The Paradox of Life

The Paradox of Life

In today's homily, the priest introduced his talk with the paradox of life.  The paradox of life is written by someone unknown. It tells of the present time. It warns us of how we busy ourselves with so much of what we deem "important" that we forget what is truly essential. Read on.

 

We have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways,
but narrower viewpoints; we spend more, but have less;
we buy more, but enjoy it less.
 
We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, 
but less time; we have more degrees, but less common sense;
more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, 
but more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.
 
We spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, 
get too angry too quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, 
read too seldom, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
 
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. 
 
We talk too much, love too seldom and lie too often.
 
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life;
we've added years to life, not life to years.
 
We build more computers to hold more information,
to produce more copies than ever, but have less communication;
we've become long on quantity, but short on quality.
 
We've been all the way to the moon and back,
but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor.
 
We've conquered outer space, but not inner space; 
we've done larger things, but not better things; 
we've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul; 
we've split the atom, but not our prejudice; we write more, 
but learn less; plan more, but accomplish less.
 
We've learned to rush, but not to wait; we have higher incomes;
but lower morals; more food but less appeasement;
more acquaintances, but fewer friends;
more effort but less success.
 
These are the time of fast foods and slow digestion; 
tall men and short character; 
steep profits, and shallow relationships. 
 
These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare;
more leisure and less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition. 
These are days of two incomes, but more divorce;
of fancier houses, but broken homes.
 
These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, 
throwaway morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies,
and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.
 
It is a time when there is much in the show window, 
and nothing in the stockroom. 
 
Be warned. Take time to be still. Balance. Keep hold of your essentials.

 

The secret, as the priest said, is lots of prayer. Pray some more. Be at peace with yourself.

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