satisfaction

What does it take for you to feel a sense of accomplishment? What does it take to make that feeling last?

We're so geared to check things off our list and move on, aren't we? There's no such thing as "resting on our laurels." There's no glory in savoring the moment. If you take a break to relish a personal victory, you're not to be taken seriously. Put out a Number 1 hit, and the critics are already anticipating your next CD. Write a bestseller, and the hum begins about the next book. Get the corner office and most people think you should get ready to set your sights on something better.

Not that I'm familiar with these accomplishments, but I've seen the trend in my life as well. Get married and friends and family will ask you "So, when are you going to have a baby?" Have a baby and people are already asking "So, when are you going to have another baby?"

Is it possible to be satisfied with your situation when every indication is that the world is passing you by? I think so. When satisfaction is no longer a byproduct of how well we're keeping up with the rest of the world. When we look at what we're doing and seek to do it the best we can instead of moving on to something else. When we really appreciate where we are, what we've done, and who we're with.

The Old Testament story of King Solomon shows a man who is both grateful for and content in his circumstances, not eager to move onto something else, but to do the best he can in his situation. He is described in 2 Chronicles as "established...firmly over his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great." Solomon has the respect of commanders and heads of families alike and he rules over "a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth."

So what does he ask for? More territory? Another exciting assignment? More money?

Not at all. Solomon's only request is that God gives him the smarts to do what he's already doing.

"Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?" 2 Chronicles 1:9-10.

It might be considered countercultural to refrain from looking to the next event, project, accomplishment, milestone, whatever. I'm asking you to fight against a pretty strong current, but wouldn't it be nice to find satisfaction--however momentary--in where God has placed us?

The chorus of Linkin Park's A Place for My Head echo this simple wish for the weary:

I'm sick of the tension, sick of the hunger
Sick of you acting like I owe you this
Find another place to feed your greed
While I find a place to rest.

what's next?

"What are we doing tomorrow, Mommy?" My oldest daughter asks me this question nearly every night. It's one of many questions asked as we are flirting with the dangerous topic of bedtime, but it's the only question that really sets my teeth on edge.

I don't want to think about tomorrow yet. I'm not finished with today: it's only 8:00pm and I still have dishes and laundry to do, phone calls to make, emails to answer.

I also dread the question because she will then want to negotiate tomorrow's activities right then and there, instinctively knowing that I don't have the intestinal fortitude at that time of night to argue. I will agree to almost anything. And she doesn't forget anything.

Next day after school, it's "You said last night we could go to Target after school! You said!" I did? I guess I did.

Some parenting experts say that preparing children for the next activity or event in their day helps smooth out the transition process. I think perhaps I overdid it, wanting to prepare my firstborn adequately. "Okay, honey, after we eat lunch we're going to read books then take a nap, okay? Now eat your sandwich." After a while it became apparent that she didn't engage in nearly any activity wholeheartedly without anticipating the next one. We'd be 5 minutes into a favorite TV show and she'd say "when this is over, I'm going to watch the next show."

I know, I know, part of this is an age phase, part of it is just being a kid. But part of it is the human desire to be in control of our future, planning out every minute so we are prepared, not surprised. We desire the proverbial crystal ball. We guess at outcomes. We anticipate. We hope.

Reading from the Old Testament book Ecclesiastes, you see that the writer speaks to the pursuit of hopes and expectations as "meaningless." Read through the pessimistic renderings ("Everything is meaningless!" "This, too, is meaningless, a chasing after the wind!" "Everything to come is meaningless!") and you wonder if the writer is simply working through a deep depression. Yet the writer is not saying life is meaningless because we can't control it. He comes out of this pit of despair to share the affirmation that life without God is meaningless.

Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to
find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of
life God has given him—for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any
man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and
be happy in his work—this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of
his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.
Ecclesiastes 5:18-20, NIV.

I wish that for my daughter, to be "occupied with gladness of heart" and accept her lot and enjoy her days instead of looking longingly into the future. Jesus wishes that for me, and you as well.

it's not always about money

I get tired of thinking about money, don't you? It seems like we can't do anything without going back to...money. Want to lose weight? Need money for that...the health club costs money, healthy food will be more expensive and if I'm going to exercise I may as well look good doing it so there's a good $300 blown on apparel and shoes at Sports Authority (not to mention the IPOD I'm going to need while excercising so I don't get bored).

