What do we want?

 

“No quick fix once and for all…recovery is about what you do with your pain, emptiness each day.  Recovery is about discovering and rediscovering God in a way that will interrupt your self-destructive behaviors and addictions.” The Fix by Ian Morgan Cron

 

As you have explored and examined your life this week, the best wisdom for today is to breathe.  In our over-programmed, hustle and hurried, addicted to flurry and self-improvement world, we want to be our best selves…now!!  We want to thrive and flourish…now!  I think of the song from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory where Veruca Salt (embodiment of our inner lust for life) sings:

 

I want a ball. I want a party
Pink macaroons and a million balloons
And performing baboons and ...
Give it to me…Now!

I want the world I want the whole world
I want to lock it all up in my pocket
It's my bar of chocolate
Give it to me…Now!

Click above to hear the whole song.

We want the whole world…and we want it now!  We want it our way…not just when we order a Whopper at Burger King.  And I think of Jesus in Mark 8:36 saying, “For what will it profit them (meaning you and me and we) to gain the whole world and forfeit their life/soul/energy?”  Indeed, what can they give in return for their life?”  Or as Eugene Peterson paraphrases this passage in the Message version: What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for?

 

What are you running and racing toward that promises you life abundant, but just leaves you exhausted and your bank account drained?  What is it that you really want, but when you taste it, doesn’t satisfy?  Hold these hard, holy, life-long questions knowing that our patient and persistent God is always with us to help us sort through the beautiful broken rumble that is our life.  Amen.