Thursday, October 14, 2004

You've seen the various advertisements:

• The couple lazily enjoying a wonderfully roasted cup of coffee on a glorious weekend morning.
• The entire family laughing and playing joyfully in the backyard on a crisp fall afternoon; all the while enjoying a new soda on the market.
• The friends peacefully glancing over a glorious vista; sun setting and stars shining, while being waited on by the hotel staff.
• The athletically fit individual successfully finishing a run; sweating, drinking a sports drink and smiling at the world.

You've seen the advertisements. And you've got to admit, it's something we've each pined for at one time or another. We may even have said to ourselves, "When my life slows down or the pace at work gets easier, we'll have that same thing." And most likely, it never comes. And it's not surprising.

In re-reading Wayne Muller's book, SABBATH: Restoring the Sacred Rhythm of Rest, he explains:

"...when we get the clothing, the coffee maker, the furniture, the perfume, it comes in the mail, it comes to our house, into our own weary and hurried life. We are too tired from working to wear it, drink it, sit in it, or enjoy it..."

"The lie is this: While they (advertisements) are promising happiness, they are really selling dissatisfaction. Our entire economy is predicated upon dissatisfaction. If we are satisfied, we do not need more than we already have. Once we have eaten our fill, we do not ask for another helping. If we are happy in our marriage, we are not desperate to have an affair... when we are happy, we are not driven to grasp for more than we have..."

We are never thin enough or attractive enough. We are not successful enough or happy enough. I'm sure you've heard these same messages blurted out from the media and advertisements. And it is no wonder we are collectively tired.

Perhaps we going about it all wrong. For once we've collected all the clothes, money, vacations, housing accommodations and luxuries, we still will never be like those in the advertisements. That's the simple reality of it and advertisers know it. When we find out that we still aren't like those in the advertisements, we'll continue to want more...

Perhaps we are focusing on the wrong thing. As Muller states, perhaps we need to "do what they do in the picture without paying for it." In other words:

• Be that couple lazily enjoying a wonderfully roasted cup of coffee on a glorious weekend morning, but enjoy the coffee from your old coffee pot and the same coffee you always use. Just relax.
• Be that entire family laughing and playing joyfully in the backyard on a crisp fall afternoon, but be okay with simply drinking Kool-Aid or water. Just enjoy.
• Be those friends peacefully glancing over a glorious vista; sun setting and stars shining, but being waited on by each other from the confines of your own homes. Just be at peace.
• Be that athletically fit individual successfully finishing a run; sweating and smiling, just knowing that you are treating your body well. Just be well.

The reason those pictures attract us, according to Muller, is that the persons in the images have "stopped." They've slowed down, relaxed, gotten away from the grind... they are peaceful. Now what clothing item, coffee or drink could ever help us to achieve that similar peace?

Take time today, my friend, to slow down. Stop. And listen to the world you are in. Listen to the voices inside you that are possibly craving so many material things. And you may find that they are collectively begging for solace, for peace, for quiet and for relaxation. Give those voices what they need, without using your wallet to do it.