The Law of the Itch: “No one ever made an itch go away by getting really good at scratching.”- John Ortberg’s grandmother
“Men have succeeded in accumulation a greater mass of objects, but the joy in the world has grown less.”- Fyodor Dostoyevsky
In Chapter 17 (More Will Never Be Enough”) of When the Game is Over, John Ortberg talks about the myth of more. This myth deceives us with the idea that one day more will be enough. As a result, when we believe this myth, we spend our lives looking for The Next Big Thing. Furthermore, we sustain the hope that The Next Big Thing will be IT- where our souls find true satisfaction.
Thus, for a few minutes, or even days, we experience true soul satisfaction. And then, as always, it wears off. Yet, as surveys indicate, Americans stand decisively against materialism. Also, Americans don’t want to be materialistic. But, as John quips, “We just want more.”
In addition, many ads promise recourse if we’re not completely satisfied. And, the author asks, who’s ever completely satisfied with anything? Maybe, Pastor Ortberg suggests, it’s because we’re too demanding. Or, more accurately, it’s because God created us for something earth doesn’t possess the ability to offer us. So when we buy into material joy, we wind up playing the game of life differently than God’s design.
Next, John discusses three ways we buy into the myth of more. He explores the first way today.
1. The hedonic treadmill. We live on the hedonic treadmill when we try to be happy by getting more. On this treadmill, John notes, we quickly adapt to, as well as take for granted, acquisitions and achievements in our life. “But,” John continues,” like Lassie, dissatisfaction always comes back home.” Wanting more only spawns more wanting.
Today’s question: How does The Law of the Itch apply to you? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Suffering from the effects of entitlement”
