If this insightful passage rings true to you ...

[Hicksey]

I received the following rather insightful passage via email today and I think it describes the society we live in today perfectly.

Do you agree?

If so, what does that say about the society we live in?

If not, what do you dispute and why?

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.

We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time.

We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, 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 hate 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've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We 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 conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less.

We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, 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 showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all 'mean it'. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

[margrace]

Hi Hicksey, says a lot doesn't it. So how does this fit in with the needs we all think we have especially the need to keep up with the Joneses or get ahead of them.

[Hicksey]

Hi Hicksey, says a lot doesn't it. So how does this fit in with the needs we all think we have especially the need to keep up with the Joneses or get ahead of them.

I think its sad that people think that more material things will make up for the lives we're letting pass us by. I've always corrected people when they ask "How's life treating you?" and in turn asked how they were treating life.

I implore everyone here. Go long haul truck driving for a month and not see your family for a month at a time. It will show you once and for all that sometimes money and meterial things aren't the be all and end all.

Do you know who the author of this passage is?

[Canuck E Stan]

I implore everyone here. Go long haul truck driving for a month and not see your family for a month at a time. It will show you once and for all that sometimes money and meterial things aren't the be all and end all.

Hicksey,

Not to be critical,but why must the choice be long hauling and staying away from your family for a month?

The choices were made by you, and although you don't like being away from your family,it was your choice.

I'm sure there are alternative choices, are there not? Or is it really about the money?

-CES

[Canuck E Stan]

Do you know who the author of this passage is?

Author of this piece is credited to Dr. Bob Moorehead, former pastor of Seattle's Overlake Christian Church. (He retired in 1998 after 29 years in that post). The essay appeared under the title "The Paradox of Our Age" in Words Aptly Spoken, Dr. Moorehead's 1995 collection of prayers, homilies, and monologues used in his sermons and radio broadcasts.

More on this piece at The Paradox of Our Age

[Slavik44]

Yeah that was all fine and dandy but it was a loud of shit, I realise the piece was meerely a way of pointing out the many oddities in todays society, our many problems, and I realise this is more of a light hearted approach but I think it points out our problems in a very poor way. The article is so tainted with nostalgia it makes me want to puke, the fact is no amount of gravy can cover up a rotten christmas turkey and no matter how you dress up the past, it cannot cover up the what the past was, the past was not some sort of Golden Age of wholesome living and responsible and respectible politicians, it was not a time where every held hands and sung kumbayah. Yes there are many problems in the world, but if the answer was in the past we wouldn't be expirencing the problems we our today.

[Hicksey]

I implore everyone here. Go long haul truck driving for a month and not see your family for a month at a time. It will show you once and for all that sometimes money and meterial things aren't the be all and end all.

Hicksey,

Not to be critical,but why must the choice be long hauling and staying away from your family for a month?

The choices were made by you, and although you don't like being away from your family,it was your choice.

I'm sure there are alternative choices, are there not? Or is it really about the money?

-CES

You missed my point. I said that because having been away for a month at a time you might have a better perspective on which is more important--more money/material things or family and friends. Often, the best things you have been blessed with weren't purchased.

I have never stayed away from home for more than a week throughout my career. It limits my income potential, but that's my choice. Right now I do local work for about 13 hours a day. I make less, but the extra money I would make going long haul just isn't worth it. The extra material things aren't worth it. You simply cannot go back and watch your kids grow up all over again.

I thought the whole point of the passage was that in spite of all the hard work we do make progress in this society, we keep missing out on and looking past the truly great things in life. Our pursuit of the almighty dollar and all of the things that it can bring ussometimes blinds us from seeing that the best things in life often are right in front of our eyes and cannot be valued.

[Hicksey]

Do you know who the author of this passage is?

Author of this piece is credited to Dr. Bob Moorehead, former pastor of Seattle's Overlake Christian Church. (He retired in 1998 after 29 years in that post). The essay appeared under the title "The Paradox of Our Age" in Words Aptly Spoken, Dr. Moorehead's 1995 collection of prayers, homilies, and monologues used in his sermons and radio broadcasts.

More on this piece at The Paradox of Our Age

WTG!

I also remember that George Carlin read it aloud at the funeral of his wife not too long ago.

[August1991]

I have always suspected that there is a computer owned by a greeting card company in the US that turns out such phrases (as well as those e-mails of kitty pictures).

Furthermore, I am reassured in my belief that George Carlin has a sense of humour.

George Carlin very emphatically denied he had had anything to do with "Paradox," a piece he referred to as "a sappy load of shit," and posted his comments about being associated with this essay on his own web site.

Snopes