Keeping Up With the Joneses

Expectations are a funny thing. We have so many that we never even realize, that is until they go unfulfilled. It is once we are let down that we realize deep down all along we had hopes of what our lives would be some day. Then, when someday comes around all of a sudden we are left wanting and can't even put our finger on what. We never realized we had always wanted this or that-a certain job by a certain age-a certain salary, closer down the road to "financial security", further along the path to our dream job, with more kids, more money, less debt, more friends etc. So many times I have to remind myself that I DO have expectations-whether I want to admit it or not-and that those expectations are not always informed or influenced by the best of places. Truthfully, they are usually born of something I am not always aware of in the moment of conception. Keeping up with the Joneses is an easy trap to fall in and one that easily creeps into the subconcious .The people around you (on t.v., magazines, commercials, blogs, catalogues, your mind's eye)all seem to have it all together. They are where you want to be-and you wonder what it will take to get there. By "you" of course I mean me.

So many times we live life holding our breath-waiting for what's next-hoping its success and stability, and all the while comparing where we are at with those around us.

It's exhaaaausting-It's Joy killing-and it isn't honoring to our Lord. The Lord whose plan is bigger than our little world and more important than what house we live in, brands we are associated with, or money we make.

"They" may have the newest phones, newest trends, an amazing apartment, a cozy home, a significant other, family, friends, talent, success, influence, impact, purpose, a stimulating job etc.

Striving for the "American Dream"-Career woman, then mom, with a great husband, adorable kids-all peacefully residing in our white house and picket fence (or your version), 3 kids, and an SUV to boot (no mini-vans need apply). Buuut it's not the exterior that counts, your interior design is practically out of a magazine!

These may all be generalizations, for a certain girl at a certain time in her life, and we all have our "things" that tempt us, but either way I have to keep my "dreams" in check-am I chasing the American Dream or God's plan? Do I want what the world is selling or do I want to be a tool in expanding the Kingdom. Which one creeps into my daydreams? The latter can seem so much less tangible at times, and like any good American we not only want it, but we want it now-like Zappos-1-day-delivery now! It's sad, and yet true..

I love these lyrics from Caedmon's Call: " This world has nothing for me, and this world has everything, all that I could want, and nothing that I need."

I daily can choose whether I will drink from the stagnent puddle of western comfort and consumerism-or be constantly quenched and overflowing after drinking from the fount of our Lord-one that never runs out, breaks down, or wears off.

Shane and I are going to start reading David Platt's book Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From The American Dream-and we can only hope it will be convicting and life changing.

-M.W.