What goes up…

I’ve always trusted the wise sayings of my elders; lately I’ve had my doubts. I remember my grandparents telling me over and again:

“What goes up must come down.” This old saying has been around since the 1870s; commonly associated with Newton’s Law of Gravitation. We assume this saying to be true. Not necessarily so!

I thought about this as I watched the local Service Station raise the price of gasoline, again. I assume that the price will come back down. Not necessarily so!

We’re caught in a bind: (1) We must have gasoline for our cars and trucks and tractors. We depend on a full tank of gas to get us to work, to operate our business, to take us where we want to go. (2) We must pay whatever the current price of gasoline is. We have no vote or voice in determining the fair price of a gallon of gasoline. Gas prices keep on going up, for no earthly rhyme or reason. Prices locally are high. Five miles down the road, the price per gallon is 10 cents higher. In the neighboring state, the same gallon of gas is $1 higher. WHY? No one knows!

SO, how do I handle a situation over which I have no control?

A). I go along with the situation. I pay the price of gasoline, whatever it is. I pray that prices will come down, that the situation will change.

B). I rise up in righteous anger! This will make me feel better for awhile. In the long run, however, anger becomes self-destructive. Anger changes nothing.

C). I refuse to buy! Boycotts work only if everyone else joins in. The actions of a single person will have little effect on a multi-national corporation.

D). I can write to the “powers-that-be.” We need to express our opinions to those who make the decisions that affect our lives, those who have the power to change policy and practice. But since the “wheels-of-power” turn exceedingly slow, I won’t hold my breath waiting for a change in the situation.

E). I can alter my own life-style! Now here’s an area of life over which I do have a voice and a vote. I can change how I live! I can cut down on the miles I drive. I can eliminate unnecessary trips. I can learn to live well on less. I can get back to what is basic for living. I can pray for a change in the situation What goes up must come down. Hopefully this will apply to the price of gasoline. In the meantime, I’ll learn to live well with what I have!

Dr. Don Kuehle, United Methodist, Retired