...CANNOT BE APPEASED IN MATERIALISM. Materialism--that of satisfying our own presumed physical needs--undermines our soul, the very essence of our being.
Our lifetime job, no less our responsibility, is to nurture the soul that we may harmonize mind, body, and soul.
Though seldom acted upon, the care of the soul is essential to our well-being. Its neglect is the root cause of a lifetime of unhappiness, of not knowing who we are or why we are here.
Quite simply, an unenlightened soul means a life unfulfilled.
G.D. Kilbourn
bwfaithministry
"I remember more than once purchasing clothes that were too expensive. They were supposed to say 'I fit in.' Once home, the bags were left in the bottom of the closet, unopened. With my 'high' of shopping, over...the feeling of unworthiness, back. Therefore: The unease that haunts us..." blw
Email blwoodard@shaw.ca
21 comments:
From Meg's e-mail: I could never purchase expensive items, but often felt that more was better. If I had $100, I would buy a bunch of cheap things, and then I’d have more of a selection. I soon realized that more didn’t make me happier. And my grandmother’s words, “you get what you pay for” always haunted me as well. More and more I am aware that happiness (and strength) come from deep within. Now, I am still struggling with nurturing the soul. My body has been telling me for a while now, that while the sweets may momentarily nurture the soul (much like shopping) in the long run, they don’t do the body good. Then – the mind, body and soul are not in harmony.
Hard part is to keep an enlightened soul . We can understand everything necessary to be happy–but can we be consistent to stay happy? If any of this makes sense…?
From YW's e-mail: The only time I felt I had to impress people, on how I dressed, was during my fourth year of University. I had gone to Manitoba for the year and found my peers were shopping at Holt Renfrew and flying first class on the planes. I started looking down on my clothing and bought large amounts of expensive clothes. Not to mention make up and shampoos. It had to smell a certain way. I never made it out of Dental School and ended up failing my first year there. I was caught in the materialistic aspect of it all. So consumed by how I look to others and not acing my school work. What I learned from that experience was that I had wasted a lot of money, and I was still the same person.
From LW's e-mail: What a wonderful reflection that Garry has written for us! Thank you for the reminder that things are just "things" and they can only serve to temporarily change our well-being. That feeling definitely doesn't last forever, after the "high" of getting what you thought you "needed" to make you feel a certain way. If we continue to look outside ourselves to boost our self-esteem, to make us feel better, worthy or happy, what we will find is false and fleeting. How many times have I said - I TOTALLY need this to make me feel better (could be a new possession or new experience). And then once I received it, as time went on, it lacked the spark and I was venturing off to find the next new thing. We can't spend our lives chasing after shiny pennies! Then we'll never find out who we really are!
From DR's email: : I see that it is a writing by G. D. Kilbourn – who has long been a favourite of mine. Our lifetime job, no less our responsibility, is to nurture the soul that we may harmonize mind, body, and soul. This is s just the soothing thought that my soul needs right now! Thank you for helping me clear my mind and focus on the future and what is really important!
From DG's email: That's a great post and a timely reminder to not forget about the soul in our busy lives.
The immediate thing often grabs our attention - homework to help with, work to do, etc. but all of these are so much less important than fellowship with God.
From BK's email: I could really relate to you shopping comments Bonnie. I have really been trying to overcome this weakness - and I have managed to change my habits considerable. I just find staying out of stores is the best way. As Garry said, to concentrate on our inner soul and to listen and act on that level is the key--* * to have an enlightened soul means a life fulfilled* *
From MC's e-mail: WOW - The Unease That Haunts Us - powerful!! All your Reflections are amazing, and they ALWAYS seem to speak to my heart, and what is going on in my life. This one especially hits home to me right now. I want to find simplicity in my life, and I know materialism is not the answer - even though it has been my answer in the past. It's the nurturing of my mind, body and soul that I need to perfect. I get one area doing well, and the others lack. It's balance... that simple yet powerful word that always seems to escape me.
From Meg's e-mail: I love the reflection that Garry wrote - I can releate to it so well, as I know my mom can too. For me it's not clothes, but any material item that's attractive or even available. The high is gone as soon as I get home, and then my house is full of "stuff". Paul and I are currently getting rid of our "stuff" and trying to find more ways to do things together rather than spend money we don't really have anyway.
Mom's the same - retail therapy to fill a void, and then the house is just FULL!! Baby steps to help the problem, and then baby steps to find ways to make fill life with things that aren't material. I'm sending this to her too.
From DB's e-mail: You Nailed it. It is like the Emperor’s new clothes – People seem to place a lot of weight on that first look (a first impression, with quick assumptions (usually wrong) about us). We feel that we must impress/dress ourselves up ( not for ourselves, but for those others), we put on a facade.
Our real self is now being buried/hidden, and yet, we will put on airs to maintain that facade. The real you will never shine through, you become a part of the facade – we see quick acceptance, some artificial joy is realized, but deeper within we are not happy, we are a mess, we try so hard to be that which we are not.
