Has anyone ever considered that there's nothing you do that won't probably affect someone? Sure. If you drop a bean in your pantry, it's probably not going to ruin someone's day, but seriously. If it's only because everything we do affects us, and who we are affects others at some point. Maybe that bean did ruin someone's day because you got mad, chucked it across the kitchen, and the pile of morning frustrations finally came crashing down ... all over your baby sister.

I'm not trying to be contrived here, but as I read today in an article online, Americans have this unprecedented sense of individualism - the idea that we can do whatever with ourselves as long as doesn't affect / hurt someone else. Has anyone thought about that ever and how incredibly pervasive it is. It shows up in all sorts of places I'm not looking for it, much less expect to find it. Really, it's part of the way we think.

But it's unChristian. Christianity is about the Body, the sense of community. So I sit and think of times when I'm in my apartment all alone and I can do whatever I want because, well, it's just me. Or the times when I'm working alone in my office. I can do as I will, react as I will, or whatever, and it not make a difference for anyone outside the nearest door. I know our culture cuts us off from each other. It teaches us to get a sense of ourselves - who we are and what we want to accomplish. I know how much time I spend in introspection, and I can say that it has cut me off from the world.

So maybe. Maybe not. Maybe I'll just be careful not to drop the bean at all.