THE PARADOX OF OUR TIME IN HISTORY
Jeff Dickson penned an intriguing essay about contemporary times
and how utterly paradoxical they can be. To be transparent, I saw
some of ‘me’ and ‘mine’ while perusing it, so I must take the appropriate
actions and make the requisite course corrections. Read it, ponder
it and see if you can identify any personal growth edges because all of us need
an occasional look in the mirror to foster meaningful growth and development.
The paradox of our
time in history is that
We have taller buildings, but shorter tempers;
Wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints;
We spend more, but have less;
We buy more, but enjoy it less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families;
More conveniences, but less time;
We have more degrees, but less sense;
More knowledge, but less judgment;
More experts, but more problems;
More medicine, but less wellness.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life;
We’ve added years to our lives, not life to our years.
We’ve been all the way to the moon and back,
But have trouble crossing the street to meet our new neighbor.
We’ve conquered outer space, but not inner space;
We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul;
We’ve split the atom, but not our prejudice.
We have higher incomes, but lower morals;
We’ve become long on quantity, but short on quality.
These are the times of tall men, and short character;
Steep profits, and shallow relationships.
These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare;
More leisure, but less fun;
More kinds of food, but less nutrition.
These are days of two incomes, but more divorce;
Of fancier houses, but broken homes.
It is a time when there is much in the show window
And nothing in the stock room;
A time when technology can bring this letter to you,
And a time when you can choose either to make a difference
Or just hit delete.
We have taller buildings, but shorter tempers;
Wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints;
We spend more, but have less;
We buy more, but enjoy it less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families;
More conveniences, but less time;
We have more degrees, but less sense;
More knowledge, but less judgment;
More experts, but more problems;
More medicine, but less wellness.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life;
We’ve added years to our lives, not life to our years.
We’ve been all the way to the moon and back,
But have trouble crossing the street to meet our new neighbor.
We’ve conquered outer space, but not inner space;
We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul;
We’ve split the atom, but not our prejudice.
We have higher incomes, but lower morals;
We’ve become long on quantity, but short on quality.
These are the times of tall men, and short character;
Steep profits, and shallow relationships.
These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare;
More leisure, but less fun;
More kinds of food, but less nutrition.
These are days of two incomes, but more divorce;
Of fancier houses, but broken homes.
It is a time when there is much in the show window
And nothing in the stock room;
A time when technology can bring this letter to you,
And a time when you can choose either to make a difference
Or just hit delete.
Now that you have read Mr.
Dickson’s essay, what will you do about
it? Certainly, this is a season in which all of us can afford to share (and
stimulate) more kindness, sensitivity, patience, understanding, compassion and
love. You won’t need Euros, dollars, rands, lira, rupees, rubles,
francs, pesos, pounds or shillings to do it. It will cost nothing
but the precious and priceless gift of you.
Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all
else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!
No comments:
Post a Comment