According to Andy Stanley, everybody wants something, every day. Tomorrow we will lose
interest in today’s “want”—we’ll want something new every tomorrow. Yesterday’s
prize no longer sparkles. it no longer satisfies. Perpetual pleasure gratification
is addictive but perpetual satisfaction is the elusive pot of gold at the end
of the rainbow.
Simply put, I may want cheesecake today, ice cream tomorrow
and someday to lose 15 pounds, but getting what I want on all my todays will
prevent my getting what I really want—new clothes one size down! That elusive
someday never gets any closer.
Andy says, "Lurking in the shadow of what we want is what we value. We
never get what we really want until we discover what we really value, what
would satisfy, keep us happy long-term."
We stay busy deciding what we want right now, resulting in a
lifetime of chasing the rainbow and end up with nothing more than our most
recent “want”. Pleasure is transient, joy and contentment happen over time. That’s
why we laugh at the tee-shirt printed with the demand “Lord, give me patience
and I want it right now!” Down deep we
have to admit that’s no way to live.
Something time has taught me over the years is that happiness catches up with you when you're busy doing something for someone else.
