The Cream Filling Society

Today, we can get anything we want immediately in many cases.  We have millions of different sounds for incoming calls, and the grocery store has scores of flavors to pick from – just in coffee creamer alone!  Our palates have never been more satisfied and our hearts never more broken.

God is Our Father, and his heart is more saddened than angry towards us, his self-willed children, who have lost their way in his gifts – instead of losing ourselves in The Giver.  We are in a time of great impatience like the world has never seen largely because we demand instant gratification.

Yes, we are a dessert-driven society; be it the coffee buzz, fast food, overworking without good cause, underworking and laziness, illegal (and now legal) drug use, lust escapades, anger in traffic, etc. We simply can’t get enough.  We cannot wait, and the advertising industry understands, producing “fast-food” news and entertainment we all too quickly gobble down.

Like a tot in a highchair eagerly awaiting yummy chocolate cake from Mother Government and our big-wig aunts, we take whatever they feed us in a numbed, co-dependent state as they pinch our fattened cheeks and make us giggle.

Let’s take video channels, for instance… they have GREAT films and educational videos we can watch, whenever we want… or we can watch clipped videos that, in a sense, give us the cream filling of the cookie. We do away with the chocolate cookie part.  Just like a child, or adult for that matter, may enjoy the cream filling more than the cookie part and may even toss the cookie part aside, so as a society are going straight for the best scenes.

No more waiting.  Now the movie’s creamy centers are neatly packaged and ready to watch like a TV dinner was to us in the ’70s and ’80s. Yes, we don’t have to go through the agony of fast-forwarding anymore; and we miss that constructive time of watching the “boring” scenes.  All this fosters more impatience as we scrape the yummy filling with our incisors onto our tongues.

Also, are a lot of modern short videos and even primetime shows, from the terrifying loose dog mauling the neighbor to the struggling extremely overweight, to the 30-60 minute prime time show, a new and seemingly acceptable type of the cruel, inhumane and profited “freak shows” of years past?  Why do I need to know about strangers’ front door thefts?  Why do I need to be fed videos of road-rage “events?”  Arguing campers?  Are these people not intended to be spectacles, who are many times recorded against their wishes?

In the TV shows why are guests/patients propped up high on a bar stool-level seat?  What’s wrong with a more decent and comfortable chair or couch?  Is this a genuinely caring situation to help America heal from our ego-driven issues, addictions, and mental health issues?  Though it is true these shows do benefit and help others in ways.

I admire the courage of these patients who do seek help – while helping others and receiving payment as well.  But the situations where problem family members are dragged into being on stage, I suppose that could be helpful from a humiliation standpoint and getting sound advice.  Looking at this from both angles, I’m with those who believe the cure is worse than the cough, however.

As a society, are we watching such a deflection from reflecting on our own sins?  Are we strolling by the carnival tents eating cotton candy, gazing in hesitatingly?  The devil knows we are fascinated with melancholic, bizarre, morbid, and violent subjects; simply take a look at horror and “thriller” novel film sales.  Absorbing just how apparently worse off others are alleviating our own guilt to some degree. “but for the grace of God go I” can be quite an arrogant statement if said in the wrong context.

The slightest venial sins mean a long time in the agonizing flames of purgatory upon death and judgment.  I cringe when the sink is too hot, how can I handle purgatory fire?  Never mind eternal Hellfire!  No, we are too good for that – only “Hitlers and Stalins” go there… Lord, have mercy – literally.

Do we fail to acknowledge, like the bad thief, that “we are under the same sentence?”  And “we deserve it (our setbacks and sometimes insurmountable pains in life) after all?”  “This Man (Jesus) has done nothing wrong!” cf Luke 23:39-43.  When we do the passion play, we all take part as the crucifiers of Christ.  As well, we realize, to one degree or another, that we all take the part of the thief when we sing “Jesus remember me when you come into your Kingdom” in some churches during lent.

On internet sites we are forbidden to see how many dislikes are presented, only the author has access.  We are not allowed to be a negative emotional or financial effect on an author’s apprentice stages.  Hey, many of us were: “picked last in gym class,” had to figure out how to turn wrenches amidst mockery, sing a song on stage with onlooking bullies, present a college thesis amidst smirks, or face hardship in business as entrepreneurs…  If it’s a kid subjecting themselves to the grand scale of today’s bullying, which is honestly like our society has never seen, then for Pete’s sake don’t let them put up videos – that means parents and/or the channel’s workers!

