Weeping?

Have you ever seen a machine weep for another machine when it breaks down?

But I see you weeping for your friend in pain.

You must not be a machine.

Tell me you are not a machine.

We speak of dysfunction, of breakdowns, of human resources,

Of being finely oiled and tuned machines.

We should beware the direction our analogies take us

Lest we forget we are human.

We may build machines and energize them with electricity,

But God created man and breathed the breath of life in him,

and man became a living soul.

Better to be one with God than one with machines.

We speak to Siri and Alexa as if these “its” are “theys”.

We listen to Alexa and Siri as if they are people.

God speaks but we do not hear,

Others speak but we do not listen.

If we look at others as parts

In a complex organizational machine,

Then let us not pretend that they matter as people,

When they wear out we will order replacements.

We are provided motivational speakers not to improve our characters,

But to improve our production.

We are too busy to care if one has lost a son, one a daughter, one a spouse.

Let’s keep our lives compartmentalized.

When the organizational machine falls on hard times the parts are expected to perform,

When the parts fall on hard times we replace them.

There are places where one can find used auto parts,

Are there places for used people?

Cynical? Perhaps. But is it cynical to describe what one sees?

Is it cynical to observe the isolation? The frenzied activity?

The pressure to perform and conform and not to think too much?

We are not resources, we are people…I think…maybe I am wrong.

Did I come from an assembly line?

Am I an interchangeable part?

Am I a function key on a keyboard?

When we cease to function do we have worth?

If we have our doubts let us not hesitate.

Let us flee to those with the answers.

Let us close our doors, ponder our deep questions…

And ask Siri and Alexa.