Great Insights

I borrowed the following from a good friend who has great insight. She has given me permission to use it here. I hope it helps you.

Investments that Last
by: Robbie Bender

Perusing through articles in the news today I was shocked and dismayed to read an editorial about how a fairly popular alcho-pop was being discontinued. The shock and dismay didn't come from the discontinuation of the product itself, I am in support of things which encourage teenage drinking from being discontinued, but rather my disgust came from the attitude of the editorialist himself.The entire article was devoted to his deep love of a product. The discontent over losing this product could be felt throughout his words, as he began to speak of hording it as though it was a precious jewel. He would do everything within his power to enjoy the last few weeks that this product would be available on the shelves. A comparison of this article to others in the media made my frustrations rise even higher. For, throughout the media we read articles about who is sleeping with whom, and the continual onset of discarded relationships. We devour them, not with distaste or sadness, but with a lusty joy over lost relationships, yet we cannot bear to lose a beloved product. Our consumerism has seemingly driven us to caring more for something we can purchase off a shelf, than the flesh and blood relationships that go on around us every day. In fact, the very language used to describe this fizzy alcoholic beverage could be seen in a poem written out of love for someone one truly cares for.There are people all around us who are hurting. Who need love and devotion, not to mention many, especially this year, who are just struggling to keep their electricity on, and yet for many Americans, there seems to be more sadness over not getting what they want, rather than focusing on the people that surround them. Though this editorialist may have deep care and concern for those around him, I honestly can't say, as I do not know this individual, I fear that his article showed something that I have seen in my generally interactions with people. People love stuff. Today, for example, I made the mistake of pulling into Target's parking lot. I thought that maybe I would grab a last minute Christmas gift, however, it was a disaster. After discovering my mistake I quickly tried to make a retreat, only to find myself trapped in a conglomeration of cars. Is this what we have become? Sinking slowly in a quick sand that makes us believe that in order to be satisfied on Christmas morning, in order for us to believe that those around us feel loved and appreciated, we must buy them a bunch of stuff, that will ultimately end up in the garbage or given to Goodwill anyway. What has happened to us? The myth is deep and bombards us wherever we go. Jesus even talks about it in scripture, that we truly cannot serve both God and mammon. The love of stuff and having more than our neighbor has, is a disease as old as Adam and Eve longing to have the one thing they were told not to. A disease which we choose to live in. Instead of destroying we choose to let it destroy us. That's exactly what diseases do if you choose to let them live within you. Conquering this attitude can only happen if we choose to resist it. To resist the system that is so available to us. People will think we are crazy for doing so, for seeing more value in spending time with loved ones than spending money on them, but relationships are the only thing that lasts. As the stock market plummets and the economy is in ruin the solution isn't to buy more, it should be to love more. To realize this Christmas, of all Christmases that the Christ was born in the most lowly of states, in the most poor of places, to an oppressed people, that we might realize that there is more to life than popularity, status, and money. It won't be the brand new gadget or widget or outfit that gets us through life, it will be those around us cheering us on, loving us through everything that will make even the hardest times seem a bit easier. For relationships are truly, the only thing that lasts, and that's an investment that won't crash.