I am reading for a class The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. It is about immigrants during the early 1900's who come to America seeking a better life. It is the most depressing book I've ever read.
It starts out very hopeful, but as we learn about the injustices of the free market, of the terrible working conditions and unsympathetic bosses, we lose hope. This is not to mention the other aspect of the book which is about the non-existant food and drug laws leading to fingers, rats, and diseased meat being ground up at the factories where everyone works at and sold to unsuspecting customers. The family is in a downward spiral of desolation.
Last night, I finished today's reading assignment at midnight, but putting the book down, I felt horrible. I realized the injustice of it all, and the little hope there was for this family, and I realized that this family is only one example of a million, or of a billion families even today. I also realized that this problem is more than one of the poor and their stuggle to survive, but it is also one of possible eternal damnation. People are suffering spiritually. Many people I've talked to regard rich areas as the most spiritually poor areas, and more in need of help than physically poor areas.
This problem is so big. When I think about it too long, I cannot bare it. The thing that scares me the most, is the fact that I, a seminarian who spends his days in prayer and the study of theology, took this long to realize all this. I have spent my whole life an optimist and have been blind to the depth of this issue. ETERNAL SUFFERING! Doesn't that mean anything to anyone? I know our God is a merciful God, but do we want to risk something this big? Do we want to gamble eternal life for the comforts of luxury cars, expensive meals, and casual sex; for greed, sloth, and lust?!
Welcome to life, I hope you enjoy it.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!
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