Lookin’ Good

OK, so I’m on a flight to Austin today just minding my own business and
reading the Southwest Airlines in flight magazine Spirit. You know there are
times when I really don’t want to be reminded about the shallowness that
surrounds me. In a time in my life when I’m clinging to relevance and substance
like grim death, it’s trying to have superficiality surface once again.

Evidently the Oppenheimer Fund sponsored a survey where they
made the startling discovery that 75% of Gen X (20-40 yr. olds) Americans believe
that it’s better to look prosperous than to be prosperous. OK. Read it again,
you may not have gotten it the first time. Yes, it does say what you thought it
said. Gen X’ers believe the outside is more important than the inside.

That probably matches my own less-than-scientific survey
captured just driving around my city. I don’t know how some of my peers are
pulling it off. Come on, seriously, how can a young couple, with young kids
live in a six-figure home, drive two five-figure cars, private school, country
club membership and the rest of the package. I mean, are there that many great high
paying jobs out there?

Obviously, it’s overwhelming debt that allows these Gen
X’ers to live the life of prosperity while in reality they are just getting by.
It’s all about appearances. Of course, I feel myself constantly tugged by these
same temptations. Always wanting to look right on the outside while paying
little attention to what’s actually happening inside.

Hopefully, my age and experience has taught me something.
Hopefully, somewhere along the line, wisdom has taken root and actually caused
me to make some right decisions along the way. Appearances are such a trap.
“Keeping up with the Jones’s” is a wild-goose chase, a dead-end, a wicked
taskmaster.

Ultimately, it’s a life of substance that brings true
satisfaction and fulfillment; a life committed to the eternal things;
character, honor, integrity, family, community. That’s the only thing worth
really living for.