The Paradoxes of Modern Existence

As we once again honour the holiday season in the West one cannot help but ponder the paradoxes of modern existence. For many (if not most) in the West, there is a total denial of the Christian belief system as a way of life.  We may claim a return, rather, to the worship of the promise of sun return and perhaps there is some sense in this. Of all the forces that shape human existence, none is more vital to us than the warmth and energy which comes to us from this inconsequential star.  However, for we in the South there is no need to worship Sun return. The Sun is high in the sky, the air is warm and we worship instead at the altar of sport, beachside activities and the laden table.

But in the midst of all this, there is one form of worship which for many has become all consuming. Once again, here in Australia, the shops have opened and Australians have yielded to the temptation to spend way beyond their means. Indications are that as a nation we have spent somewhere around $5 billion dollars in a single day. Yet we can ill afford such expenditure.  Not only is this profligate purchasing of things, many of which are probably unnecessary, and a consequent expansion for many of their total debt situation. It also represents the generation of vast volumes of additional waste in the form of packaging, not to mention the waste associated with the production of goods of questionable value. For many, one cannot help but wonder how long the joy of the new possession will last once the packaging has been removed and yet another item is added to the cupboard to be subsequently forgotten. And how much will end up in of the self storage parks that dot every large community.