The American Nightmare

This past week I was prompted to write an essay on the American Dream for my Literature class. We were asked to write our beliefs and interpretations of the American Dream in less than two pages (double spaced). This caused me to cut back from exactly what I wanted to say, so I thought I'd bring it back up here.

According to the dictionary, the definition of the American Dream is "a life of personal happiness and material comforts traditionally sought by individuals in the U.S." If I were to rephrase this, I'd define it as a life in which one strives or lives for gaining materials in hopes that they produce happiness. I had to ask myself if I agree, the answer, of course, is no. I do not believe that a life should be lived for the American Dream because it has the concept of happiness all wrong. For a Christian, Jesus Christ gives us joy, not "material comforts".

John 15:11

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

John 17:13

But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

We don't need material things to make us happy, Christ is all we need! He gives us joy, and our joy is made complete. We do not need to fill our lives with junk. The American Dream is really just a poor attempt at achieving a purpose in life and we already have a purpose. Our purpose is to glorify God in everything that we do. We should not live for a better future, a great house, career, or even a family. Our lives are devoted to God, the only Eternal One. All else will just fade away.

These are lyrics to a great song called "American Dream" by Casting Crowns:

All work no play may have made Jack a dull boy

But all work no God has left Jack with a lost soul

But he's moving on full steam

He's chasing the American dream

And he's gonna give his family finer things

“Not this time son I've no time to waste

Maybe tomorrow we'll have time to play”

And then he slips into his new BMW

And drives farther and farther and farther away

Cause he works all day and tries to sleep at night

He says things will get better;Better in time

So he works and he builds with his own two hands

And he pours all he has in a castle made with sand

But the wind and the rain are comin' crashing in

Time will tell just how long his kingdom stands

His kingdom stands

Well his American Dream is beginning to seem

More and more like a nightmare

With every passing day

"Daddy, can you come to my game?"

"Oh Baby, please don't work late."

Another wasted weekend

And they are slipping away

Cause he works all day and lies awake at night

He tells them things are getting better

Just take a little more time

He used to say, "Whoever dies with the most toys wins"

But if he loses his soul, what has he gained in the end?

I'll take a shack on the rock

Over a castle in the sand

Now he works all day and cries alone at night

It's not getting any better

Looks like he's running out of time

All they really wanted was you

All they really wanted was you

All they really wanted was you

What do you live for?