Satisfying our "colossal inner blah"

I came across this amazing quote from Thomas Dubay's book "Happy Are You Poor" and wanted to share it with you all.

“Plain honesty requires that we assert that the New Testament teaches an unblushing and uncompromising asceticism [simplicity], a hard road and narrow gate, a carrying of the cross every day, a renouncing of all that one possesses, a being rid of superfluities, and a dying with the Lord (Matthew 7:13-14; Lk 9:23; Lk 14:33; 1 Tim 6:7-8; Rom 6:3-5). But it also teaches a rich, abundant human living, a complete and intense joy beyond understanding, a joy no one can take away, a rejoicing in the Lord always, a tasting of the very goodness of uncreated Beauty (Jn 10:10; Jn 15:11; Jn 16:22; 1 Pet 1:8; 1 Pet 2:3; Philippians 4:4).


To the worldling the idea of finding joy in frugality is absurd, for to him joy is nothing more nor less than sense pleasures. He knows nothing deeper, nothing more lofty. And sense pleasures can be unceasingly multiplied only with money, abundant money, the more the better. But deep down, though he kicks the heels of his spirit in a refusal to face it, the worldling does know that sense pleasures bring happiness to no one. He knows that something is radically missing in his own life... There is a sprinkle of pleasure here and there…even though one feels the gnawing emptiness aching in his heart. The worldling will not face his colossal inner blah. He multiplies experiences in an unending and desperate attempt to numb his spirit. It hurts so much not to have attained the very reason for his existence, an immersion in God, that he uses things as a narcotic. The worldling pursues prestige or comfort or wealth or sexual encounters not because they basically satisfy him (if they did, once would be enough) but because they dull his inner aching. Always and eventually he is faced with his personal failure. But the sight of it is so revolting and painful, he dives once again into the aspirin sea of frantic pursuits.”

The temporal, worldly pleasures we all run to are never meant to fill the ache put deep into our hearts by God. I want to run to the only true satisfaction to my inner ache, not to the world's pleasures. They are just temporary pain medications to dull my spirit and momentarily mask the intense aching inside of me for God! I hope this quote provokes a little bit more you to run after true pleasure and true joy only found in Christ.