We live in a
culture of more. If you’ve that before it was likely connected
to our culture’s materialism. How we
always want more of this, more of that.
And that’s a fair critique. But I
actually mean something else. I mean
that we live in a culture that demands more.
That demands more of you. That
wants more from you.
Back in 2000,
while I was in high school, a movie came out called “Dude, Where’s My
Car?” High-art film this movie was
not. The basic premise is that a couple
of best friends, Jesse and Chester, wake up one morning to discover their car
is missing and they go looking for it.
That’s really all you need to know.
Anyway, in one
scene a friend of theirs takes them through the drive-thru at a Chinese
restaurant. After Jesse places each
portion of their order, the drive-thru lady says, “and then?” This goes on for a while, until they’re
done. But the lady won’t relent, saying
“and then?” Jesse gets more and more
frustrated as the lady gets more and more threatening and obnoxious with her
“and theeeeeeeeeen?” After a couple
minutes of this Jesse snaps and destroys the drive-thru box.
It’s a silly
moment in a silly movie, but it’s an idea we can identify with. Every time we do something, someone is there
to say, “and then?” Every time you
finish a project, your boss is there to say, “and then?” You pick the kids up from school. And
then…it’s time for dance or soccer practice.
And then…you have to pick up dinner.
And then…it’s time to pick the kids up again. And then…it’s time to help with
homework. And then…laundry. And then…yardwork. And then…bills need to be paid. And then…they need to be paid again. And then…the sink needs to be fixed. And then…taxes are due. And then…different taxes are due. And then…it’s somebody’s birthday and you need
to get a card and a gift. And
then…you’ve got a checkup at the doctor’s office. And then, and then, and then,
and then, and then.
