SATISFACTION part 1

Whew! It's been one hectic year. Teaching, performing, arranging, recording, and fortunately, praying.

This year has seen many highs and many lows (not manilows...hee). The teaching bit has gotten a bit scary. I have been offered students left, right, center, and I sometimes wish to just quit my job and be a househusband. But I know that is not possible. For one, I never depend on my wife. I never depend on anybody to achieve what I have, or find shortcuts.

I guess my life is blessed. Music has got me a dream job of being my own boss, and also see things which I am sure are never taught in schools. That subject is the relationship we have with other humans; good and bad.

I believe the only thing I can never be independent is my reliance on God. I need God in my life. We all need God in our lives. Notice, I said need, not want. You don't need a rocket scientist to tell you the difference between needs and wants. The subject of economics also portrays a poor picture of that difference. I believe that contentment is always a conflicting issue.

Because of our self-centeredness, we are never satisfied. Perhaps we are created that way; to be never satisfied. I guess if we are truly satisfied with what we have, there won't be a need or desire for God. Our sinfulness itself already constitutes the consummate need for God. Such is our sinfulness.

Drugs, pornography, gambling, sloth, gluttony, indifference, pride, and the list goes on. Our world has become a lie. We put on facades and build walls around us so that our friends can never see our skeletons. Being a role model is like winning a political election, or entering a beauty contest. Famous people struggle the most. That's because their lives are so public, it's hard to be given any slack for their values and behavior. The moment they slip up in people's opinions of them, they are slammed for this and that. What happened to forgiveness? What happened to acceptance without judgement? What happened to mercy?

Have we become our own gods that we have denied our Lord HIS rightful dwelling place?