Ever thought about the fact that most Americans are caught in the frenzy of going to work, meeting schedules, keeping kids involved in something, pushing education, looking for the weekend to get here so the work at home can be caught up, or to get away from the rush of life?  While this is going on, our elected politicians are busy doing their thing at the state and national levels which affect Americans even more.  Being that we are of a consumer mentality, the thrust behind most politics is to get America to buy what the politicians are selling.  Americans are so busy that most only get a glimpse of what is going on.  Do you think the politicians know this?  Of course they do.  This is why the presentations are carefully worded so they will sell easier.  It is difficult to know what is truth regardless of which party is speaking.  We have a tendency to believe what we read on the internet and social media and see and hear on television is true.  Some are so busy and have come to the conclusion that as long as it doesn’t affect them, they really don’t care.  Whether we care or not, decisions, new laws, new policies, will affect everyone ultimately; either us or our children.

We need to corral the apathy in America. We are America; the government is not America.  Trillions of dollars within the federal government have been spent, distributed, loaned, and lost, all while America is consumed in other matters of life.  We need to realize we as Americans need to pay more attention and take more action so we will not continue to be consumed.

Christians are in the same posture; busy in life, busy doing church in the same fashion as daily life while missing the real meaning, loving a Savior first.  We cannot be consumed by matters that require so much of our time and we become deceived into thinking that all that we do is what qualifies us to earn a seat in the heavenly arena.  We have to do the right things, we have to be the right kind of person.  We must love the Lord with all of our heart and love others as much we love ourselves.  Busyness does not qualify us; love does.  If we miss the primary purpose of  our lives, we may allow ourselves to be consumed by matters of less importance.  Who we are should be the an effect of following Christ, not a cause.

We are about to enter the holiday season.  A consumer, consuming as we are programmed,  while being consumed.  Giving and getting are the traditions of the holidays of Christmas.  Commercialized gifting is designed to provide a burst of happiness only to happen again next year.  Humorous are the sales; “look how much I saved with this sale.”  Spent less but saved nothing; “Americanized.” After the earning, buying, and wrapping comes the peak moments of excitement when opening gifts, then the cleaning up and disposal of the wrapping paper, ribbons and bows, and boxes.  How quickly it passes.  It is a good thing to give gifts to others,  but in addition let’s give of ourselves quality time.  Giving of ourselves produce lasting memories, especially if given more frequently than Christmas. The lack of time on our part can cause us to rush, go through the motions, and act almost in a programmed fashion. We are not robots, we are humans.

So catch a breath, take a break and a moment to remember why we do what we do; not to be overly consumed where there is no time to enjoy what is really important.  Remember, it’s a trick played on us that works very effectively to keep us too busy to notice, and sometimes “too poor to pay attention.”   The biggest impression anyone has ever left me is when they gave me a piece of their time and their life. It didn’t cost any money, but it was worth more than their bank account.  

Just because we think we don’t have time isn’t a reason to skip things that we think are unimportant.  It’s harder to break this habitual behavior than you might think. Being so programmed, we go at it so hard to do what is expected, but expected by who?  Pay attention to those around you. Take notice and touch someone’s life for a second.  This  is PRICELESS; for everything else there’s MasterCard. Get my drift?

Life passes quickly enough.  We cannot create a new beginning, but we can create a new ending.  Don’t let who we think we are get in the way of what others think of us.   Each of us know who we are internally despite what perceptions or facades we may create.   To press beyond this facade is not easy; so many times pride gets in the way, or at the least the fear of reaching out.  What is the one thing that separates us from others?  Could be money or the lack of money?   At the end of life, we are all the same.  I heard the richest people in the U.S. state that they are giving away 50 to 90% of their wealth to help the world.  The comment was made by one that they need to write a book on how to survive on less than five hundred million dollars.  The point is money is not the answer to personal happiness, but love, compassion, and kindness.  Let us all show more of that this year.

Personally make someone’s day. Pay attention as you  will cross someone’s path where you could make a difference, if only for a moment.