Good morning. Today we recall the good life, gifts and works of Blessed Bronislaw Markiewicz. He was a Salesian priest and he founded a youth organization entitled the Society of Moderation and Work based upon the teachings of Saint John Bosco. I don’t believe anyone would argue that one of the things most Americans struggle with is moderation. Americans tend to be obsessed with consumption and everything they consume tends to be super sized. There is an ever increasing focus upon consumption and self-gratification, I regularly meet with grade school children who have smart phones, hardly ever go outdoors to play, and spend every waking moment occupied with some type of electronic entertainment device. I did an exercise with a class of fifth graders a couple of years ago where they had to go a week without the use of any type of electronic device. Out of a class of 25 children three of them were able to do it and those three couldn’t express enough how difficult it was. When I ask children I see in my practice what future life goals they have, their goals typically coincide with their desire to increase their capacity to consume, their choice of future careers usually seems determined by a desire for means rather than the means to do something meaningful. There is an ever increasing sense that meaning and happiness are things which need to be purchased. I am not certain of what the answer is to this increasing sense of thoughtless and unnecessary consumption that is occurring in our society, but Father Val J. Peter, the Director Emeritus of Boys Town offers some suggestions in a wonderful book he has written. Father Peter, in his book Love, Warmth, and Discipline: Lessons from Boys Town for Successful Parenting, reminds us that people like Blessed Bronislaw, and all the Saints have reminded us that it is about God and not stuff, and that parents need to return to emphasizing the things that matter. Who is up for a free family fun day? Make a great day!
No comments:
Post a Comment