Since Martin Luther King’s death, time has revealed many things, including growing moral pathologies that are individual and systemic in nature. I will not list them here but I will say this; I don’t believe that people are indifferent as much as they are occupied and self absorbed. You see people are selectively indifferent to certain things. It’s a choice, not something they can be shocked out of. The media is great about calling attention to certain things, but over time – sustaining commitment of the masses or even a few if you will, remains extremely difficult, unless their hearts remain stoked. That’s an internal thing. Perhaps it is time to take the passive voice out of indifference and be specific about why people passively allow their hearts to harden against the good and noble things they should be engaged in. A parable comes to mind here and regardless of your faith – there are precious truths in the following parable:

Luke 8:4-15 (NIV)

4While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. 6Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”

When he said this, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

9His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,

“‘though seeing, they may not see;

though hearing, they may not understand.’^a
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11“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

The parable explains the process of growth and commitment. The word picture illustrates a farmer sowing seed. It also explains 4 different types of soil (people) who responded to the sower. In short:

1. Some did not fully understand and their enemies stole the seeds before they could take root.
2. Some did understand and rejoiced initially, but had little in terms of roots or commitment so they simply gave up.
3. Some listened and received, but competing desires and concerns kept them from being productive
4. Another group actually produced abundant fruit, exceeding even their own expectations.

In many ways things are the same today as they have always been, but with one big difference, many of our relationships are artificial and synthetic. We live in customized, virtual worlds that codify our likes and preferences. Everything is designed to meet our taste. We have little patience for things that interfere with our pursuits and our question to others is simply this: “Are you hindering me from getting back to what I want to do or helping me?” We are not indifferent to what we want, not in the least bit. We have become experts at consuming, and novices at serving. Our pursuits choke out the sound advice of others, the cries of the needy and the instruction of the Almighty. In a Facebook world, where everyone can be their own celebrity too many scream look at me instead of look after others. Cloaking true intention may fool others, but it will never produce authentic fruit.