Rights and Privileges

Do you ever find yourself thinking that you have a right to something? Maybe you feel you have a right to be treated a certain way, or you have a right to have certain material things. How does having unfulfilled rights make you feel? Does it make you feel good? Maybe it makes you feel disappointed, jealous or angry. Are these feelings you would choose to have? Don’t you have the right NOT to have these feelings?

I drive an older car. I always have. Maybe someday I will drive a new car, but for now I’m happy with my old car. Do I have the right to drive a new car? Sure, most people I know drive pretty new cars, why shouldn’t I? I make a decent living, I should be able to afford a new car. I should demand to drive a new car – it’s my right, right? Wrong! Rather than getting caught up in my rights, I have chosen to view my car as a privilege rather than a right. I am privileged to own any car at all. Furthermore, I am privileged to drive a car that I am comfortable in, made by a company I am happy to support (VW, yeah!) and which is fairly dependable.

The same can be said about most things which we consider rights; freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to vote, etc. The fact is, no one promised you would have any of these things, and when you look at the scope of history, most people have not been blessed with the same “rights” that we currently enjoy and often take for granted.

So when it comes down to it, it’s about choice. Would you rather be all pissed off about some perceived right that isn’t being fulfilled, or would you rather choose to enjoy your many privileges.

Blessings, Kenneth Goudsward

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