When torrential rain hits a certain area of the country all the inhabitants do not experience the rains in the same way. Some will lose everything and will be found wailing at the scene of the devastation while another person will be sitting in his living room listening to the sound of the falling ran drinking a cup of coffee.
Natural disasters are universal in extent but many times selective in the harm done. Some people are harmed and some are fortunate. Depending on their situation in society and environment, results are often greatly different.
This is not only the situation with natural disasters but also revealed in the value systems that exist. An example is seen within the laws of a country. All the citizens are under the law but not all are influenced the same. One person who has falsified a certificate may be in jail while another person through forgery or fraudulent accounting, may escape going to jail for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars. The law also which is universal can be selective. The law should be the same for all but at times one is treated with an iron hammer and another with a cotton club.
In this world, there are many situations where things that are universal in themselves when applied we see differences and discrimination occurring and the results vary from one person to another. Dealing with the same incident the news media depending on the way they want to cover the story can change the way the public will view the incident. Likewise doing the same work under our present system the value and compensation are different, even though we enjoy the same life, one life is considered more important than another.
There are certain universal values: justice, equality, freedom, peace, life, love, rights, etc. These universal values should be equally open for all to acquire, however, if the process is unfair then the values become choices that many are not prepared to receive.
What we need in the world is a fair process. We need a starting field that is level so that all may strive to achieve universal values. What is this justice (fairness) and how do we go about achieving it?
In general, people understand the meaning of fairness as a method, an impersonal automatic procedure. For example, if the hourly wage is 10,000 won, a person who works 8 hours will get 80,000 won, and a person who works 2 hours gets 20,000 this is considered fair. This would be the common understanding of fairness.
However, the fairness we seek needs to go well beyond these dimensions. Because it's not possible to contain the whole of life within these impersonal limitations. Even if each person's situation is different should we not see the whole of life fairly. Therefore, we have to pursue fairness on the objective and organic level, going beyond the methodological and impersonal levels.
To take the previous example again, a person who worked 8 hours should receive 80,000 won, and a person who worked 2 hours should receive 20,000 won, but in some cases, a person who works 2 hours can get 80,000 won like a person who works 8 hours. Although he was only able to work for two hours for various reasons, if he was in a situation where he had to earn 80,000 won to lead a basic life as a human being, he should be able to receive 80,000 won. Here, what is important is organic cooperation achieved through the sympathy and consensus of community members to achieve the goal of leading a human life for all without exception.
Is this not what Jesus showed us in the parable of the vineyard where the persons who work only one hour received the same pay as those who worked all day (Matt. 20: 1-16).
Unfolding God's justice in the world we live in is the realization of universal values, working towards the common good, we are helping to build the kingdom of God in this world.
