MORE

WE WANT MORE. And more and more and more. What we have doesn't seem to be enough. When the Israelites were wandering with Moses, they were given manna from Heaven. It supposedly tasted like coriander. Oh well. It was food. It may not have been lamb kabobs but it gave daily nourishment. However, the grumbling soon started---oh, how they missed the cucumbers, onions, leeks from Egypt. Oh yeah. I remember that food, I also lived in Egypt for a while. Yes, the cucumbers are excellent. And the onions and the leeks. Oh, and the fresh basil and lemon grass.

But I also had to leave Egypt.

Why do we as humans always demand more in order to obtain happiness? Does more actually make us happy? I doubt it.

Take me, for example. I love shopping, but I use it as a panacea for depression. I am an imperfect human being with many faults. So my niece, who is studying psychology in college, told me that I am definitely bi-polar. I HATE that term. It makes me feel as if I have a mental illness. Perhaps I do. But for me, shopping takes me away from my worries, buys me something new to look at or to enjoy. New mascara. New shoes. New clothes. New books. But they are only new for a short while, then they are relegated to the "old" pile. Or the circular file. I know I have a problem, and often run out of funds by the end of the month because I just had to buy that silk dress, which may hang in my closet for at least a year before I find somewhere to wear it. I just wanted more clothes because . . . . ?

We want more love. We aren't getting enough. Who said that we deserve love anyway? Why can't we be the ones to love more? Why do we demand love from others when they can't give it? Shouldn't we learn to love more rather than to expect others to love us? I think we will find that giving love, in the many ways that we are able to, is so much more satisfying than expecting others to love us. How egocentric is that? Who do we think we are?

We want more freedom. In this country, we are pretty darn free, compared to other countries. And believe me, I have lived in some countries where women have very little freedom. They are subjected to humiliation if they don't cover their heads. They may even be stoned or executed for having sex outside marriage or extra-marital affairs. They also face female genital mutilation, which should NEVER be confused or compared to male circumcision.

We want more things. Tell me, how many televisions do I really need? I have four in the house, all cable-friendly. There are three people living at home, and we all have our own computers. One of us has a laptop. And another one of us is planning to get one for her birthday, simply because when she travels, she can't be without the internet---she is addicted to emails. We all have our own cell phones. Two of us own and iPOD. Two of us own our own cars. I own this house. I use paper towels as if they are going out of style (an expression used by my late mother). I buy the best toilet paper, and try to buy the best cat food. Oh yes, that's another subject.

Pets. We treat animals better than some people treat humans. Animal rights? Please, give me a break. I love my cats but I think humans are so much more important. I will never mistreat any animal, in fact, I love animals, even the nasty raccoons living under my crawlspace. I have problems even killing flies. But people deserve rights over animals. There are people right now in China and other countries, serving prison sentences simply for their religious beliefs. They have done nothing to deserve this, but are being punished nevertheless. Pet cemetaries? Pet psychologists? Pet toys? Oh, don't ask. I just bought my cats a new toy, complete with feathers and a bell. They have ignored it. I thought I was doing them a favor, you know, the vet says they need exercise. Perhaps I should have bought them a treadmill.

And yet abortion, by some, is o.k. Yes, just kill that little creation that is essentially a human being. I don't want it. It was a mistake. Where does human life begin? Who can say? Are the sperm and egg alive? Yes. These two join to start growing another human being. Did that baby start out as a horse? A spider? No. There are doctors in India who perform abortions for those women who have had enough girls and want to keep trying for a boy. Oh, but captial punishment? Heaven forbid!!! Taking away someone's life because they murdered another person? Abortion is murder, plain and simple. But capital punishment is not murder---it is justice. A life for a life. That is the way it goes. But no, it is against the laws of some States and some countries. So be it. We all have to face God someday and give an account of our lives. What shall the abortionists say then? They are as guilty as the murderer in prison.

But I digress. This was supposed to be about the word "more."

Well I've had enough for one day. I know I am as guilty as the next guy about wanting more of everything. Somehow we think that more will make us happy but it doesn't, not really.

Learning to be content with what we already have is probably the most difficult thing that people have to face on a daily basis, but it's not impossible. It just requires a lifetime of trying.