First the background to the topic... One of my jobs is assistant to a caricaturist. We do parties where she sits and draws caricatures of the party guests, and I keep a list of people waiting for their picture, make sure things stay organized, put the drawings in sleeves, and generally keep the chaos to a minimum. Which is all very well and good - but it allows me plenty of time to observe and contemplate the people around me.
This particular birthday party was in Newport Beach, California. Oh yes. Ritzy City, indeed. Just booking the party at the lagoon probably cost as much as a couple of my paychecks. About 80 children attended, including their parents, and all were fed bountifully. Plenty of food was available, plus 4 cakes and a lot of cupcakes, plus people from Ben and Jerry's serving ice cream and toppings (so good!), plus people making and serving crepes (also very good!). Activities included us (the caricaturists), three people organizing parties, a truck from a local aquarium with fish displays inside, and an inflatable velcro wall -- as well as the lagoon water to play in. In other words, they probably sunk an easy several thousand dollars into this party.
Can anyone say priorities? Years from now the kid won't remember the party. The 80 kids who were there probably won't remember the party. And, if the birthday boy is even friends with all 80 of the young guests, they will probably no longer even be friends in a matter of years. Basically the whole thing was a carefree day of sweets and playtime for the kids, and social time for the adults. Because we all know a party of this caliber was hardly about the child.
Look around.
People in some countries are dying because of the lack of clean water.
People in some countries are living in cardboard boxes in the dump because they have no houses.
People in some places lack things we take for granted - hospitals, church buildings, means of education, daily food.
People here in America have lost their jobs and are struggling to make ends meet, to buy groceries and pay basic bills.
there's nothing wrong with a birthday party, that's not the problem. Priorities of spending is the problem.
Don't misunderstand me...I'm not judging here, I'm no better than anyone else.
But to much of the world...I am rich. I have more than one pair of shoes, a bed with blankets, and more food than I could eat in one day. I worked three jobs yesterday because I can and because I have committed to doing so, not because I am trying desperately to survive and support my loved ones. Today I went to church and worshiped freely with other believers, with a roof over our heads and no fear of persecution.
It's not up to me to draw the conclusions here. There really is no conclusion - except that each person does what is right in their own conscience before God.
