Humans long for contentment and fulfilment. Throughout the ages, people have tried to find contentment and fulfilment. One way of searching for contentment, of course barely successful, is the lifestyle of “having”. It seems, more than before, our society is drawn towards adopting the path of having to find contentment. Having more and more things can give a sense of security and inflate our self-esteem. However, the sense of security soon gives into fear of losing the things we possess and therefore into stronger insecurity. The sense of self-esteem based on having many and luxurious things is like a balloon which can blast at a small prick of our limitations which lie hidden in our possessions. Or otherwise, the air leaks out gradually but certainly, and the balloon of self-esteem shrinks. We need to have things required for a dignified living, however, a lifestyle based on having is not a sure path to experiencing contentment and fulfilment.
Today, many companies which sell various commodities and media fight tooth and nail to make us believe that to be happy we need to have. It can be incredibly hard to think of an alternate lifestyle when a society believes and lives overly dependent on having. But the whole universe and our very lives are rooted in the gift of giving. A seed breaks itself and offers its life to others. A tree gives shade, medicine, flowers, and fruits. The sun gives heat and light. The whole universe is a sacrament of giving. If the universe stops giving, humans will cease to exist.
We were born and grew up because our parents, particularly our mothers, who chose to give themselves to us. Giving might have been hard at times, yet, they gave happily and found a sense of contentment. A joyful giving leads to contentment. Can we have our lives rooted in the gift of giving rather than having? Today, the universe is calling us to learn from itself and widen our circles of giving.
