Category Archives: emptiness

Rampant consumerism – our year-round affliction

Posted on February 22, 2018 by vincentsmithauthor

Many of us would agree with psychologist Patricia Dalton, who says that rampant consumerism, once confined to the holidays, has become a year-round affliction. She observes unhappy people trying to fill the emptiness of their lives by irresponsible spending and … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundant life, consumerism, Contentment, emptiness, Materialism, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

‘Once I had everything but money. Now I have nothing but money’

Posted on July 25, 2017 by vincentsmithauthor

In her day Betsey Patterson was regarded as the most beautiful woman in America, so much so that Napoleon’s youngest brother became infatuated with her and married her. Well, that was just the start of a remarkable life, but in … Continue reading →

Posted in Beauty, emptiness, inner peace, inner yearning, Soul | Leave a comment

What is success?

Posted on July 25, 2017 by vincentsmithauthor

Malcolm Muggeridge was one of the most successful journalists of the twentieth century. For much of his life he was an agnostic, but an experience he had while making a documentary on the life of Jesus turned him into a … Continue reading →

Posted in Achievement, emptiness, Eternal life, Futility, Jesus, Success, Superficial judgements | Leave a comment

The Problem of having no religious outlook

Posted on June 22, 2017 by vincentsmithauthor

Karl Jung, one of the fathers of modern psychology, said, ‘People from all civilized countries of the earth have consulted me. I have treated many hundreds of patients. Among all my patients in the second half of life – that … Continue reading →

Posted in emptiness, God shaped holes, Healing, Religion | Leave a comment

The real test of someone’s philosophy

Posted on March 17, 2017 by vincentsmithauthor

Just before before he died, the atheist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre resisted feelings of despair by saying to himself: ‘I know I shall die in hope.’ Then in profound sadness, he would add: ‘But hope needs a foundation.’ His words remind … Continue reading →

Posted in Afterlife, Agnosticism, Atheism, Death, emptiness, Faith, Unbelief | Leave a comment

The central neurosis of our time

Posted on January 16, 2017 by vincentsmithauthor

One of the best known sceptics of the twentieth century was Bertrand Russell. Though born into Christian home he rejected faith and became an atheist. His daughter Katherine said of him, ‘Somewhere at the bottom of his heart, in the … Continue reading →

Posted in emptiness, Meaning in life, Meaninglessness | Leave a comment

‘Come to me and I will be your friend.’

Posted on March 15, 2016 by vincentsmithauthor

They call loneliness ‘the great modern plague.’ The extended family with networks of relatives close at hand became the nuclear family, which is increasingly being replaced by the single parent family, or the single person living alone. We are also … Continue reading →

Posted in emptiness, Jesus, Loneliness, Love of Christ | Leave a comment

When you get to the top, there’s nothing there

Posted on March 10, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

When Boris Becker was at the top of the tennis world he actually contemplated suicide. He said, ‘I had won Wimbledon twice – once as the youngest player to do so. I was rich. I had all the material possessions … Continue reading →

Posted in Disappointed, emptiness, Faith, Futility, Life, Life's journey, Living Life, Meaninglessness, Success | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Breaking with the law of the playground

Posted on January 4, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

British style writer Neil Boorman, a few years ago, caused a stir when he decided to burn all his brand-name possessions. “I am addicted to brands,” he confessed in a magazine article: “From an early age, I have been taught … Continue reading →

Posted in emptiness, Faith, God in us, God's faithfulness, Life, Life's journey, Living Life, Living simply, Materialism, satisfaction | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

An Endless March to Nowhere

Posted on April 24, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

Jean Henri Fabre was a French naturalist who, fascinated by the sight of processional caterpillars marching in a long unbroken line, each one touching the one in front of it, decided to try an experiment to see if they would … Continue reading →

Posted in Apathy, Death, emptiness, Journey, Life's journey, Living Life, Spiritual blindness, Spiritual Insight, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment