Paradox
The dictionary defines paradox as
a seemingly contradictory statement
that may nonetheless be true. The
word is synonymous to enigma as
in the enigma of the Sphinx, mystery as
in the mystery of the Trinity,
oddity, puzzle, inconsistency, absurdity
and the like.
In my slumbook,
I have quoted "the paradox of
climbing high to lowest depths; and
the Christian way of bending low
to reach the stars."
The world is now reeling and operating
on many paradoxes and ironies.One
newspaper columnist has enumerated
some of the many inconsistencies
in and around us.I cannot help but
become more aware and conscious
of the many oddities and absurdities
in the name of progress, and I quote:
"taller buildings but shorter tempers;
wider freeways but narrower viewpoints;
bigger houses but smaller families;
fancier houses but broken homes;
more conveniences but less time;
more degrees but less common sense;
more knowledge but less judgment;
more experts but more problems;
more medicine but less wellness;
higher incomes but lower morals;
more food but less appeasement;
more kinds of food but less nutrition;
more acquaintances but fewer friends;
more effort but less success;
more leisure but less fun;
much in the show window but
nothing in the stockroom."
On behavior and character,
we notice the propensity
of people to:
"drive too recklessly and fast,
get too angry too quickly,
spend too recklessly,
stay up too late,
get up too tired,
talk too much,
lie too often
watch TV too much,
love too seldom,
laugh too little,
read too seldom,
pray too little.
As a people,we have
multiplied our possessions but
reduced our values;
learned 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 we
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
plan more but accomplish less
we've learned to rush, but
not to wait.
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 in quality.
These are the times of fast foods but
slow digestion,
tall men but short character,
steep profits and shallow relationships.
these are the days of two incomes,but
more divorce.
These are the days of quick trips,
disposable diapers,
throwaway morality,
one- night stands, and
pills that do everything
from cheer,
to quiet,
to kill.
In a line,
these are the times that try men's soul!