Experiences vs. Things

At Church for Starving Artists, Jan thinks aloud about giving her 18-year old son an experience for his birthday rather than a thing. Jan asks

Which do we want more: Experiences? Or things?
We live as if we want things. But experiences make life spiritual.

I like things. I especially like things from the Apple store and Ann Taylor and Amazon.

But experiences make us better, sturdier, holier. They can also make us cynical, wary, nervous. Even the bad experiences can be gifts, but we don't like those as much.

Each Sunday the worship leaders and I pray that worship might be a spiritual experience for everyone who passes through the doors. We hope they make connections between their lives and what's happening all around them. We want people touched by the Living God.

Victoria, Griffin and I have erred on the side of experiences at times and we have never regretted it. So trips (like a photo safari) and stage shows (like The Lion King on Broadway) have made for some memorable presents. Also, Victoria did not get an angagement ring from me. Rather we spent two months in Kathmandu, Nepal. I never really tied the experiential gift to spirituality before, but I do see from where Jan is coming.

Have you ever tried giving an experience as a gift rather than giving a thing?

peace,
Frank+
The Rev. Frank Logue, Pastor + King of Peace Episcopal Church