I have been asking myself a question, and if you happen to trip by this blog I would like to know what you think. Here it is:
“If you lived alone in a cave your whole life, never knowing another soul, eating whatever food was available to you, finding warmth in the cold and shade in the heat, would you be content?”
I have often seen children playing on television in living conditions that I could only describe as squalor. Somehow, though, they seem happy. That is, they are able to laugh and play with one another seemingly unaware of, what I might think of as, their plight. Now this is the bit that interests me – I think they are happy. Why? Because they haven’t known any better lifestyle.
Not exactly revelation this stuff, I know. But if they can be happy not knowing what they are missing in more advanced “first world” nations then surely…surely, the thing that makes us unhappy is knowing what we are missing. You know, my neighbours pool is a deeper shade of blue than mine; or my friend drives a more expensive car than me that has more features and a more comfortable interior – I better grab me one of those. My brothers wife is more exotic and pleasant than my own…suddenly I am just discontent with the [excellent] things I already have. My discontent becomes apparent to me only when I compare my life, and what I have, to others.
I guess the saying “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” is more poignant than I ever suspected.
2 comments
Sharelle
February 3, 2009 at 6:13 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
I have just deleated my first paragraph and am starting again for the second time cause this is a very deep question Jamie.
“surely, the thing that makes us unhappy is knowing what we are missing”
I think relationships are the key to being content, material things tend to come and go or we take them for granted so we are left wanting ( that is why the children that live in squalor seem content/happy because all they have are each other )
I also know that we were created to be in relationship with God and that relationship was intended to be intimate and fullfilling and it is….. but why am I still left wanting and discontent from time to time…….
Maybe….. cause I know what I am missing
Maybe…..we were’nt created to find total contentment in this life
Maybe
Jamie
February 10, 2009 at 10:39 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
I agree Sharelle. in my experience contentment is found in relationships. Then again they are also the source of much discontent. I think we were intended for contentedness in this life; I just think we so often look for it where it cannot be found…that would make it seem like it didn’t exist, maybe.
I love your input, it makes me think