Friday, September 02, 2005
LIFE OF SIMPLICITY
LIFE OF SIMPLICITY
Shared by: Charlie Contreras
Sep 2, 2005
"I CRIED OUT TO THE LORD BECAUSE I HAVE NO SHOES, UNTIL I SAW A MAN
WITH NO FEET!" Many times, we are just too blind and deaf, and
ungrateful for the life that God gave us because we compare ourselves
with others who are better off than us. We become vain and bitter. We
tend to forget or fail to appreciate the Gift of Salvation. We tend to
forget or fail to heed the Eternal Word of God because our mind are
shaped by the world we live (Rom 12:1-2).
When we were still young boys and girls, we wanted to have lots of
toys,candies, and playmates. When we do not get what we want, we cry or
show tantrums. When we were still teenagers, we wanted to have a
girlfried or boyfried, or barkada, make lots of noise, attend parties
and gimmicks, and wanted to be the center of attraction. When our
parents scold or reprimand us, we rebel or stow away. When we earn a
college degree, we wanted a better paying job, to earn more titles, to
further advance our career and move up the corporate ladder because we
wanted to have the best and to be the best. It does not stop there and
we wanted more.
Soon we get bored and wanted more or new things. When we succeed in
whatever career we chose, we become somebody. We become famous and
powerful. We develop Pride resulting to more vices. We want to eat at
fine dine-in cuisines. We want to travel to the best beaches and
tourist spots. We want to have wine, beautiful young women and have sex
or mistresses. We want to own the best mansions and condominiums, We
want to be talked and admired by many and we even hire PR managers,
Publicist, or Media paid promoter to promote our life and achievements.
We want to be in the limelight and all over the place.
40 years ago or more, only few have TV sets. There were no computers,
no cellphones, no VCD and DVD, no shopping malls, no digital video
cameras and many other things that have become a necessity and a race
against the clock today. Yet, many were happy and lived a simple life
compared today. We would be happy just to have a family and go to
Luneta Park on Sundays or Holidays. Watching a movie and having a
picnic once or twice a year was already a big fun for the average
family. Poverty level was not yet that significant. The poor can still
send their children to school.
Today, how many have cellphones, some quite expensive than appliances
and continuously change models? How many have colored TV sets and DVD
players or Home Theaters or Component System per house? How many have
more than 2 cars and condominiums and mansions? How many have
computers, digital video cameras and digicams? How many frequent the
shopping malls and out- of town beaches and pleasure trips? Students do
not want to bring prepared food and insist to have only money instead.
In most cases, we call them that's what is IN TODAY. Many say, we need
to go with the TRENDING. Many say, we need to change and keep abreast
with what the world can offer. Many say, that is today's technology.
That today, anything goes. Otherwise we will be left behind and we
don't want to be ridiculed or feel deprived or experience self-pity.
So, go, go, go! Do we need to follow what many do or say?
Day and night, we would dream and talk about and enjoy what we have
accomplished and what more can we do. Our life now becomes so busy and
complicated. Our life now becomes insecure and risky to robbers and
kidnappers. We become restless and begin to fear for our life and
safety. We cannot stop from moving on because we think there's so much
life can offer. We cannot be filled with everything we have and want
more, more, and more. WE BECOME SLAVES of the Wordly Riches!
A feuding chinese family have filed numerous court suits and counter
suits in brazen attempts of one faction to control the family business.
Elders in the Chinese-Filipino community say the sibling feud could
have been averted if GREED were not allowed to rear its ugly head.
Recently, a former bank executive who lost his job because of scandal
fought for years to clear his name and seek revenge? from those who
allegedly destroyed his career. Sources say he graduated from Ateneo
University, became among the recepients of the Ten Outstanding Young
Men (TOYM) and the youngest bank executive. He lived in a posh
subdivision and lived a seemingly high lifestyle. When he felt he lost
his battle and could not accept and adjust to a simple quiet life, he
committed suicide leaving behind a grieving family.
When we look at the life of the rich and famous, what common things do
we see?
Aren't they Pride, Greed, and Lust? How many of them committed suicide
or just suddenly disappeared from the limelight afterwards? How many of
them became drug or alcohol addicts? How many of them have broken
families and engage in deadly vices? How many of them died with much
regret in the end?
Why is life getting harder and harder? We simply live in a world of
Secularism,Materialism, to much Commercialism and Consumerism. We have
become SLAVES of the WORLD'S RICHES and FANTASIES. Our moral and
spiritual values have changed to a very dangerous level that our very
salvation is seriously impaired.
Here's what Shakespeare said:
"Those that much covet are with gain so fond! That what they have not,
that which they possess! They scatter and unloose it from their bond,
and so by hoping more they have but less."
"That's the tragedy behind greed. As your eyes long for more, your
whole life will be consumed with the need to possess; you will never
have peace unless you get what you want, no matter what method you use
to acquire it" (Francis J. Kong).
"I have observed that the basic motive for success is the driving force
of envy, pride, and jealousy" (Ecclesiastes 4:4) I realized that
everything visible man would pursue to satisfy his flesh (money, title,
fame, power, comforts, women, wine, possessions and achievements) is
simply chasing wind (Ecclesiastes 2:11). There is no satisfaction and
man craves for more. All simply disappear.
"Progress is unfortunately man's ability to COMPLICATE simplicity."
"The greatest truths are the simplest, and so are the greatest men."
"In character, in manner, in style, in all things, the supreme
excellence is simplicity." "A pretentious, showy life is an empty life;
a plain and simple life is...FULL
LIFE!"
If we look at the life of the Saints, Martyrs, and great men and women,
they were all simple and gave up their life, their wealth if any, and
lived a godly and compassionate life for others especially to the poor
and the needy, to the sick and the wounded. Yet their story lives
forever.
In the past, my mother would always tell me to live a simple prayerful
life. I rejected it and thought it was a crazy idea and out of this
world thing. Later, I realized, she was right after experiencing
failures, tragedies and sickness,and most of all, when I surrendered
everything to God and continuously seek His guidance.
"In simplicity, there is...PEACE. In simplicity, there is...JOY. In
simplicity, there is...GOD. In God, there is SIMPLICITY. In God, there
is...JOY. In God, there is...PEACE!
You could live a simple life and be happy and filled or dream of so
many things and complicate your life without being filled. It's your
choice. We just have to learn from the past.
Shared by: Charlie Contreras
Philippines
charlie_contreras@sysuinc.com.ph (home) charcon2003@yahoo.com
PRAYER
"Lord, help me to trust in your saving power, especially when I meet
adversities and trials. Give me your peace when I am troubled and let
me know the joy of your victory over sin and death."
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