A recent article I read examines our crazy consumer driven world. The writer points out how we are now being sold products that are made simply to be bought. That’s right: they are not useful other than satisfying and stimulating our desire to acquire.
I have never thought of it that way before. I had not realized that so many of the things we buy are really just trinkets or baubles that have no true purpose. It’s a sad, frustrating realization. Western society has trained itself that if having something is good, having more is better, even if it’s useless.
There are many problems with this. In addition to being addicted to acquiring stuff, there is the matter of wasting precious resources. The article’s author mentions the precious metals, forests and energy wasted in providing us with our fix. I see another major waste: human genius. Every product needs to be invented by someone. There are vast teams thinking of stuff to make so that we can buy more. Think of that: rather than figuring out how we might better live together, or waste less or get along without buying everything in sight, we are paying folks to think of things we can buy.
That’s not good. God did not put us on earth to have more playthings; we are here as God’s companions and children. Sadly, we’ve directed our attention away from God to ourselves and our stuff. That means we’re not only wasting the earth’s resources; we’re wasting ourselves. It’s time to turn things around. We need more holiness and less stuff. We need more sharing and less hoarding. Ultimately, we need more God and less us.
December 9th Waste Not
I love bargains, gadgets and, I have to admit, brightly coloured packages. A couple of weeks ago these three loves came together in a less than half price deal I couldn’t resist. Hooray for my new GorillaPod tripod, purchased for less than ten dollars, taxes included!
In case you’re wondering, a GorillaPod is a tremendously versatile tripod that lets you mount a camera just about anywhere. I know this because I had one previously that I ended up giving away to a family member in Italy. That’s how cool this thing is, and that’s why I was so happy to buy a replacement very cheaply. The brightly coloured packaging didn’t hurt either.
The brightly coloured packaging, however, is the very reason for this missive. When I unwrapped the product, I couldn’t believe how much plastic and cardboard there was. I could probably have made another GorillaPod with it. Yes, I admit that I love brightly coloured packages; I also think that they’re a great waste and I begrudge paying for them, even at a bargain price.
I also begrudge what it says about us as consumers. Is the package really that important? Yes, I realize things have to be kept neat and tidy and that the advertisement helps direct folks to a product, but still, it doesn’t seem right. Our beloved home, planet Earth, has only limited resources. We are called by God to be wise stewards of those resources. Making useful products is wise. Wrapping them in tons of plastic and cardboard is a foolish use. I think I should reconsider my love of brightly coloured packages. Maybe I should just focus on the product instead. How about you?
In case you’re wondering, a GorillaPod is a tremendously versatile tripod that lets you mount a camera just about anywhere. I know this because I had one previously that I ended up giving away to a family member in Italy. That’s how cool this thing is, and that’s why I was so happy to buy a replacement very cheaply. The brightly coloured packaging didn’t hurt either.
The brightly coloured packaging, however, is the very reason for this missive. When I unwrapped the product, I couldn’t believe how much plastic and cardboard there was. I could probably have made another GorillaPod with it. Yes, I admit that I love brightly coloured packages; I also think that they’re a great waste and I begrudge paying for them, even at a bargain price.
I also begrudge what it says about us as consumers. Is the package really that important? Yes, I realize things have to be kept neat and tidy and that the advertisement helps direct folks to a product, but still, it doesn’t seem right. Our beloved home, planet Earth, has only limited resources. We are called by God to be wise stewards of those resources. Making useful products is wise. Wrapping them in tons of plastic and cardboard is a foolish use. I think I should reconsider my love of brightly coloured packages. Maybe I should just focus on the product instead. How about you?
December 2nd Average Expectations
The late Canadian piano virtuoso, Glenn Gould, was an incredibly meticulous man. When he recorded a piece of music, he would repeat the performance several times and then splice together one perfect version. This was in the days before simple computer editing. Mr. Gould would take pieces of recorded tape, cut them up and then stick them back together. It was a tricky, time consuming job that took many hours, but the result was as perfect a performance as any human could achieve.
Certain worship leaders have that same attitude. They seek excellence above ministry: every hymn must lead the congregation perfectly; every gift of music must be a technical master-piece; every note must be the epitome of the musician’s art.
I struggle with that quest for perfection. Music and worship is an offering to God and a ministry to those singing or playing instruments. Yes, I personally expect the songs to be recognizable and pleasant to hear, but I do not expect them to be so perfect as to be almost machine like. Some musicians are stronger than others. Some voices are more trained than others. Why, some folks are great in rehearsal but have a hard time singing or playing before a live congregation.
I think that as people of faith we should strive for excellent worship rather than excellent performances. There might be some mistakes or out of tune singing, but that is part of the charm of humanity. God knows we’re not perfect. God knows our music won’t be perfect. Yet God also knows the excellence of our hearts; when we do our best, God is pleased. Shouldn’t that be good enough for us, too?
Certain worship leaders have that same attitude. They seek excellence above ministry: every hymn must lead the congregation perfectly; every gift of music must be a technical master-piece; every note must be the epitome of the musician’s art.
I struggle with that quest for perfection. Music and worship is an offering to God and a ministry to those singing or playing instruments. Yes, I personally expect the songs to be recognizable and pleasant to hear, but I do not expect them to be so perfect as to be almost machine like. Some musicians are stronger than others. Some voices are more trained than others. Why, some folks are great in rehearsal but have a hard time singing or playing before a live congregation.
I think that as people of faith we should strive for excellent worship rather than excellent performances. There might be some mistakes or out of tune singing, but that is part of the charm of humanity. God knows we’re not perfect. God knows our music won’t be perfect. Yet God also knows the excellence of our hearts; when we do our best, God is pleased. Shouldn’t that be good enough for us, too?
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