Thursday, October 14, 2004 You've seen the various advertisements:
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:
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:
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. |
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