The Paradox of Our Age

I read this poem a long time ago that touched me and moved me in some way everytime I read it. It touches my soul and sometimes it gives me some sort of insight and different thoughts to ponder. With this poem, I've been able to stop and realize just how small I have donely good in life and how I should I try that much harder to be happy, understanding and tolerant. This moving piece has been an inspiration for me to be more appreciative for all that I have every day in life.
The essay appeared under the title "The Paradox of Our Age" in Words Aptly Spoken, Dr. Moorehead's 1995 collection of prayers, homilies, and monologues used in his sermons and radio broadcasts.



THE PARADOX OF OUR TIME IN HISTORY IS THAT ...
We have taller buildings ... but shorter tempers;
Wider freeways ... but narrower viewpoints.
We spend more ... but have less;
We buy more ... but enjoy it less.
We have bigger houses ... but smaller families;
More conveniences ... but less time;

We have more degrees ... but less sense;
More knowledge ... but less judgment;
More experts ... but more problems;
More medicine ... but less wellness.

We drink too much,
Smoke too much,
Spend too recklessly,
Laugh too little,
Drive too fast,
Get angry too quickly,
Stay up too late,
Get up too tired,
Read too seldom,
Watch TV too much,
And pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions ...
But reduced our values.
We talk too much, love too seldom ...
And hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living ...
But not a life.
We've added years to life ...
But not life to years.

We've been all the way to the moon and back ...
But have trouble crossing the street
To meet the new neighbor.

We've conquered outer space ...
But not inner space.
We've done larger things ...
But not better things.

We've cleaned up the air ...
But polluted the soul.
We've split the atom ...
But not our prejudice.

We write more ...
But learn less.
We plan more ...
But accomplish less.
We've learned to rush ...
But not to wait.

We have higher incomes ...
But lower morals.
We have more food ... but less appeasement;
More acquaintances ... but fewer friends;
More effort ... but less success.


We build more computers to hold more information,
To produce more copies than ever ...
But have less communication.
We've become long on quantity ...
But short on quality.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion;
Tall men, and short character;
Steep profits, and shallow relationships.

These are the times of world peace ...
But domestic warfare.
More leisure ... and less fun;
More kinds of food ... but less nutrition.
These are days of two incomes ... but more divorce;
Of fancier houses ... but broken homes.

These are days of quick trips,
Disposable diapers,
Throwaway morality,
One-night stands,
Overweight bodies,
And pills that do everything ...
From cheer ...
To quiet ...
To kill.

It is a time when there is much in the show window ...
And nothing in the stockroom.

Indeed it's all true.

Think about it ... read this again.

~ Dr. Bob Moorehead ~