Progress?

“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, but 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 life, but not life to years.  We’ve been to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the 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 the days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses, but broken homes.  It is a time when there is much in the showroom and nothing in the stockroom.”*

This is a sobering review of the state of the culture in which we live.  Although it is a bit dated, I don’t think much has improved since it was written 19 years ago.  How in the world did we get here?  Numerous factors are involved, but at a basic level, perhaps we’ve lost a sense of what is truly important.  “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul (Matthew 16:26)?

God loves you!

Mike

*written by a Columbine student on the second anniversary of their tragedy (2 Nov 1999)