Philippians 4:10-13

I have learned to be content with whatever I have. (Philippians 4:11)

The cynic in me wonders if Paul would be able to say the same thing if he were living in 2014. Sure, Paul faced imprisonment and hunger, but he never had to sit through an evening of prime time television! Contentment with whatever one has is not easy in a marketplace whose sole purpose is to convince us that we are not content. One night in front of the TV and Paul would want to trade in his papyrus and quill for a new tablet computer. He’d be seeking remedies for his male-pattern baldness and wondering if he has low-T. There was once a day when advertising’s goal was to convince us of the superior merits of a product. Now its purpose seems to be to convince us of our personal deficiencies and latent discontent.

In this moment, take a deep breath and give thanks for all that you have and all that you are; a beloved child of God.