What should we be doing? Part 1

Our time on this earth is of a finite duration. Considering it takes time to do anything there will be some things which we cannot do, requiring us to make choices. Our choices become a direct measure of our priorities and values. What then, should we be doing with our limited time? An exploration:

First, what do we see mankind generally doing with their time? Now, there are endless varieties in activities but I will discuss two that I see as major trends in our current age: accumulating wealth and seeking entertainment.

Our world society has become intoxicated with profits and extravagant living. The question of our age is– do you have any money?– and the answer to that question is the primary guide behind personal and institutional decisions and judgment. The personal quest for wealth accumulation, at the expense of other ideals, can and does lead to broken marriages, alienation of children, war, oppression of the poor, destruction of the environment and the host of societal ills present in our society. Individuals have become consumed with consumerism.

Entertainment is not inherently bad, just as money is not inherently bad, but the gentle waves have turned into a destructive tsunami. The movie theaters and sports stadiums are full while the libraries and churches sit empty. The television has turned into the central shrine of the home, religiously worshipped. Children spend more time looking into the fuzzy flicker of a television or computer than into the eyes of a loving parent. We proudly collect shelves of pre-packaged entertainment while the shelves and stomachs of millions are empty.

I provide these observations as a call for people to wake up out of their thoughtless stupor, for each of us to think about how we spend our time and what it says about our priorities and values.  I’ll talk about specific positive actions in the following posts.