Selfishness: Defined by Merriam Webster as being concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself : seeking or concentrating on one's own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for others.

I don't blog often, but I have felt compelled to blog about this issue for quite some time. I don't claim to be an expert, but I have had some experience on both sides of selfishness.

We all start out life as being selfish. Mainly because we are unable to exist any other way. Look at all creatures aside from man: All of them can be observed and perceived to be selfish. We don't describe it as "selfishness", but rather "self-preservation". Your pets find ways to communicate to you that they are hungry or need to go outside for a "break". Or maybe to get you to the cupboard to get them their regular "treat".

As parents, we allow our children to grow up in the same way. Babies let you know when they're hungry, in pain, or that they have a "full load". As they grow and mature, we never stop their reliance on us. We feel like we need to do their laundry, cook their food, do ALL of the chores around the home so that they don't have things as "bad" as we had it growing up. My parents did this too, although I was made to do some chores. My mother made sure we all had meals and clean clothes and home.

As we mature I have observed that in American society we no longer require our youth to grow out of their selfishness into "self reliance". We are forever being chided with: "Oh they're just kids! Let them be!" Or: "We did that when we were kids and we turned out alright!" Seriously? Did we? My doubts grow deeper as time goes on.

Our society is one of entitlement now. We are entitled to certain benefits. We seem to believe that we are not only entitled to them, but are entitled to them without putting forth any effort. Look at our current "welfare state" that we are perpetuating at an alarming rate!

But while the social aspects are a reflection, they are not the core of our selfishness. Our selfishness comes from any number of places. I am a Christian, so I see selfishness in society as a reflection of our turning away from God.

Man marvels at his discoveries in science. He is proud of himself. Man also prides himself on his "self preservation" which rapidly turns to greed and selfishness. Is cancer incurable? I believe it is curable! I also believe that any doctor who runs an oncology clinic doling out $5000 bags of "chemo therapy" drugs will tell you it is not. Just different types of treatment for the symptoms in an effort to prolong life.

When science and finance meet, you generally have corruption and greed. Look at how much money was generated off of A.I.D.S. Look how much money is generated off of cancer. Look at how much money is generated off of any human affliction, and you'll see that although man is great at finding "treatments", and is phenomenal at finding new advances in electronics and mechanics, no CURE is ever found. Officially.

But I digress from my original intention for this blog...

Selfishness is a disease afflicting our world. It runs EVERYTHING. We are driven by selfish desires.

In my own life, I see just how selfish I am. I see that most everything I do has a motivation behind it that I may not even be aware of. Sometimes I even disguise my motivation so that others won't see just how selfish I am. I can talk of others' selfishness, but that would be selfish of me.

I pray to God that he continues to change my heart to one of giving and selflessness, so that my sons will have the best father possible, and the best example to follow! Please pray for our family...