1+1=2

The whole sum of our existence is this: that we, each of us, want to be loved and accepted. Mostly accepted because within acceptance is a certain degree of love.

Think about it. It happens all the time.

We change our own personal beliefs to fit the corporate beliefs of the church we attend.

We change our lifestyles when we take that initial step of marriage. We change it to fit with the person whom we've chosen to share the rest of our life. We change it to make them want to be around us more and more. More decidedly, we change it within each and every relationship that leads up to that point... the point where "i" becomes "us".

We buy goods and services to bring our friends closer to us. We change in that. Buying a beer or a drink for a friend in a bar brings our life to the point where we're different. We sacrifice our time to harvest theirs, and they sacrifice theirs to harvest ours. Changing who we are to keep them around.

As children, we starve and thirst, sometimes even ache for our parents approval. We seek ways in which to please them, to garner their love. The acceptance in a "Good Job" uttered after an unassisted double play, or a "Well done" when greeted after a school-age dramatic performance; that seemingly simple phrase represents the whole of our sweat and toil. It's why we put out our best when coloring inside the lines, or brushing our teeth or even doing the daily chores. If we don't get that elementary positive influence, then we tend to grow into a life of over-achieving.

Even within our churches, the place where we typically learn the least about God, we're taught to gain God through our actions. Following the Ten Commandments, teaching a Sunday School class, hosting a Bible Study, witnessing... wearing the right Christian t-shirts.... all of those actions are what brings God closer to us, right? It's through our actions that God bestows His Love and Acceptance upon us, correct? Isn't that what is taught in our western culture based church?

Look at our likes and dislikes... How many of you 'like' certain movies because your friends like them? Or certain songs, music and artists? Wouldn't hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan or the Aryan Nation be befuddled in their recruiting if we all just gave up on what is told to us to hate, and embraced who and what we really genuinely love what we love, and hate what we hate... not because someone told us, but because that's the full realization of what WE love and hate.

A-F, Hollister, American Eagle, even Joe Boxer... All clothing lines that we purchase, not because they are the top of the line gear in terms of long lasting, most durable... but we buy these items because we want our friends and possibly a "special person" to like us, to approve of us... The same goes for our hairstyles, eating habits and even the kinds of coffee we consume.

As one movie character says, "...the things we consume end up consuming us..."

And for what? Do we strive to spend money, or are we earnestly seeking acceptance, love and/or approval? Yes Virginia, we are a selfish species for what we desperately crave and search for is that which we cannot give ourselves... the approval, acceptance and love of others.

So, the sum of our existence is as I said in the beginning of this piece... to be loved, appreciated, accepted, and approved of by those with who we respect and love.

I hope you see it now.