12/06/08 "ICH"
-- -- The
paradox of our
time in history
is that we have
taller
buildings, but
shorter tempers;
wider freeways,
but narrower
viewpoints; we
spend more, but
have less; we
buy more, but
enjoy it less.
We have bigger
houses and
smaller
families; more
conveniences,
but less time;
we have more
degrees, but
less sense; more
knowledge, but
less judgment;
more experts,
but more
problems; more
medicine, but
less wellness.
We drink too
much, smoke too
much, spend too
recklessly,
laugh too
little, drive
too fast, get
angry too
quickly, stay up
too late, get up
too tired, read
too seldom,
watch TV too
much, and pray
too seldom.
We have
multiplied our
possessions, but
reduced our
values. We talk
too much, love
too seldom, and
hate too often.
We've learned
how to make a
living, but not
a life; we've
added years to
life, not life
to years.
We've been all
the way to the
moon and back,
but have trouble
crossing the
street to meet
the new
neighbor. We've
conquered outer
space, but not
inner space;
we've done
larger things,
but not better
things.
We've cleaned up
the air, but
polluted the
soul; we've
split the atom,
but not our
prejudice.
We write more,
but learn less;
we plan more,
but accomplish
less. We've
learned to rush,
but not to wait;
we have higher
incomes, but
lower morals; we
have more food,
but less
appeasement; we
build more
computers to
hold more
information to
produce more
copies than
ever, but have
less
communication;
we've become
long on
quantity, but
short on
quality.
These are the
times of fast
foods and slow
digestion; tall
men, and short
character; steep
profits, and
shallow
relationships.
These are the
times of world
peace, but
domestic
warfare; more
leisure, but
less fun; more
kinds of food,
but less
nutrition.
These are days
of two incomes,
but more
divorce; of
fancier houses,
but broken
homes. These are
days of quick
trips,
disposable
diapers, throw
away morality,
one-night
stands,
overweight
bodies, and
pills that do
everything from
cheer to quiet
to kill.
It is a time
when there is
much in the show
window and
nothing in the
stockroom; a
time when
technology has
brought this
letter to you,
and a time when
you can choose
either to make a
difference, or
to just hit
"Skip Ahead"...
By Dr. Bob Moorehead: Dr. Bob Moorehead, former pastor of Seattle's Overlake Christian Church. (He retired in 1998 after 29 yearsin that post). The essay appeared under the title "The Paradox of Our Age" in Words Aptly Spoken Dr. Moorehead's 1995 collection of prayers, homilies, and monologues used in his sermons and radio broadcasts:
