What would you change about modern society?
I think the biggest issue with moden society in the developed world is the emphasis on individualism.
My desires… my needs… my freedom… my fears… my identity… my goals… my plans…
The value of the family within society has been eroding over the last several decades. We see divorce rates increasing while marriage rates fall, increased availability of contraceptives with no discernible decline in abortions, a lack of support in many places when it comes to peri-partum care and childcare, the rise of separation between generations and the list goes on. Communities of the self-identified childfree (and angry about it) are increasingly vocal in the public sphere about their disdain for children.
And yet, children are the future. I don’t mean this as some saccharine platitude. They literally are the next generation. They will pay the taxes to support the current workers in their old age and decide the future of government. And the quality of their family life will impact their development and colour their own values.
The family is the basic building block of society. It is not only where the next generation is created, but it is also where we first learn about human interaction. It is the first school of caring for the needy, and our first model of love. It is our very first community, where we learn to share, to help others and to seek help from others, to give and to forgive. In families, we learn to be united with others in a symbiotic dance of interdependence.
And yes, the world is fallen and we are under the effects of sin. So there is suffering, there is pain and hardship, and some of that cannot be undone. But if we point our noses away from our navels, if we can understand just what a treasure it would be to have a healthy family life as far as possible in this world, perhaps we can minimise the harm to future generations, and change the way society functions.
When we can learn how to walk with our own family through every season of life, leaning on and supporting one another in turn, and showing each other understanding and kindness, perhaps our children will learn to walk with others in that way.
What would I change in modern society? I would change the way families are viewed and valued.
I’ll leave you with this quote from Pope Francis that might encourage you on your walk with your family:
In families, there are difficulties. In families, we argue; in families, sometimes the plates fly; in families, the children give us headaches. And I’m not even going to mention the mother-in-law. But in families, there is always, always, the cross. Always. Because the love of God, of the Son of God, also opened for us this path. But, in families as well, after the cross, there is the resurrection. Because the Son of God opened for us this path. Because of this, the family is — forgive the term I’ll use — it is a factory of hope, of hope of life and of resurrection. God was the one who opened this path… In families, there are difficulties, but these difficulties are overcome with love. Hate doesn’t overcome any difficulty. Division of hearts doesn’t overcome any difficulty. Only love is capable of overcoming difficulties. Love is a festival. Love is joy. Love is to keep moving forward.
Mom Things Through Christ 