Quit it.Stop staring at the leg.
Look lower.
Do you see it?
The second I saw this word I took out my BlackBerry and snapped this picture. No joke.
Wonderlust.
What?!?
Wonder: a cause of astonishment or admiration.
Lust: intense or unbridled sexual desire.
So this could actually read, "Where will an admiration of unbridled sexual desire take you?" Notice the title of the magazine is Wish- whatever/whenever.
This is how I was greeted in Dallas while staying in my hotel. The hotel is a swanky, trendy and very costly hotel near downtown Dallas. It is the W Hotel. The "cheap" room that my company put me up in is only $300 per night and doesn't include free internet... that's another $10 per day. Don't get me wrong- it's nice, REAL nice! I just feel out of my element.
So, what's inside the mag? Glad you asked.
Stuff.
Jewelry, clothes, cameras, mini video recorders, ads for luxury cars, ads for the other W Hotels. Anything you want. This is the W's own magazine.
The message is clear here. Take what you want. Get what you want. Indulge in your own pleasure. Satisfy me. It is like the hotel is trying to appeal to some desire that I don't really want.
Wait, I have more proof. There is a very scantily clad young lady serving alcohol in the bar right off of the main lobby. You can't miss her. She dressed VERY provocatively.
(For the record, I looked her in the eye. I did not "check her out"... that right there is a miracle. Thanks God!!!)
Wait, there's more.
Another magazine in my room that states, "Luxury overdose- too much is never enough."
So...
I guess I have grossly overstated my point to make a point. My succulent surroundings tell me that THIS is luxury and that what I have is not good enough. I have read through the hotel book, magazines and other pieces of literature here and one word kept popping up... "indulge."
This is where I tell you not to indulge, right? Not exactly. Go ahead. Indulge. Indulge over and over and over again. Enjoy the wonderlust that life has to offer. Soak it all in.
I have indulged in life. It always left me wanting more. I want to be satisfied...
Jesus tells a story of a young man who does this. He lives in a wealthy home with a promise to have part of the family business some day but he rejects what he has. He chooses to cash in and go do whatever/whenever. He indulges in all that the world has to offer. When the money runs out and his friends leave and the party is over and the high wears off and the sex stops and the cool stuff is gone... he gives up and gets a job feeding pigs for minimum wage. Bottom of the barrel. No where to go.
The young man remembers that even the slaves and servants in his father's house get treated better. So, he makes the hard decision to go back and he has a plan. He goes back without really knowing what his father is gonna say but he is gonna ask to become a servant. I am sure that the young man was contemplating all the reactions his father would have and planning his well thought out rebuttal for each point.
As the young man nears his father's house the strangest thing happens. Someone runs out to meet him. His father runs out to meet him because he had been watching for his son. Then something even more bizarre happens. The father clutches his son and kisses him. They have a blow out party with the best food and rock the house all night long. (Read the whole thing here)
Why tell that story? That story is my story and some of my relative's story and some of my friend's story. The son was never satisfied with all of his carnal pleasure. Jesus is painting a picture for us. He is articulating exactly the relationship that some of us have with God. We run away to do whatever/whenever we want and to indulge in the wonderlust of life all the while searching for something to satisfy our soul cravings... but nothing does!
The writer of Ecclesiastes and King of Israel wrote this:
"I thought in my heart, 'Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.' But that also proved to be meaningless. 'Laughter,' I said, 'is foolish. And what does pleasure accomplish?' I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives. I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a harem as well—the delights of the heart of man. I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me... (Ecc 2:1-9)"
After ranting on for a while (and Solomon must have been having quite a day when he wrote this), he says this, "Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God (Ecc 5:7)."
He concludes this book with these words after indulging in everything he could possibly imagine:
"Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man.
For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil (Ecc 12:13-14)"
Indulging in wonderlust did not satisfy the wisest man that ever lived and the very prosperous king of Israel, so how do we think that it will satisfy us? What makes us think we are any different? How has self indulgence ever REALLY satisfied the wonderlust thirst we all have with soul quenching water?
Jesus says that he offers soul quenching water and that He offers to give us life to the fullest measure. The invitation is for all. The offer to satisfy is for all. Now it's up to us to be willing to respond; to respond by willfully accepting this invitation and begin following the One who brings life. His grace is sufficient and His love is neverending.
How will we respond to the invitation to come as we are and the offer to be fully satisfied?
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composed by
dave
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