Mick Jagger isn’t what I would call a poet, and certainly not a genius.  In fact, I have never much cared for The Rolling Stones.  But one thing I do know is that occasionally, even the most uninspiring person can provide inspiration.  (No offense to those of you who like The Rolling Stones…their music just doesn’t resonate with me.)

 So, without further delay, I will share what inspirational lyrics The Rolling Stones have for us today:

        “You can’t always get what you want,
         you can’t always get what you want,
         you can’t always get what you want.
         But if you try sometimes, you might find
         you get what you need.”

Repetitive, isn’t it?  And yet, there is something hidden here, intended or not, by the author of these lyrics.

       Don’t you think that sometimes it is worth reminding ourselves that we CANNOT in fact get everything we want?  And sometimes, as human beings, we are so thick-skulled, that maybe it wouldn’t hurt for us to repeat that idea to ourselves MULTIPLE times?  This is the first thing that jumps out at me from these lyrics.

        We are so focused most times on what we WANT that sometimes we neglect our own (or others’) needs.  Even after the financial meltdown of this year, people still seem to be rushing around the DFW metro area, frantically shopping at the area malls to put themselves deeply into credit card debt (yet again) to buy that big gift for a friend or family member, who may, or may not, remember in a year’s time from whom they received it.

        I say it is time for that behavior to stop, although it never will (unfortunately, I don’t have that kind of power).  It is shocking to me that after the events of this year that we have fallen so quickly back into our old habits.  We have gone back to trying to get EVERYTHING that we want (well, okay, not everyone…there are still many who are without gainful employment).  Why are we SO dense?  Was this year not a warning about what can happen when greed and avarice run rampant?  I wish I knew the answer to it all.

        Alas, I do not.

     But let’s move on.  The second part of the chorus to this song is the most important:  “But if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what you need.”

      Two quick points:  First, what you need will not necessarily just land in your lap without any effort.  The lyric points out that when “…you try sometimes…”.  I am a firm believer in the idea that God helps those who help themselves.  This does not mean that I believe that we can “take over” for God, but what it does mean is that I think that God honors effort.  If we do everything that we can, in a moral and ethical manner, to make sure that we provide for our needs, I have complete faith that God will fill in the gaps for us.  Second, and most important, is that we need to focus on NEEDS.  And not just our needs.  If we have all of our needs provided, then it is time to take a gander around us, and see what needs must be met for our friends, family members and neighbors.

        I have been very blessed this year.  I still have a job, and while my sales have been down and my commissions have decreased from last year, I have been blessed by the ability to provide for my family’s needs (by the grace of God).  However, I certainly haven’t been able to provide all of our wants (I’m not sure I could ever make THAT much money).  But, since our needs our met, especially at this time of year, I feel a certain compulsion to find a way where I can help someone whose needs are NOT being met.

        Wouldn’t it be great if everyone who had a little money left over after all their needs were met would pitch in just a little to someone who might be in need?  What a difference that might make in someone’s life!  What a Christmas that might be!

        It is my wish this Christmas that we stop focusing on getting everything that we want (stop focusing on everything that we want…stop focusing on everything that we want…keep saying it…it will sink in), and start focusing on and becoming sensitive to our needs, and the needs of others around us.  If we can just help to reduce the needs of one person around us, isn’t that worth more than the new flat screen TV or the Playstation 3?
       

     If we all try sometime…we might find…
        …you know the rest.

        Merry Christmas and see you in 2010.  I so enjoy sharing my thoughts with you, and plan on continuing to do so in the next year.  I don’t know if there are many people following this column, but if you have comments or just want to let me know that you are reading, please feel free to drop me an email at jesse.greever@att.net.  I look forward to hearing from you, whoever you are!   -Jesse

This entry was posted on Monday, December 21st, 2009 at 8:20 pm and is filed under Dr. Jesse Greevers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.