The consumer mob wants us to cut to the chase, the fight scenes and romance, and see the breathtaking special effects.  How about a storyline where actors speak for more than one minute, conveying absolutely well-thought-out archetypes? Like a wounded father and son communication, such as in the ’70s and ’80s favorite of mine Star Wars?

I agree that there is some sentimental bias here a bit, but why should there not be?  The films had a balance.  That seemingly disappeared in the ’80s…  now they are more platforms for liberal agendas, such as having a practically all-female crew as a priority instead of great acting. Our society goes right to the best scenes, the cream filling.   We toss all the rest, ie the “boring” stuff aside.

We cannot wait for our little presents, the “dings” under our social media Christmas trees to see what we got.  The Evil One knows many kids are growing up today (more than in years past) without healthy affirmation from parents – so he fills the void in us and our children’s generation with gumdrop “likes” vs the meat-and-potatoes of healthy parenting.

Today some give up on their marital vows when they lose their flavor, in the words of a wise man I know.  Often, those are the same people that “warn” us to “test” potential marriages with sinful pre-marital encounters.  Yes, many compare people to vehicles and clothing.  As God’s word says: “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.”  1 Cor 3:19.

Meanwhile, couples are earnestly attempting to re-kindling their early caring and kindness.  Others can’t seem to begin anew for many years following annulment.  Then there is divorce, which Our Lord states is impossible, cf Mark 10:9-12.  Separation may have been warranted for physical and/or emotional safety – and one partner decides to remain faithful to the possibly-legitimate-on-both-parties wedding vow, staying single, even if something like this occurs, cf Mark 10:9, Hosea.

I heard of a situation where an annulment was jammed up due to a lack of willingness on the part of an unfaithful spouse.  Where are all the people that emphasized marriage prep when things get sticky?  Why don’t they, with the zeal of Jehovah’s Witnesses, go out with a few other faithful Catholics and knock on the door of the un-cooperative spouse?  Like many other Catholics, I am on the page that annulments are too readily available – and that emphasis makes marriage appear less “till death do part,” they used to be mainly regarding psychological reasons at the time of the vows, and far less were granted.

Some keep their early tenderness alive through the worst of obstacles, staying faithful unto death. Not all see everything as disposable.  The family that prays together stays together; also, in today’s world of difficulty like we’ve never seen, willingness to work with a counselor may be required additionally.

Now prayer…  is the spiritual enemy prepping us to be more impatient with prayer (ridiculous question)?  I mean, in almost every church I go to (and I’ve been in many) the Sunday Mass entrance hymns are lucky to get to the 2^nd verse before diving into the Sign of The Cross!  I was just “getting into” the verses and we stop on a dime as I figuratively trip headlong.

As we file out, the poor musician who practiced adamantly for us plays all four verses of How Great Thou Art hoping for us to join in while we immediately aspire to talking or darting to the restaurant directly after Mass.  Jesus, Himself stated we oftentimes treat Him as though he “were a dead object.” (cf, Divine Mercy In My Soul #1385).

I’m sure Our Lord loves our mingling over thanking him earnestly for getting us through another week safely and healing our souls with his heavenly balm of The Eucharist.  Sure God wants us to socialize, being Jesus-like, but perhaps outside?  In a social hall?  If that were the President of the US (let’s just say it was your all-time favorite, dead or alive) I can assure you our behavior would be different… and we “have a greater than the President here” (cf, Matt. 12:6).

There must be another way for our pastors, as well I’ve experienced this in many Churches, to give us the important parish matters other than right after Communion. What does that do? It triggers us to think of business and events rather than the nuptial wedding feast of The Lamb of God we just participated in; that Our Lord longed to eat with us after a busy week where we may have left him out of most of our actions.  Christ longs to spend time with us. cf Luke 22:15.

On the other hand, imagine being the pastor, and trying to get the attention of your congregation about important fundraisers and issues like a leaking roof in your rectory or the church itself?  An astronomical (you think your furnace bill is high) heating bill and warranted heater replacement?  A dying Knights of Columbus council?  How would you or I handle that, when few even read the bulletin, never mind even taking it home!?  Perhaps we could incorporate ideas on parish needs into our meditation of thanksgiving?  You know, half and half?  Half thanking God for His goodness (in meditative silence after Mass), then thinking about ways to address issues regarding His house here on Earth?

Saints gave thanks and meditated after Mass.  We eat and run all too much…  I can see the scraped cookie halves rolling on the floor as we walk away, enjoying our cream filling with a grin of delight.  St John Vianney our caring temperate friend – who didn’t mince his words – please pray for us!