Money - what's not to love?



Rolled over relief

 

Money can’t buy love we know but it can make misery comfortable! This is a metaphor for the “good life” – the life that we’re sold or coerced into by  parents, schools, employers, government and other establishment figures.

Money is the common denominator that affects all of us in paucity and prosperity, for better or for worse and only in death are we parted from it. However, no deathbed regretter ever made mention of the word “money” unless he was a cryogenic Scrooge dedicated to “waking up in the future”!

Money is an earthly distraction and, no doubt the Almightly, regularly splits his sides (and experiences a touch of incontinence) over how careful/careless we are with the “readies” and how we choose to swell the coffers of our favourite brands/stores/charities (not so much the latter!!).

Money is an indefatigable foe and dubious friend. It is an enemy of peace and most importantly, rarely brings peace of mind. This is will strike a contrary note in hearts of the financially challenged. Money is the answer when you hit a low and money can ease discomfort but only when its administered by the wise (and Wisdomona knows a few of these!). If you’re not strong enough to withstand the “slings and arrows” of one’s unique karma then money plays mayhem with the undisciplined mind!

Mental discipline and other positive attributes are not wrought by money “man does not live by money alone!” Money may improve your material position but it cannot improve character. Generosity can make for an uncomfortable bed fellow.  Money doesn’t care about your inner life, it is fixated on the externals – furnishings, finery and all manner of fun filled distractions. To be rich in character you need more than a few million dollars. When you can appreciate life without a lot of money then you’ve hit the jackpot!

Ultimately money breeds fear. Fear that it might run out and fear that we will be less loveable without it. Power, position and the size of our assets keeps us hungry for the cake even though we might have the icing! But it is not evil though the hearts and minds of men are.

If thoughts are things then so is money and it buys a lot of things! Some businessmen claim that happiness breeds money – I’m not sure – since money is not happiness. But then what is happiness? I guess the meaning of happiness will be debated upon for centuries to come and each generation will have its own definition. For the purpose of this blog, I wish to define money and perhaps the best way is to explain what money is not:

Money provides a bed but not good sleep. It provides books to read but not knowledge; food to eat but not an appetite; fine clothes/cosmetics but not real beauty; medicines but not optimum health; a house but not a home; luxurious living and travel but not culture; companions/acquaintances but not true friends; leisure activities but not relaxation; religion that doesn’t satisfy the soul; travel to everywhere…except heaven.

 Money is not a lot of things but it’s a yard stick and human weakness has us craving more. Look into the eyes of the dying and you won’t see money. The spirit knows that it has to stay in the game of money until earthly needs are met. Once life and money is spent..... you can laugh at it…..all the way to the bank!