A generation enslaved
March 27, 2008
This month’s issue of Toronto Life covers a portrait of a mortgage-enslaved generation.
Why do we do this to ourselves? Who says we need a home that large or that fine?
I just recently realized that Bono closes off the song “beautiful day” with the statement “what you don’t have you don’t need it now”… which I flesh out as - the things you don’t already have today, you probably don’t need tomorrow. What would it look like to live with that type of freedom?
Sometimes I flip through catalogs or take another pass around a store, with no other intention than seeing what else I don’t have, that I might be able to purchase.
What is going on with the world when six-percent of it’s population, consumes half of it’s resources?
There’s even a site called allconsuming.net that allows you to list out all the books, entertainment, and restaurants you’ve consumed like a trophy case.
Fulfilling perceived needs costs so much more than meeting actual needs. Why do we do it?
Our enslavement goes beyond material consumption as well. I’m wrapping up a book by Marva Dawn right now, “Is it a lost cause”, and she quotes what Neil Postman calls Low Information-Action Ratio (l.i.a.r. is the cheesy acronym they use). The point is that more than ever we spend time consuming information that we can’t/don’t do anything about.
We’re a generation enslaved - to products, to comfort, to amusement, to information.
And somewhere in all of this, Jesus has something to say.
A new heart... by Lon on April 21st, 2008
Being Superman… by Lon on June 21st, 2006
Leaders take responsibility… by Lon on February 8th, 2007
The Master Artist… by Lon on April 5th, 2007
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March 27th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Cool that they brought this up. We, the 6%, are definitely in deep. It will be a challenge to get back to ‘normal.’ As a family we are committed to understand true contentment and satisfaction. We are blessed.
March 28th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Hey Brandon, agreed… and you’re right on with committing as a family. It’s way too hard to go alone, but step by step, family after family, I think the tide can actually be turned.
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:52 am
Did you notice any paradox between the article and Shane Clayborne?
Have you ever done any research on what the average debt per credit card is?
At what point will the inability to live for delayed gratification rather then impulse purchase then pay catch up with our generation?
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Hey Marty, yeah, it seems a bit screwed up, i haven’t done any research on it, but it’s obviously an unhealthy phenomenon.
It’s crazy how much credit card promotion mail i get… they’re trying to convince me to take money I don’t have.
i’m not sure if it’s an issue of delayed gratification… or really knowing how to be gratified with what we already have.