A glamorous party in the movie where everyone is rich, good-looking and successful; Glitzy social media posts where everyone seems to be having the time of their life; Idyllic shots of a far-off paradise where all the colors are more vibrant than the colors outside my window on a dreary day.
Everyone there must be so happy and content. No problems or worries.
Is that what you visualize as contentment?
These kinds of images confront us in entertainment and advertising almost nonstop. They tap into and intensify a current of thought that we all want that exciting life.
If God wants the best for me, then why am I not content. If only I could take a long vacation; get into a larger home; get a new wardrobe; my kids don’t visit me often; I have a new ache in my back!
The current thought goes like this: Real life is going on somewhere else. True, exciting, fulfilling, enchanting lives are being lived by other people. While all that I have is my ordinary self and my boring old normality. Are we all chasing an illusionary idea of what makes us content and happy?
Are you and I rushing from goal to goal thinking that we will find contentment at the end of our rainbow? We believe that we lead just mediocre lives. Nothing exciting. Surely, we will be content if only——–(fill in the blank.)
Reality is rough, imperfect. It is what makes up our life here.
When in fact, the imperfections, sorrow, hardships, and sloppiness of “ordinary life” are the shadows that accompany real depth of life.
We all possess a special strength that we really didn’t know we had unless it is tried.
God has given us the ability to make lemonade from the lemons of life.
These imperfections of our lives are the shadows that accompany us, the grit of life, the real authenticity as opposed to the shiny smooth and the unreality of the movie screen,
You and I will find our contentment in the realization that God has given us this life for a purpose. We will find contentment when we find our purpose.
That’s contentment.
AbideLines 