We run like crazy through life and then wonder why time seems to fly by? We run for all kinds of reasons. One reason is the American work ethic. I've spent much of my adult life thinking this was something to be proud of. I'm coming to think this is not anything to be proud of. It's destroying us by destroying family and community.
We keep doing it because we have been led to believe we need many things. And we have been led to believe we must keep acquiring more and bigger and better things. They are presented to us as being things that will make us happy and secure. Everyone I talk to says they know things don't make them happy and people certainly aren't feeling secure. We know this because we have more things than any society in the world but we have higher degrees of depression, anxiety and loneliness. Add to that exhaustion, hopelessness and powerlessness and it would be safe to say, We aren't having a party.
But we keep doing the same things over and over everyday even though we are aware of something being wrong. Why are we stuck repeating a way of living that is beating the hell out of us? Are we crazy or is something else going on? Maybe we are slaves to the system? Maybe it is that we are enslaved to someone that has deceived us into believing this is what living is all about?
2 comments:
Kent,
Your words resonate with me. I too grew up in an environment where we were taught that hard work would lead to owning your own home and thus the American Dream.
You are right to remind us that this "americanism" is actually quite destructive. During the last year, as I've come to learn my whole plan of living was upside down.
I was asked: "If you had no obstacles (read: money, time, logistics) in the way, what would you do? What would you devote yourself to? What would you seek to accomplish?
This was a radical question for me, because it jolted me awake to my prison. I was spending 80% of my waking hours doing all sorts of things that had nothing to do with my dreams, my passions or the multitude of gifts my Father in heaven had given me.
Suicide machine indeed.
Now, I'm on a different path...one I should have been on long ago.
Thank you for your powerful post!
Mark, I'm glad to hear of someone else finding freedom by "rethinking" the American Script.
I am glad to be an American, but I am learning daily, more and more of the dangers within this script that keeps us from living unto Christ and his way.
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