Well, I feel like a parent right now. I am making cinnamon rolls and my mom has been spending her time discovering the world of facebook. She is wild on facebook and I'm not quite sure how I feel about it. (sorry mom if you ever read this) But what a perfect day it is to make cinnamon rolls...
On "The American Myth of Success"...
I spent this past summer in Bolivia. I lived with the orphans; I have experienced simplicity. Ever since then, I have been messed up. There are days when I wonder what to do with what my eyes have seen. How is it that I wake up every morning with warm blankets and a comfy bed with no lice or bed bugs? How can I be blessed with such a wonderful, loving family?
Material objects. I will admit, I get caught up in the latest technology and I want things. I do not want to be this way. But I live in America, the land of comfort and security. The American myth of success says that with hard work comes success, and with that success comes material things, sometimes even great riches and a place in history.
Throughout time that myth has been altered in some ways. At one point, the ideal American was not one who worked for himself but on himself. The myth still says that man must work for himself to get anywhere.
I will not deny the fact that this myth has slowly taken root into my family. My father was once an Amish boy who just wanted to be Daniel Boone, and now he is a well known artist in our area. My mom (who is 44 years old) is in her freshman year of college and eventually wants to get her masters in counseling. By all means, give all you can to making a life for yourself. But what is the motive? Material objects, money, comfort?
Cynicism wants to creep into my heart. My fiance Eric gently reminds me of the honor we have in living in this country. He has been living in India for the past year and he has seen and experienced many things. He longs to be back in America.
Cynicism go away! I am a blessed woman. I must remember this.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
Mmmm, I feel you, Jani. I've never experienced simplicity, but it's something I've always wanted to. For a long time, every time I got a gift, I'd feel guilty, and give it away. Or if I had something I liked too much, I'd donate it somewhere. Because they're just things. And I think most people in America feel a little awful sometimes for waking up in warm beds with plenty of food to eat and clean clothes to wear. But at least you recognize that, you know how other people live, and God can totally work with that, you know? You're open. You're willing to share and grow and move about. Stretch within your skin. One blessed woman to another. :)
ReplyDeleteWow, this is totally true. I spent a couple weeks in El Salvador a couple years ago and I feel the same way that you do about the whole American myth of success. Why do we have so much, and they have nothing? It has made me want to do something meaningful with my life because of the great opportunities we do have here in America....
ReplyDeleteoh by the way, my mom just got a facebook, and I am not too sure how I feel about that either.