July 14th, 2010

Contentment - pt. 2

        It’s official – contentment has finally become a “lost art”. Somebody needs to explain to me why it’s so bad to be content (happy, settled, stable) with one’s job, car(s), spouse, or whatever. I understand “wanting” things, nothing wrong with that, but why is there such a huge push for “more”? We can read about winner after winner of any lottery that has had their lives destroyed by the sudden gain of huge amounts of money. But when asked what’s the one thing people want, interview after interview reveals that most people think all their problems will be solved if they had a million dollars. Why?

        I don’t mean, “Why do they want the one million dollars?” I mean, how and why did we get to this point in our societal consciousness that we think money is the solution to everything? The why is simple; greed. The how is not so simple. Turn on any TV to see our country spending money at an alarming rate. Listen to conversations at the mall, or watch at a cash register, and you’ll observe people spending money that they don’t even have! Why? All because of what Rick Warren calls “When and Then” thinking.

Most of us have bought this lie at some point; when I get [insert item / person], then I’ll be happy,” nothing could be further from the truth. I believe most people know that this way of thinking is not true, but they still persist in acquiring the latest, fastest, coolest, hottest, thing (or person). The reality is quite simple; contentment is always and forever experienced in the present moment. There is no future contentment, only contentment in the “here and now”. Even Jesus said to leave tomorrow alone. What are you waiting for?

Posted: 1 year ago