The Paper That Suffocates Us

We tend to think the world is no longer filled with beautiful trees and lovely nature. The truth is, it still is, just not in the way we think. The difference is the trees that once gave us pure air and a sense of peace have become the paper that now suffocates us. Money has taken over our lives. It determines if we eat or starve, if we have the privilege to get an education, and whether we can chase our dreams. 

What God once created to bring us pure air and peace now fuels the greed of wealth. The phrase “In God we trust” is printed on every dollar bill. Thus, when we receive money, it can feel like a blessing; however, that blessing feels different for everyone who receives that bill. It travels from the bank to a woman who has just received her paycheck, who then shares a bill with her daughter so she can buy something. The daughter passes the money to the cashier, who can finally pay her rent. Then the landlord who received that rent money walks past his apartment complex and sees a homeless boy sitting alone on the street. He decides to give him that bill, creating a smile on the boy's face because that money has traveled through many hands, yet God chose to bless him.

Although the world has misused the image of God for many things, the truth is that the money was never the blessing. God blessed that woman with her daughter, and the cashier received the blessing of having a home. God blessed the landlord with a kind enough heart to give that bill to the little boy. In a world where the greed of wealth suffocates us and where we are defined by a piece of paper, we all have the choice to decide the one thing that is not defined by money. That thing is the kindness of your soul: whether you choose to be as pure as the crisp, fresh air, or suffocated by something disguised as a blessing, making you forget what you were truly blessed with.