The Perils of Indifference… | Disciple Playbook

In 1999 Elie Wiesel shared a talk “The Perils of Indifference” as part of the Millenium Lecture Series (audio of the compelling speech is HERE , with printed version and more details HERE.)

For those of us seemingly living away from so many world challenges, Elie has the following message:

Of course, indifference can be tempting. It is so much easier to look away from victims. It is so much easier to avoid such rude interruptions to our work, our dreams, our hopes. It is, after all, awkward, troublesome, to be involved in another person’s pain and loss of hope. Yet, for the person who is indifferent, his or her neighbor is not important. And, therefore, their lives are meaningless. Their hidden or even visible pain is of no interest. Indifference makes other people into something less than human.

Such commentary can feel like a “direct hit.” How often are we aware and open to seeing the needs of our neighbors? And when we see those needs, is there a response?

Indifference elicits no response. Indifference is not a response. Indifference is not a beginning; it is an end. And, therefore, indifference is always the friend of the enemy. It benefits the aggressor. It never benefits his victim, whose pain is magnified when he or she feels forgotten. Think of the political prisoner in his cell, the hungry children, the homeless refugees. Not to respond to their terrible condition, not to relieve their loneliness by offering them a spark of hope is to send them away from human memory. And in not seeing them as humans, we become less human, too

Hearing such words can cause some defensiveness. Thankfully, Elie’s final words provide hope and energy

And together we walk towards the new millennium, carried by deeply felt fear and extraordinary hope.

What are some ways you overcome indifference? Who helps inspire you to love your neighbor? Is your community of faith seemingly pushing you in a new direction(s) to fight indifference?

POSSIBLE ACTIONS:

Identify a person in your sphere of friends/family and talk about a cause they are passionate about supporting. Is there an opportunity for you to participate?
Find a new-to-you charity to share “two coins” (or more.) Charity Navigator can be a great place to start! (with Elie’s comment above about hungry children in mind, the Cincinnati area organization Whole Again helps some of us directly overcome indifference)
Consider causes and issues your community of faith is supporting. Are you feeling a stirring to leap out in faith to help?

PRAYER: Great Creator, we can sometimes feel small in the face of the enormity of issues facing our world. Help us to hear Elie Wiesel’s words, spurring us on to wonderful new ways to love our neighbors. With thoughts of Jesus tending to the lambs, help us fight indifference with love and good works. Spur us. Guide us. Heal us. Amen.

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!