The Good Life

I was listening to MSNBC on the radio the other day when a feature
came on entitled, The Good Life.’ They proceeded to discuss a $14,000
dessert being offered in Sri Lanka that included, amongst other things,
an aquamarine. No kidding. This is how MSNBC characterizes the good
life. It struck me how in our culture we define the good life more in
terms of the consumption of material goods than in relationship to any
other quality.

Cristal Champagne, Expensive Cars, First Class Jet Airline Seats, Bling
Simply listen to the vast majority of contemporary music on the
airwaves these days for confirmation. I have two teenagers in my house
so I know all too well: Cristal champagne, expensive cars, first class
jet airline seats, blingthe list goes on and on. This is what our kids
are being taught: the good life is about having things, not about who
you are as a human being. Where are these values coming from? I believe
it is a trickle down effect from what they see being honored in our
society.

How is it that so many People who have so Many Things have lives that Lack so much Satisfaction and Meaning?
So if the good life is about having things, how is it that so many
people who have so many things have lives that lack so much
satisfaction and meaning? I am not saying that having money is not a
good thing, quite the contrary. We all need financial security. We need
to know that we can provide for our families and be free of the
pressure of struggling to make ends meet. We all want to live a
comfortable life. But where is the point of no return?