The Conundrum of Contentment

Someone once related a story to me regarding a memorable highlight of their oblivious youth. Oblivious because what they perceived as the highlight, was in fact one of the most stressful periods of their parents life. 

It was the 1950's, a time of widespread decline throughout Africa. Having lost his job, the father was forced to sell the family home. With nothing left but car and caravan, and no choice but to travel the country in search of livelihood, daily necessities soon became more a prayer than an expectation.

Yet the parents worries were their own. For the two sons, life had become an adventure, a seemingly endless holiday, travelling by caravan no less. Schooling was on hold, playtime was plentiful. Therefore, with food and clothing these two boys were content.

Doesn't perspective change everything, not least of all our experience of contentment.

Discontent is a common sensation, regardless of age, gender, or income. But it doesn't always make sense.

We've all seen children opening highly desirable presents, display minimal gratitude before tearing into the next one, only to become bored and wishing for something new a few weeks (days) later. How incomparable is this to the genuine smiles upon poverty stricken faces, when receiving a tatty second-hand soccer ball; which they treasure, share with everyone and kick about in bare feet.

Or the bankrupt investor who, having lost his millions, stands ready to throw himself from a balcony, unable to accept that he is as poor as the struggling street vendor down the road; who, ironically, at that very moment is shouting up at him from below that life is too wonderful and precious to toss away.

There is a pervasive influence in our culture to believe that contentment is full slave to circumstance; especially one's state of financial or material welfare. Therefore, copious energy is expended daily by billions, all attempting to contain the boundaries of their circumstances. 

Of course, this is understandable, for there is truth in it. Contentment is linked to our circumstances; evidence and experience showing that improved circumstances often result in growing contentment.

However, contentment cannot be fully slave to circumstance, else those in society most secure in their circumstances would consistently be the most content and visa versa; which just does not seem to be the case. 

Why? Because contentment is greatest slave to expectation; that is, a strong belief that something will happen or be the case. And expectation can be both bright or gloomy.

This is why the most secure in their circumstances can still be discontent, because their expectations remain based in fear, greed, jealousy and vice.

Likewise, sometimes those seeming to have the best reason for discontent surprise us with a cheeriness of the soul contrary to their circumstance. Such have bright expectations based in faith, hope, virtue and love.

For the brothers in the caravan, they had faith in their fathers oversight and a hopeful anticipation of each days adventures. As such they contentedly expected nothing beyond food, clothing and the love of their parents. Juxtaposed to this, the parents feared the worst. Struggling to have faith in either themselves, each other or God. Their expectations see-sawed accordingly between helplessness and despair.

And that is the conundrum of contentment. For no guarantee exists regarding circumstances. Adversity can fall upon us unexpectedly and indefinitely, as it does for many in the world. Which no strength within and no power without seems able or willing to change. What do we do then? Can we, like those boys, find true contentment in the midst of such circumstances?

Well, not if we're relying on circumstances to determine our contentment.
Expectations, then, we can change them. Can't we?

Yes. But there is only one way to do so. To start believing in something that transcends your circumstance. Something that will happen (that's expectation), and then anchoring your faith, hopes and love in it.

For many in the world, that expectation is founded in Jesus Christ and his promises of forgiveness, acceptance, compassion and an eternal future with him.

If your world should be turned irreversibly upside down tomorrow, where would you find contentment?