True Wealth
As some of you know I went on a cruise with my family last week to celebrate my parents’ 50th Anniversary! It was the first cruise that I’ve been on and overall, it was a nice time! I did have a bit of an existential crisis, though. Well, maybe not a “crisis” per se, but I definitely experienced a lot of angst.
The cruise was all-inclusive and passengers were free to eat, drink, or find some other activity to partake in, to their heart’s content. Which made me wonder ‘when’ exactly, is our heart content? Even with the all-inclusive nature of the cruise, there’s always upgrades available: a more exclusive sitting area near the pool; top shelf drinks; and suites with better views of the ocean. I was quite uncomfortably aware of the privilege I had that millions will never get to experience.
One of the lectionary readings this week is the familiar story of “The Tower of Babel” in Genesis. Instead of “replenishing the earth” as God commanded, humanity chose to build a city with “a tower with its top in the heavens,” and we have continued in that vein. We build taller buildings, seek faster service, abhor inconvenience, and want more stuff and experiences. While none of these things are intrinsically wrong, they are also not where we will find contentment. It may make life more pleasurable, but at what cost?
Always having fast service cannot teach me patience, quite the opposite. I can easily become impatient when things aren’t happening fast as I would like. Inconveniences can teach us humility, a reminder that we are not at the center of the universe. And acquiring more stuff and experiences leaves us wanting “more stuff and experiences.”
As we enter into the Season of Pentecost, we are reminded of the outpouring of God’s Spirit on the community who eventually becomes the church. One of the remarkable aspects of the early church is how those who were wealthy shared with followers who had less. They discovered true wealth is found in giving.
Likewise, it wasn’t the amenities or spending time in the Caribbean (although that is a close second) that meant the most to me; rather, it was being able to spend time with family and celebrate my parents that I cherish. And is in many ways priceless and doesn’t require a cruise, though I am nevertheless very grateful for the experience.
