Apparently the mirror came into existance in the year of 1500. After this new invention there was an increase in the 'splitting of the self'. People started to live outside of themselves, not from the foundation found within. We started to live through others' eyes asking, "Am I attractive?" "Am I in style?"
We often live through the eyes of others in that we care if they think we are attractive or not. It's so easy to allow the media to define our success. Therefore, the self is always outside of itself & we find ourselves discontent.
Author Richard Rohr states that we suffer from a lack of contact with reality. Until we break the material world's hold on us and reestablish contact with reality, we will never be happy. We will live our lives through these beautiful models that we can't live up to..what a terrible tragedy that people should be seduced into imitating and desiring what we are not and can never be.
What does this have to do with simple living? If we are able to live rooted in Christ, rooted in His Abundant Simplicity (sounds like an oxymoron but ISN'T!!), we do not have to pine after some clothing or product outside of ourselves; we will instead be able to draw from the well within us which is all the more satisfying. It's a well filled with Truths that tell us a new sweater won't fulfill us anymore than the ones we have in our closets. It will tell us that sweaters, in fact, don't have the power to fufill us! The funny thing is I don't quite believe this to be true because a new sweater does make me feel good for at least a little while.
As you can see I'm struggling with living outside of myself versus inside of myself. Is it possible to live rooted and grounded with commercials, ebay, stylish friends, malls, etc.?? It would sure save us money!
-Andrea & excerpts from Rohr's book 'Everything Belongs'
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