A is for Awareness

So to kick off the April Blog-a-Day Challenge, I'm gonna start with Awareness. It is coming at us from every side. There are enough ribbons for some kind of awareness or other to make a rainbow seem drab. So, what's behind it? First off, I would like to think there is an element of sharing caution/concern. AIDS awareness certainly falls into this category. If one doesn't know what it is or what causes it, AIDS awareness, can answer those questions. The idea is to dispel myths about how the disease in contracted and hopefully to put people at ease when in direct contact with those who have the disease. Along with AIDS awareness, there's Autism Awareness, Breast Cancer Awareness, Caesarean Section Awareness, Mourning Awarenss, Spina Bifida Awareness, and the list goes on and on. (For more information about the ribbons/awareness out there, check out http://www.trinitylondon.com/awareness-ribbon-meanings.asp.) It would seem we are being completely innundated with information so that we can be aware. At what end? Sure, there's the information factor. However, information by itself is really inert. Awareness is a step beyond information into action resulting from receiving said information. Where does it leave one, then? My thought is that awareness can carry out guilt transference. "You're not doing enough because you're not supporting my cause." "You don't know how good you have it, so you should ultra happy all the time that you don't have to deal with this malady whose awareness I'm supporting." "You should be ashamed of yourself for enjoying your life because others, whose crappy lives I want you to be aware of, are suffering." Maybe I'm a little over the top on this, I'll admit. But as I am striving toward contentment in my own life, I am also searching for a balance. I cannot save or be the champion for every sort of ill in the world. What I can do is search my own heart. I can call out to the One who made me to find out what He wants me to be aware of and act upon. And that is enough for me.