Friday Thoughts by the Fire: #73
Not impressed
I remember when I was younger, I went to my dad’s friend’s house with him, and his friend was showing him something in his garage.
I don’t remember exactly what it was, but I remember he really wanted my dad to be impressed. He was trying to show off in a way.
I think my dad’s reaction was something like, “cool”.
Truthfully, I knew my dad didn’t care that much. I think he was trying to make his buddy feel better. I’ve never actually seen my dad very impressed by things.
And it checks out. Any time I met one of his friends, they were always funny. That was the thing that appealed to my dad. I eventually put two and two together and thought, no wonder I think dad is so funny. His friends are all hilarious!
My Dad has always been more impressed by humor. I noticed it at a young age. He always made my brothers and I laugh. He wanted to “goof around”. I loved it.
He was never really impressed by stuff. I think I have some of that. I hope, anyway.
There is a world now where people get to post everything online. Their entire life. Every accomplishment, every new car or house, every time they mow their damn lawn. It’s all on their profile.
Home projects, boats, new vehicles, new jobs, you name it. It’s there.
People are proud. But pride needs to be fed. It needs validation. It needs attention.
As long as the internet exists, that validation will be there. In one way or another. I think the thing we’re losing in this modern era is the magic of individuality. Better yet, personality.
Anything that’s shared online has already been done. It’s already been accomplished, bought, owned, used, and sold. There is nothing you can own or buy that doesn’t have a better version materialistically (wow, big word).
Connection with others is the cure. My dad had friends that were funny. I totally get it. I think I followed that formula to lifelong friendships that aren’t based in materialistic value. They are based in laughter and connection.
Life is short. I write about it all the time, like a broken record. What are we doing if we’re not connecting with other people? What are we doing if we have every material thing but lack an interest in really getting to know someone?
The very definition of lonely is, “sad because one has no friends or company”. It isn’t sad because a person lacks a Ferrari. It isn’t focused on money. It isn’t focused on any sort of material possession.
Lonely is “sad because one has no friends”. That really is depressing.
My dad wasn’t impressed by a big garage or a sports car. He wanted to laugh with his friends.
Have you ever had a better time than when you were laughing with your friends?
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3