The world, the public persona, the culture shouts to us from every screen and signboard is one of “not enough.” There is always one more improvement, always one more perfect solution, always “but wait, there’s more.” Boiled down to a single phrase it could well be, “the truth of yesterday is not the truth today.” The truth is that there is no truth. Our culture around us screams for the next big thing. The biggest and best of yesterday is nothing compared to the new and improved of today. The common societal mantra goes even blatantly further with a wry smile, hinting that the best yet to come. The now is never enough. The truth of today is just a pale shadow of that new truth to come.
Technology promises a plethora of new and better. Politics promise peace and prosperity. Cars that can protect ourselves from our own stupidity. Phones that will never get you lost. Better coffee, better food, better soda that tastes great with no sugar. Always a hopeful future.
Our society promises a kind of heaven on earth. A world with stable ocean levels. A world where all have access to clean water. A world where everyone has free stuff. A world where there is no money. A world where the individual is not limited by anything. Our culture promises a life of satiated desires and political correctness. But this new world order has no meaning outside of the moment. No current home will ever satisfy our personal homelessness. No current meaning of life will ever have meaning. No hope of life now will ever be enough. There is no joy of life in the now that is sufficient. Where is the satisfaction?
Our lives are bombarded by reality shows that nothing to do with reality. There a talent shows that allow us to think, “that could be me.” Commercials that proclaim the latest absolute bargain. We pay homage to the opinion of the latest celebrity for all our group-think. For the world, there is no “same yesterday, today and tomorrow.” Our culture says there is no constancy.
BUT THERE IS. It is only when we realize that it is possible to be in the world and not be a part of it. It is only when the constant of eternity is the foundation of our lives can there ever be true satisfaction in our nows.