Demand has lied to us. We have been told that we deserve things we don’t need. Demand drives our economy, threatens our environment, and squeezes our culture.
Demand destroys. It expresses itself as selfishness, greed and even physical sickness. It’s ugly. It makes us sick. Demand makes us focus on our rights and forget about the hearts of others.
Demand comes from deep within, from something missing in the soul. It makes me want the bigger house, the better car and the massive TV. It makes me want to eat more than I need. It makes me yearn for affirmation.
We have been offered a cycle of wanting, getting, lacking satisfaction and wanting again. It’s a sick spiral. It’s something to which we could devote our whole lives.
We need a better offer. King David sang, painting a picture of real satisfaction;
The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul.
Psalm 23:1-3
What if we decided to challenge demand in our hearts?
My wife Sarah and I have decided to go on a blogging journey for forty days starting at Christmas. We intend to write about things that stir our minds and challenge our hearts. Our idea is that it’s not just that we need to decrease demand in our lives but that there is something incredibly valuable to gain in our lives by doing this.
If you’re keen to come along and perhaps go on your own journey then you can:
Receive – read each day with your mind and heart open.
Respond – share your thoughts and ideas by commenting at the Excess Exchange blog, do something, let something change in your heart, tell someone.
Thanks for reading. I’d love to have you along for the ride.
Mark
