Comments on: Any so-called material thing that you want is merely a symbol: you want it not for itself, but because it will content your spirit for the moment. –Mark Twain http://blog.catholicireland.net/2008/03/04/any-so-called-material-thing-that-you-want-is-merely-a-symbol-you-want-it-not-for-itself-but-because-it-will-content-your-spirit-for-the-moment-mark-twain/ CatholicIreland.net Blog Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:26:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.1 hourly 1 By: mary http://blog.catholicireland.net/2008/03/04/any-so-called-material-thing-that-you-want-is-merely-a-symbol-you-want-it-not-for-itself-but-because-it-will-content-your-spirit-for-the-moment-mark-twain/comment-page-1/#comment-2303 mary Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:45:35 +0000 http://blog.catholicireland.net/2008/03/04/any-so-called-material-thing-that-you-want-is-merely-a-symbol-you-want-it-not-for-itself-but-because-it-will-content-your-spirit-for-the-moment-mark-twain/#comment-2303 Yes its hard in this material world people have money and spend buy clothes take expensive holidays shop at the expensive food outlets I'd be happy in my little world if the awareness of theirs was'nt thrust at me The Lords teaching is that nature,sharing ,loving is free but sometimes we can feel surrounded by matterialism Yes its hard in this material world people have money and spend buy clothes take expensive holidays shop at the expensive food outlets
I’d be happy in my little world if the awareness of theirs was’nt thrust at me
The Lords teaching is that nature,sharing ,loving is free but sometimes we can feel surrounded by matterialism

]]> By: Valerie http://blog.catholicireland.net/2008/03/04/any-so-called-material-thing-that-you-want-is-merely-a-symbol-you-want-it-not-for-itself-but-because-it-will-content-your-spirit-for-the-moment-mark-twain/comment-page-1/#comment-2233 Valerie Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:08:34 +0000 http://blog.catholicireland.net/2008/03/04/any-so-called-material-thing-that-you-want-is-merely-a-symbol-you-want-it-not-for-itself-but-because-it-will-content-your-spirit-for-the-moment-mark-twain/#comment-2233 Material things have their place. I recently gave up my car, seemingly unthinkable here in Los Angeles, because I am saving to buy a Harley Davidson motorcycle. It will be much more economical than a car, although riding around in a city full of drivers preoccupied on their cellphones gives me plenty of hesitation. However, since I live 1.3 miles from work, I ride my bicycle to and from, and it is wonderful in this very sunny city to have such freedom and control (no traffic!). I am seriously considering a move up north to Ventura, a town that still embodies what California was like about 30 years ago, and riding the train to and from work. Save money, good for the ecology, so much less stress, and, best of all, commune one-on-one with fellow travelers to and from Los Angeles. I have discovered a lot of extra money I didn't have before, I was too busy sinking it into the car, and I have set up a Harley savings account, but I have also started giving to more charities than before. The best thing to come out of all this is that I find myself with the extra time I thought I didn't have before, to do volunteer work where I feel I am needed most of all: the Veterans Administration Hospital in West Los Angeles. Ever see the movie "Born on the Fourth of July" starring Tom Cruise? I did...and made it a goal in life to do volunteer work there. It took ten years, but I'm finally doing it!!! That will leave rides on the motorcycle confined to Saturdays...on back roads, glorifying God's beautiful countryside, giving thanks and praise for being so fortunate, and making small sacrifices that are leading to much bigger blessings. BTW, I took a bicycle ride during my lunch hour today, and it was sunny and 85 degrees here in Los Angeles, just GLORIOUS!!!! If I'd had my car, I would have wasted that time running errands!!! Thank You, God, for slowing me down!!! Material things have their place.

I recently gave up my car, seemingly unthinkable here in Los Angeles, because I am saving to buy a Harley Davidson motorcycle. It will be much more economical than a car, although riding around in a city full of drivers preoccupied on their cellphones gives me plenty of hesitation. However, since I live 1.3 miles from work, I ride my bicycle to and from, and it is wonderful in this very sunny city to have such freedom and control (no traffic!).

I am seriously considering a move up north to Ventura, a town that still embodies what California was like about 30 years ago, and riding the train to and from work. Save money, good for the ecology, so much less stress, and, best of all, commune one-on-one with fellow travelers to and from Los Angeles.

I have discovered a lot of extra money I didn’t have before, I was too busy sinking it into the car, and I have set up a Harley savings account, but I have also started giving to more charities than before.

The best thing to come out of all this is that I find myself with the extra time I thought I didn’t have before, to do volunteer work where I feel I am needed most of all: the Veterans Administration Hospital in West Los Angeles. Ever see the movie “Born on the Fourth of July” starring Tom Cruise? I did…and made it a goal in life to do volunteer work there. It took ten years, but I’m finally doing it!!!

That will leave rides on the motorcycle confined to Saturdays…on back roads, glorifying God’s beautiful countryside, giving thanks and praise for being so fortunate, and making small sacrifices that are leading to much bigger blessings.

BTW, I took a bicycle ride during my lunch hour today, and it was sunny and 85 degrees here in Los Angeles, just GLORIOUS!!!! If I’d had my car, I would have wasted that time running errands!!! Thank You, God, for slowing me down!!!

]]> By: Ann http://blog.catholicireland.net/2008/03/04/any-so-called-material-thing-that-you-want-is-merely-a-symbol-you-want-it-not-for-itself-but-because-it-will-content-your-spirit-for-the-moment-mark-twain/comment-page-1/#comment-2172 Ann Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:15:01 +0000 http://blog.catholicireland.net/2008/03/04/any-so-called-material-thing-that-you-want-is-merely-a-symbol-you-want-it-not-for-itself-but-because-it-will-content-your-spirit-for-the-moment-mark-twain/#comment-2172 I don't know how many of your readers are familiar with the writings of Fulton Sheen who has much to say about our discontent. We have been created by God, and are destined to be with Him, our souls long for Him, but many go through life not recognising that desire for what it is. And so they attempt to fill the void - which can only be filled by God - with many material things, all the while thinking that the next and the next will lead to happiness which of course does not happen. This is not to say we are to go through life miserable, quite the contrary, since there is a joy that comes from loving God that is worth more than any material goods. We become liberated rather than enslaved when we find in God the answer to our heart's desire. It would be hard to exist in the modern world without gadgets of any kind but I think it's important to cultivate in ourselves an awareness of a distinction between that which is dispensible in God's eyes and that which is of immeasureable and lasting value. I don’t know how many of your readers are familiar with the writings of Fulton Sheen who has much to say about our discontent.

We have been created by God, and are destined to be with Him, our souls long for Him, but many go through life not recognising that desire for what it is.
And so they attempt to fill the void – which can only be filled by God – with many material things, all the while thinking that the next and the next will lead to happiness which of course does not happen.
This is not to say we are to go through life miserable, quite the contrary, since there is a joy that comes from loving God that is worth more than any material goods.

We become liberated rather than enslaved when we find in God the answer to our heart’s desire.

It would be hard to exist in the modern world without gadgets of any kind but I think it’s important to cultivate in ourselves an awareness of a distinction between that which is dispensible in God’s eyes and that which is of immeasureable and lasting value.

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