REFLECTIONS
February 27, 2009
From the Archives of September 2, 2007
 
Then Peter said, "Look at us!" So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you."
Acts 3:4-6
 
 
Glitter, Gold and Games
 
Around the table sat several senior aged gentlemen anticipating their daily round of golf. With them sat a young lad fresh out of college but anticipating his life ahead. “What is the next big thing going to be to invest in?” the lad asked his senior friends. He had excitement in his eyes as he anticipated the answer from those around him. But the old gentlemen only leaned back in their chairs and began to speak of new places to search for oil and where real estate might be developed. The answers were of no help to the lad.
The young man may have graduated from college, but he has a lot of growing up yet to do. It seems that he wants to hurry and get rich so he can spend his life as he sees his senior friends—anticipating a daily round of golf. It was a bit sad for me to find that the young man’s vision for his life was so shallow. His first desire is to seek wealth, but the essence of the question to his senior friends was “How do I get what you have?”
It is heartrending to observe young people pursuing wealth for the purpose of glitter, gold, and games. It is sad because the chase they enter will never end. Whatever they find from it will never be satisfying. There will always be something more to chase.
But maybe even more saddening is that my generation is responsible for their misguided pursuits. For so long, we have patterned our own lives toward the same glitter, gold and games and now we have young people following us down that same futile path. Even though we may have discovered greater meaning of life, and maybe we have even told them about our discovery, many if not most of them are not receptive to our words.
But they are receptive to how we live. We can show them that the pursuit of life serves a much greater purpose than glitter, gold and games. We can show them through our lives in the workplace, in our homes, and even in recreational settings the blessing of peace that comes from loving and serving Jesus Christ. And we can show them rewarding purpose in loving and serving our neighbors in this world. We can show them that our lives have meaning and purpose that brings joy and peace to us and to those around us.
Then just maybe when they come to us and ask, “How can I get what you have?” instead of glitter, gold and games, our answer will give them life.
                                   
“You are the light of the world,”
Richard Ì