“The real paradox of our time,” someone has remarked, “is not poverty in plenty, but unhappiness in the pursuit of pleasure.” Today there are more distractions from boredom than at any other time in history. Yet Malcolm Muggeridge comments:
We have everything that we want materially, and it ought to make us happy, but for some reason it doesn’t. It should be the case that…where all these material things are most available, where the pursuit of happiness is most ardently undertaken should also be the place where human beings are most happy. . . In fact, it’s not so. Something has gone wrong. It hasn’t worked.
Why hasn’t it worked? Why are masses of people, especially youth and young adults, so bored, aimless and even apathetic about life? Our culture—our media, our educators, our politicians, our technological advancements—cannot give the human heart ultimate purpose and meaning. Every person longs for a reason, a purpose for living. We tend, however, to draw our meaning from things and people that are earthly, transitory, susceptible to change and decay. What is lacking? Lacking is a purpose that raises us above the disenchantment and decay of our culture.
The Oscar winning classic, Chariots of Fire, illustrates the search for meaning through the lives of two runners destined for Olympic gold medals, Harold Abrams and Eric Liddell. Abrams dreamed of being the fastest runner in the world. Liddell, a missionary’s kid from China, dreamed of following in his parents’ footsteps. He was caught up in preaching and preparing for his missionary service in China.
Harold Abrams wins his race. He has accomplished all he ever wanted to do. Instead of satisfaction, however, he finds his life empty, bankrupt. Meanwhile, Liddell is confronted by his sister. She is concerned that the running will distract him from his call to China.
“I know that God has made me for China,” Liddell assures his sister. “But He has also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.”
What is the difference between these two men? Abrams had nothing but his win for pleasure. Once he won, he was without a goal. Eric Liddell had his run. But once it was finished, he had China. After China, he had heaven. (Liddell died a missionary martyr in China.) Eric Liddell knew why he was created, and that was his pleasure. He was created for a purpose—the glory and service of God.
Excerpt from my book, Destroying Our Private Cities, Building Our Spiritual Life
, a lay commentary on Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. Enjoy a taste with a free downloadable chapter, “Putting Jesus Back into Our Potential (Phil 2:1-11).”
Posted by Chip Anderson at 07:56 AM. Filed under: Habits of the Mind •
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