life is about experiences. not stuff.

A recent article published in the New York Times via yahoo news has inspired me to reconsider the patterns and ways of my life.  I just returned to the US from a mission trip to the Ukraine a few days prior to the published article, and my mind kept over analyzing life (as usual).  Sitting at my desk in my decent sized office in downtown Minneapolis with a view of the old armory building, the Gutherie, and even the beautifully rebuilt 35W bridge in the distance...I was perplexed at what I was doing- For what?  For why? For who? 

Growing up I had wished that my childhood would go by fast,  I so badly wanted to be an adult.  Wish granted.  Now that I am an adult (by legal definition anyway) I am almost positive I am going about it all wrong.  Society coaxes you into believing that doing everything to make yourself marketable to employers, getting a good job, making a lot of money, buying nice things, etc...is the path to living a happy life.

It states in the Bible that God intened us to be in relationship with him and with others.  How the heck are you supposed to have genuine, authentic relationships with anyone focused on making money and buying things?  Shopping may make you happy and give you that adrenilne rush...but is enough ever enough?

Children today get so many toys.  Take a moment to think about all the stuff you were bought as a child.  Can you even remember?  Now think about the family vacations, the trips to the cabin, to the zoo, were you involved in sports? theater?  What ignites a smile the toys?...or the experiences?

Experiencing the Ukrainian culture for the second time was even more life changing than the first time.  God really opened my eyes to the sense of community there.  It was hard for me to believe how generous, loving, hospitable, non-judging, and SIMPLE the people lived.  America has so many distractions, marketing has brainwashed everyone into believing they need the newest and coolest, people have their own personal agendas and can fare living independent lives. 

I have realized that looking back all my 25 years of life, its the experiences that really stir emotion.  I rather you show up at my birthday party with no gift in hand than send $100 in a card via USPS.  I rather you call me to wish me happy birthday than post it on my Facebook wall.

I want to have real authentic relationships with awesome people.  I want to use my time on earth wisely, I want to experience all that it has to offer in way of the limitless intangibles.