The Latest and Greatest

Have you noticed that in recent years, the world has gone insane? 

You know what I am talking about. 

Unicorn Frappuccinos, tacos where the chicken is the tortilla, Thundersnow... 

It seems like everyone is in a contest to see who can push the envelope the furthest and get away with it — not just when it comes to food or the weather. 

We live in a culture of more, more, more. If only I could have more, then I would be happy. But when our happiness and fulfillment is dependent on ‘having,’ we’ll never be satisfied. 

We’ll continue searching for more, and if what we currently have isn’t good enough, someone will try to offer us something else that might make us happy. We’ve reached the point where that ‘something else’ is increasingly more extreme and bizarre. Our culture has fallen into the trap of thinking it’s the ‘latest’ that must be the ‘greatest,’ regardless of what the ‘latest’ actually is. 

There are two issues at play here. One, where do we find fulfillment? Trying to fill an infinite hole with finite things just won’t work. 

Two, how do we view tradition? ‘Pushing the envelope’ is a consequence of the ‘traditional’ being viewed as backwards or negative. Unfortunately, in many cases, tradition even becomes the enemy. 

At the roots of our Church is tradition, a rich tradition of truth and goodness. It’s our job to defend it, uphold it, and to pass it on. It’s a job that we must actively take on in our families, our communities, and our country.