And the sad part is – the Real you, which is buried somewhere beneath this Super Fantastic FAKE You – Is the Person, everyone is waiting for – the You, who is – Loving, Caring, Giving, a wonderful mentor and who is so full of joy, because of these attributes and because I am being ME!
From Gina's email: Yes I have been there and done that...it is all too familiar. One needs to give their head a shake and smarten up...it is all quite ridiculous if you get your self really looking at the big picture. Oh the tortures we like to put upon ourselves and don’t even realize what we are doing. Thanks for awakening me...and helping me realize the self imposed misery...I really have to go and get rid of loads of “stuff” around here that I thought I really had to have as it “made me happy”...but now it is just clutter bogging my life down.
Thanks Gary and Bon!
From JYC's email: The unease that haunts me ... I don't know what it is. I yearn for connections. I miss my brothers and sisters and the sense of connection and family I have when I am around them. Life here is so isolating. I want to belong.
From LB's email: Lovely and powerful reminders from Garry about what really matters and what 'matter' really doesn't! I am on the path of purging stuff around the house as a constant reminder that I am not 'my stuff' . The stuff that I am made of is 'God Things' :))))
From Nancy's email: It's safe to say that the majority of us have unease that haunts us, and more often than not, that unease is the creation of our own mind, giving credance to thoughts and ideas whether positive or negative, of ourselves or how others percieve us, and then believing them to be true, without proof that they are. I also suffer that need to belong and to be liked, to fit in. I think that when we have times of unease, we have to ask ourselves - is whatever is causing the unease true? Garry is so right, material things are not solutions. We have to nourish our being with positiveness, to build our selfworth -- with prayer, giving of ourselves to help others, etc.
From Shirley's email: No truer words were penned. I have been blessed with the realization, early in life, that happiness does not come from material possessions, but 'peace of mind' in knowing one has done the very best he/she can do. One needs to have our needs met, but I believe the old saying "the more you have, usually the more you want". One can adjust to ones circumstance, and, of course, God does provide for our basic needs (with our help, of course)! At any rate, I've always believed that the "measure of a man was not when things go right and you are 'on top', but it's when things go wrong, and how you handle the your 'crisis situations' and learn that counts"! One can always lose one's money and possession, but still have lots to offer the world, and be happy!
From HW's email: I have learnt – (somewhere in my life journey) that the material things that are so ever present in our lives are to enhance and enable us to be the people God has called us to be. The clothes, homes, cars etc are not who we are but should in fact enhance our essence/spirit/soul. Visiting in the hospital, I was told by a patient how nice my pink skirt and pink printed blouse looked. I learnt that her message was that because she could not wear her clothes and was wrapped in a well ventilated hospital gown that the colors I had on made her feel happy and hopeful that she too would be in her own clothing soon. Believe it or not I often pray asking the Lord to help me choose me clothes for the different situations I am in. I want the clothes to reflect who I am and to encourage people to dialogue with me. I was challenged once by my naturopath for wearing a black dress with a white collar. He told me not to wear black because people will not approach you. I laughed and said that according to my “color chart” – black and white were good colors for my skin color. He explained that my personality was one that enjoyed people and dialoguing with them and that I should wear bright colors especially red which encourage people to come and speak with you. Amazing studies and information!. I think we need to seek the Lord's will and guidance in everything and that includes cars, homes, clothes, etc. This may sound trite but it helps me...
From Linda H's email: I think it was Saint Augustine who said that we all have a God-shaped vacuum and our hearts are restless until they rest in Him.
From Meg's email: I think not only questioning the unease, and if it is true or not, but also then asking ourselves…so what is the best way to deal with this. Prayer is good. Positive self talk is good. Just taking a moment to still the mind is good.
From Rita's email: True!!!!! Soul-care is extremely important. I am thankful to God that he has brought me to a time in my life that I realize it is He would should be my focus. In so doing He helps me sort through the day as to what is important and what can wait.
From Nancy's email: I did give some thought to Garry's "reflection". A good one. Thanks Gary for reminding me where I might better direct my energy. I think "we" often look for the quick fix in our society. Over and over we know this doesn't work but we keep trying anyway! This seems to be a recurring theme in my replies to you... For those relatively few who do not share our company, I think, are the enlightened ones. Thanks again for the reminder. I will spend more time/effort nourishing my soul. :-)
From Violet's email: The reflection certainly hits home and yes I also have gone to exstravagance unnecessarily. I have to keep in mind all my needs are taken care of so why bother to buy more stuff. Most definitely requires improvement on my part. I like to keep things very simple like in my home where it is my special santuary. I hear God talking to me in my silent santuary.
From Rani's email: A very deeply thought. We are so busy with our outward appearance that we do not for a moment look within to see how we are glooming our inner selfs. If we beautify our inner selves, out outward appearance will be radiant and we will stand out no matter who we are, where we happen to be, what we own or how we dress.
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