One voice from the emerging Christian counter culture
Anesthetized
Long ago, a bustling city thrived in the shadow of a quiet mountain in Italy. It sparkled like more than all before it: wealthy Roman patricians socialized in the public baths, new frescos glistened in the ornate villas.
But on August 24th, A.D. 79, their forgotten mountain erupted. It obliterated the town so quickly that people were caught and entombed in their dying postures. The sea of hot ash and mud buried all and preserved them; frozen in attitudes of shock, fear, and utter surprise. Surely, living so near, they had believed Vesuvius was asleep. The rumbling warnings and the region’s history of mysterious earthquakes had not seemed seriously threatening. Besides, they had enjoyed their luxurious lifestyle there on its slopes, so the warnings had been easy to ignore. Now, except for those who had wisely fled the city, their slumber was permanent.
Like the carefree inhabitants of ancient Pompeii, our western culture lives under the same anesthetic. This sleep prevents, even blinds, many from knowing or caring about the reality of another world; a world that is both eternal and spiritual. To constantly pursue our transient desires—physical, emotional, or intellectual—is like taking a drug that numbs our senses to this unseen, eternal, and real world.
In our saner moments we realize that everything we have in this physical existence transitory. Our physical treasures and possessions are precious only as long as we think they are—they have no innate, absolute value in and of themselves. The same is true of our achievements—today’s conquests soon become faded memories, and the thrill of success inevitably wears off. Relationships? Even the most intimate often leave us feeling alone. Many can attest, indeed with tears, that even those closest to us, the members of our family, pass away. People, possessions, even life itself are like vapors and eventually fade away. Nothing we deem precious, it seems, will last. After every relationship, every degree, every promotion, every success, we are left wondering what it was worth after all.
There is a purpose to human life, and it encompasses more than probably anyone—your family, your friends, your professors, your parents, or counselor—has ever told you before. This purpose puts mere philosophy to shame, reveals the utter hollowness of religious tradition, and exposes our incredibly shallow human culture for what it really is. If on your journey you discover the purpose of human life, which is nothing less than the heart’s desire of God Himself, it will revolutionize you; it did me.
Fred Peatross
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One voice from the emerging Christian counter culture
AnesthetizedLong ago, a bustling city thrived in the shadow of a quiet mountain in Italy. It sparkled like more than all before it: wealthy Roman patricians socialized in the public baths, new frescos glistened in the ornate villas.
But on August 24th, A.D. 79, their forgotten mountain erupted. It obliterated the town so quickly that people were caught and entombed in their dying postures. The sea of hot ash and mud buried all and preserved them; frozen in attitudes of shock, fear, and utter surprise. Surely, living so near, they had believed Vesuvius was asleep. The rumbling warnings and the region�s history of mysterious earthquakes had not seemed seriously threatening. Besides, they had enjoyed their luxurious lifestyle there on its slopes, so the warnings had been easy to ignore. Now, except for those who had wisely fled the city, their slumber was permanent.Like the carefree inhabitants of ancient Pompeii, our western culture lives under the same anesthetic. This sleep prevents, even blinds, many from knowing or caring about the reality of another world; a world that is both eternal and spiritual. To constantly pursue our transient desires�physical, emotional, or intellectual�is like taking a drug that numbs our senses to this unseen, eternal, and real world.In our saner moments we realize that everything we have in this physical existence transitory. Our physical treasures and possessions are precious only as long as we think they are�they have no innate, absolute value in and of themselves. The same is true of our achievements�today�s conquests soon become faded memories, and the thrill of success inevitably wears off. Relationships? Even the most intimate often leave us feeling alone. Many can attest, indeed with tears, that even those closest to us, the members of our family, pass away. People, possessions, even life itself are like vapors and eventually fade away. Nothing we deem precious, it seems, will last. After every relationship, every degree, every promotion, every success, we are left wondering what it was worth after all.There is a purpose to human life, and it encompasses more than probably anyone�your family, your friends, your professors, your parents, or counselor�has ever told you before. This purpose puts mere philosophy to shame, reveals the utter hollowness of religious tradition, and exposes our incredibly shallow human culture for what it really is. If on your journey you discover the purpose of human life, which is nothing less than the heart�s desire of God Himself, it will revolutionize you; it did me.Fred Peatross
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