Do we actually know what we want?

PLEASE NOTE: our house suffered a brief power failure in the middle of the sermon so you will hear a break, then a few words from me about it, and then the sermon continues. My apologies for the jolt.

There is something essentially human of wanting and NOT wanting to wait for it.

It is this combination, namely wanting things and wanting them this instant, that frequently misleads us about what we really want? It is difficult for us, or at least it is for me, to take a step back and think seriously about what it is I want. I might say I want a chocolate bar but what I really want is a distraction. I might say I don’t want to go out but what I really want is to be reassured I’m welcome.

We frequently want things as they are solutions to a problem we have. If we take the first solution, the problem is solved for the moment, but frequently when we take more time to ask ourselves what it is we really want we can get to a better solution. There is nothing wrong with shortcuts but if the shortcut doesn’t get you where you actually want to go . . . how much good is it?

“Are you sure you want that?” (to download, right click and select “Save Link As . . .”)

Blessings,