Most people don't have a standard to live by so, most of their dreams/wishes etc. tend to become a part of what their culture is moving towards in that moment. You see it all over the place, in all kinds of nations, cultures & religions (yes, even Christians, and we do have a standard).
EXAMPLE: The American Dream, "I want a bigger house, we don't have enough room in this tiny 2,000 square foot home, and a better this would be nice...Maybe if I worked more I would have a lot of money and then I could afford to buy a better this and that..." The list goes on.
In the middle of nowhere Africa the same thing happens, "Can you believe it, they have a mud hut and I don't so, I want that, I need it...A tribal war is in order because, don't you want what they have and we could easily take their village if this and that..."
EXAMPLE 2: In America, "I need to stay in shape, being skinny is THE thing and I really need to "feel" good about myself, because that is important to me. Also, don't call me tomorrow because, I won't be available as I need some "me time." Or "Please Lord could I just be half as cute as so and so"... And who decided that she was cute and you weren't? If you say that then how did you get to that conclusion? You had to be influenced by somebody. Who is that somebody? A friend? Your culture?
In Africa, "I'm ashamed of myself, I'm to skinny, I wish that I was half as fat as so and so, at least she gets to eat one meal a day regularly. That shows that they have lots of money and I don't. Can you imagine if an African girl came to America and said "Please Lord, half as fat as her!"? She would get the wildest stares on the planet!
EXAMPLE 3: In America, "I wish that my hair was this color like the popular girl at school. If only it was curly instead of straight. If only it was straight instead of curly.
EXAMPLE 4: "This popular Christian ministry says this so, I guess, we need to change directions and move with the "popular flow". Come on kids lets go..."
It seems like we as people always want what we don't/can't have. "I want this instead of this." And to throw something else into the mix there are trends. "Well this was cool but, today, not cool. That is soooo last year. Aren't you up with the newest things? I guess not. Hello, like you need to get it together" Or in the other direction... "I once was blind but, now I see as the old hymn goes, yes I use to do that but, now I would never do that. I'm so thankful to Mr. So and So Pastor that set me aright on September 27th, 1982 when I accepted the LORD as my personal saviour. I'm forever grateful."
Also, there are a few kinds of love, and without a standard of the bible you tend to be rather subjective in the way you show love to people. Most likely the way you learned how to "love'' people is though your parents. Here are the types I thought were out there...
1. Family love.
-How you interact with you family, how you show them that you love them.
2. Friendship love.
-How you have fun with a friend.
3. Man and women love.4. Buying love.
-This type of love can be used with all of the above. "Well I bought you all this and that is how I show love."
5. Animal/human love.
-How you show you pets love. But, obviously animals can't be "bought" that easy.
This isn't a big thought for me in that it was a revelation but, that it would be a lot to write down. I have thought about this before and just decided to write in to a blog post.
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