Watching an Overdose

I took Lori and the kids to do some shopping on Black Friday. We decided to go after all the sales ended. As I went from store to store looking for the few items that we needed I was struck with the reality that I am watching an overdose.

As a pastor, I have to peer into the lives of individuals who are self-destructing. Usually you see a pattern. (1) They have a problem and it is killing them. (2) Everybody else sees the problem. (3) They don’t see the problem. (4) They think that they are in control and can stop anytime they want to. Tragically in the end their addiction consumes them and they die.

As I shopped with my family yesterday, I was struck with the thought that I am watching our nation self-destruct. We are addicted to stuff. We crave it. We have to have more. Like a drug, it never truly satisfies. It only leaves us wanting more. It is a downward spiral that will eventually lead to our consummation by our lust and desires.

The addiction is real. The effects of the addiction are evident everywhere in our society. Our economy is consumer driven. Young couples enter into marriage and quickly acquire huge debt loads because they have to have everything now. And in the end they usually wind up in divorce court. Environmentally we are filling up more and more dumps with our broken stuff. We have become greedy and ruthless in our desire to acquire more and more. Just watch people as the stores open on a sale day like Black Friday.

Sadly we are following the pattern. (1) We have a problem and it is killing us. (2) The world sees we have a problem. Some nations are even contributing to the problem to bring about our destruction. (3) We don’t think we have a problem. (4) We live with illusion that we are in control.

Unless something changes, we will consume ourselves and dies as a nation.