December Diary article by Sonia Falaschi-Ray

St Paul’s versus Tent City

The protesters outside St Paul’s Cathedral (St Paul, ironically, was a tent maker) have raised the profile of widespread public disquiet at the discrepancy between very high City and large company Directors’ salaries and those of the rest of the workforce. They are especially bitter about bankers’ pay, given that they blame them for the financial difficulties we find ourselves in. They have a point, even though their demands and proposed solutions seem somewhat incoherent. However, I think that anger at pay differentials is actually something of a sideshow to the malaise which is much more widespread in our society.

We are surrounded by marketing, advertising and media campaigns pushing the message that we will be happier and more fulfilled if we just buy the latest thing. From an advert saying, “Are you embarrassed by your mobile phone?” to credit card Access once claiming, it “Takes the waiting out of wanting”, they push the message that you must have the latest thing and you must have it now! The latest thing, now, does fill that ‘need’ gap for just long enough for us to fall for the same trick time after time. However, it is an empty promise. Things will never satisfy. It is in our relationships with others and our environment and most of all with God that contentment lies.

As the Christmas spending spree comes upon us we could consider Jesus’ words, “Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves don’t break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”. Treasure in heaven; that comes from giving our time, energy and love to friends, family and those around us; to caring for our environment and to building a relationship with God, by praying, reading the Bible and asking Him to give us His peace, which passes all understanding, and which will satisfy us long after our gadgets have gone to landfill.

Merry Christmas and Many Blessings

Sonia Falaschi-Ray