Marketing Mania

I've been struck the last few weeks by the sheer quantity of advertising that I receive.  We don't even have TV - our antenna was struck by lightning last summer and we haven't replaced it - but between radio, Internet, email and regular mail, I hear or read about things someone's trying to sell me almost constantly.  Whether it's the Kindle Daily Deal ("this best-selling book for only $1.99!"), the Best Buy Daily Deal ("this best-selling laptop for only $349.00!"), the Summer Black Friday Sale at Herberger's ("120+ Doorbusters!") the Science Museum's Pirate Ship display ("only here until Labor Day!"), or the Minnesota Orchestra's Sommerfest ("these four concerts for only $99!"), the items that would make me happy or the experiences that would make my life complete beckon enticingly from every surface in my home.   I tried all summer to bring the children to the Pirate Ship exhibit at the Science Museum.  I know we would have enjoyed it immensely and learned a lot, but we chose to fulfill our year-long obligation to take them to Target Field for a Twins game instead.  Now, with David's wedding only a week away, I regretfully understand that it's not going to happen.

What has struck me most, however, is that if I didn't hear or read about these things, I would have no regrets.  I didn't dream about the Pirate Ship display or the Sommerfest concert or the best-selling book or the laptop before I saw the advertisements.  The lack of any or all of them does not impoverish my life.  God didn't create me so that I could experience all the fun, happiness or luxury America offers.  He created me to live in loving relationship with Him and with others.  Sometimes fun experiences can contribute to building loving relationships, but they certainly aren't necessary.  Last night we ate supper and visited with friends while we made 150 hamburger patties for an event at church.  This virtually free evening, not advertised in any marketing ploy, built our relationships with these friends as much as any expensive event could have done.

What's the solution?  I don't know.  But I am looking with a more jaundiced eye at the flyers, emails and pop-ups that pop up.