When he sat down after the long day at work, he reflected on all he had.
A beautiful wife who patiently tended to his needs and accepted his hard work. Beautiful children who loved to see him and took pleasure in confiding their issues to him, because he was a loving and reliable father. A steady job which brought in enough to cover the main costs as well as leaving enough for relatively comfortable living. He had good friends, and his family of two sisters and a brother were always willing to help out. His parents were still alive and they loved doting on their grandchildren when they came to visit and adored him and his wife.
He had not outstanding debts and had a great credit rating. He was know as a man of integrity who endeavoured to keep his word. His work colleagues knew him to be a fair and courteous person to work, efficient and humorous. He worked hard, but enjoyed a laugh and played around from time to time which helped ease any tensions.
The house they had was lovely and spacious. There was a study where he could retreat to relax as well as catch up on the books he loved to read. His financially prudent lifestyle allowed him to get a book every month and he loved reading a new one to get some insight, and luxuriate over it for the best part of a month. He had his car as well as a family vehicle. The family could afford holidays twice a year, and they would enjoy going to different places every year and enjoying different cultures.
There were no pressing health issues that hindered him, and although he was no fitness freak, he did like to make sure he ate the right things, he didn’t smoke or drink excessively. Occasionally he even enjoyed a game of badminton. Sometimes he and his wife would go out for a date night probably have a meal at a restaurant or perhaps catch the latest release at the cinema.
Yes, he said to himself, all was well with his world. Sure there were always the odd issue that cropped up, but nothing too big, unlike others he knew. His life was relatively comfortable and he could not complain.
That was going so well until he had the encounter with the admin assistant in the office, who asked him if he gained his contentment from thinking he was a good person, and because he had all the trappings of a middle class success. That assistant had asked a question that began to gnaw away at him. There was something in it that challenged his identity and his idea of living the happy life.
After he heard this song, he recognised something about himself. Something about giving the impression of having it altogether and maintaining the status quo so as not upset things. Yet within he knew things were not as perfect as they seemed. He knew there remained some unresolved hurts from the past. He knew that some of his deepest fears he could never share with others, even though they were eating away at him.
He also knew that in working hard to maintain his lifestyle he was ignoring those he knew in his community who were not as privileged as him. He knew that he kept himself busy from really engaging with their issues. He knew what it was about himself that kept him that way. It addressed some of the deep seated fears he had about comfort and security. Though he knew perhaps he should be doing more, his pattern and routine seemed to be his excuse to do nothing. He was busy, after all, and he’d give some money to good causes when he could. He was a good person, as he saw it, he didn’t hurt anyone. Surely that was enough.
Right?
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 