Want to get a better job? Well, you'll likely need to get that advanced degree, which means tuition and books, not to mention the requisite Starbucks grande that all graduate students bring with them to class to show that they are not only forced to draw most of their sustenence from caffeine-laced beverages but that they are in vogue as well.

Thinking about having children? Those little bundles of joy ain't free...there's the ordinary costs of diapers and well-baby care, but that's just the beginning. The nursey must be outfitted properly (hello Pottery Barn Kids catalogue) and we must prepare them adequately for life by getting on the waiting list for the both the right preschool (at $380/month) and the right soccer team.

I can think of other steps in life that take cold hard cash to fulfill, can't you? Some take less money than others. And really, if we think about it clearly, the money required depends on the kind of impression we want to make (i.e., won't people take us more seriously if we look like we're invested in the process?).

What about becoming a Christian? You might say there's monetary traps there as well. If I'm going to take that step, I need to buy the "right" accoutrements: the Bible that's currently in fashion, the church membership through my monetary support, the right clothes to wear to service, the right books to read, etc. etc. Right?

Let's leave the monetary factor out of this equation. Your experience with organized Christianity may lead you to believe that it's all about cash, but it's not. Following Jesus is not: buying/reading the right books + giving the right amount of money to the church = a ticket to heaven. It's not: giving money to a Christian charity + buying Christian music = deeper spirituality.

Jesus wants your heart. He loves you for who you are, not what you do, who you know or what you buy. He saved you despite of your shortcomings.

For Jesus, it's not about the money: your love, your life, is priceless.

sibling squabbles

I was an only child, so parenting has taught me a lot. One of the things I've learned is that my two girls have a reasonable amount of sibling rivalry. They don't spend every waking moment fighting, just some moments. Now I understand that's not unusual. But their squabbles still grate on my nerves and sometimes their childish cruelty ("you babyface!" "I'm not your sister anymore!") cuts me to the heart. More than 30 minutes of bantering just wears me out!

But I can say that I've never experienced more joy than watching them play peacefully, work cooperatively, and treat each other fairly. I wish it could be like that all the time, not just for my nerves but for their own happiness.

In this way I get a small glimpse of God's desire for his people around the world. Imagine His pleasure when a peace treaty is signed, when friends reconcile, when people unite for a common cause. Psalm 133 begins "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live to gether in unity!" The desire for this peace has been placed on our hearts also.

In the New Testament, Jesus warns us of the alternative: "But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgement! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the high council. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell!" (Matthew 5:22)

Inevitably, the squabbles move into the plaintive realm ("she hit me first!" "she's not nice!"). I'm trying to teach my daughters to concentrate on what they are doing, not what their sister is doing. Kind of like the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Be peaceful. Cooperate. Treat people fairly.

The world would be a different place if all of us did so.

DJS

joining the fray

So what does one say upon joining the ranks of bloggers? Here I am? Welcome to my blog?

It's probably best to focus on why I am here.

Here's what I hope to accomplish: provide an antidote for weltschmerz. A fancy word for mental depression or apathy caused by comparison of the actual state of the world with an ideal state (thanks Webster's).

Many of us suffer from this ailment. The phrase "that's not fair" comes from a longing to be somewhere where justice is served. Where bad things don't happen to good people. Where honesty is the norm.

I don't think I'm the only one overwhelmed by the natural disasters, scandals, excesses, and tragedies that make their way into our lives via TV, Internet, radio, conversations. It's exhausting. Sometimes it feels hopeless. It's enough to wear you out. We can be weary of this world. Sometimes we long for a better place.

I believe God places this longing in our hearts because he does have something in mind for us. Something better. He has a place for us in his Kingdom. In the New Testament book of Revelation, the apostle John speaks of a vision where he heard someone saying," Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever." (Revelation 21:3-4).

Sounds wonderful doesn't it?

So that's the purpose of this blog. Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:7 to "Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near." That's what I aim to do.

But I don't want you to think I am offering some sort of apocalyptic prediction. I want to help you and all the other world-weary souls discover hope for the journey...in God's Word.

DJS