Mel recently went to the dentist, where during the course of conversation about her going to do Peace-Corps, the dentist offered to do a small cosmetic procedure on her teeth for free, because he was touched by the work she was doing. She agreed to it, then had these thoughts to share in reference to a post I had written earlier about moderation.
From
Mel’s Xanga
Even though I didn’t pay for it, and it was really nice, now I am playing into our culture of consumption and perfection and cosmetic appeal. Now I’m one of those women who can say “I’ve had some work done…” Ick. Did I really need to have that done? Absolutely not–I’m happy with my teeth! At least now there’s no risk of them continuing to split up the notches until my tooth cracks, so that’s good. And going back, I would probably let him do it all over again, just because it was a nice thing that he wanted to do for me.
Still feels funny, though. And makes you think, what should our limits be? Joel and I are going to Africa soon, so we know our lifestyle will be forced to drastically change. In the meantime, we probably won’t stop eating out with my parents when they want to take us, because it’s a way we connect with them. But at the same time, that is contributing to our society’s need to have new things and big things all the time. And just because something is free, doesn’t mean we should take it.
So what are your thoughts?
As a current parent who distinctly recalls the reaction from my parents as I took on new understanding and values through my years of enlightenment and conversion – I would suggest we all begin by embracing the wonderful mosaic of mankind and womenkind that fills this earth. If we all thought alike and shared all the same values life would become boring and the concept of one body with many parts would be meaningless.
Its been said – if we were both alike one of us wouldn’t be needed.
Something drove this dentist to study what he did. Maybe it was an internal drive maybe a desire to help people improve their oral hygenie, (many problems arise from poor oral hygenie – health and social) or maybe his parents pushed him in that direction. But regardless of how he ended up there – he gives what he has to give.
Each of us gives what we have to give – and that is honest living.
My mother didn’t know how to handle my becoming a vegetarian and in a desire to feed and please, as all mothers do out of love and concern, she did what she knew and made a lot of pasta with plain tomato sauce.
You have now been given a gift and a blessing by someone who was moved by your Peace Corp commitment and wish to give. He gave what he had to give.
Your going to the Peace Corp is in an effort and desire to give what you have to give – time, knowledge, a strong back, encouragement. Give it freely, happily and with a big beautiful smile.
Steve