I don't watch much television, and I’m not much of a football fan, but I happened to watch the Super Bowl last night. When I do watch TV, I usually mute the commercials. But in the spirit of Super Bowl Sunday, I thought, "These commercials are supposed to be entertaining – I'll give them a try!"
I was quickly reminded why I usually mute the commercials. I was told that a certain soft drink would make me happy and that men only listen to their wives in order to be able to drive a speedy car. Many of the commercials that I saw were degrading towards women and others were just generally insulting. Why will insulting the consumer make them want to buy a product? But then, why is our society so focused on buying products anyhow?
While I mute commercials and try not to be a huge consumer, I struggle with living simply. The task is not a simple one, but our faith calls us to it. And an earth ethic calls us to it. Anything that we buy leaves a footprint on the earth and the people who produced it, or who live near where it was produced.
There is an old Amish saying that goes “To desire to be rich is to desire to have more than what we need to be content.” What does “content” mean to you? Are you content with the new iPod, a flat screen high def, and a speedy new car? Or can you be content with just food and clothing, as 1 Timothy 6:6-8 urges? I’m looking for a happy medium. I don’t want to have the latest and greatest technology, but I am currently living with a larger definition of “contentment” than 1 Timothy describes. And according to the Amish saying, I desire to be rich.
