of them an umbrella?
     Do you feel like God anymore? Because I thought God was wise and kind.