Material goods lure us into their field of fantasy, offering the good life, pleasure, and a distraction from fear and pain. This is why so many people are addicted to “Retail Therapy.” For the moment, when we buy the boat or the purse, we fulfill our dreams. But, after all, the purse is just leather and the boat just fiber glass and wood. They can be destroyed easily. And once they become ours, they can lose the luster of novelty. Somebody’s boat is bigger. Somebody’s purse is even more fashionable.
So we search for something else. Some other item that will charge our adrenaline and contribute to the image we are creating for ourselves. We strive for it, work so hard, sacrifice—and then find the thing we loved so much cannot love us back. A sparkling pair of Louboutin shoes will not give us affection and they might even hurt our feet. The boat leaks and needs a lot of maintenance. It becomes a problem.
So we go onto the next thing we think will make us happy. People can spend their whole lives on a rollercoaster like this. Any material item cannot feed the hunger of the soul for meaning and purpose. Materialism is the entertainment of the masses. Malls are teeming with people every weekend, milling around, searching and seeking for the next distraction, thrill, and momentary pleasure. Momentary and fun, but never completely satisfying.
So we search for something else. Some other item that will charge our adrenaline and contribute to the image we are creating for ourselves. We strive for it, work so hard, sacrifice—and then find the thing we loved so much cannot love us back. A sparkling pair of Louboutin shoes will not give us affection and they might even hurt our feet. The boat leaks and needs a lot of maintenance. It becomes a problem.
So we go onto the next thing we think will make us happy. People can spend their whole lives on a rollercoaster like this. Any material item cannot feed the hunger of the soul for meaning and purpose. Materialism is the entertainment of the masses. Malls are teeming with people every weekend, milling around, searching and seeking for the next distraction, thrill, and momentary pleasure. Momentary and fun, but never completely satisfying.
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