Ever heard of “Carpe Diem”? It’s a phrase, in Latin, that means “Seize the day.” It’s also a view that many people hold to live their lives. Although the theme of living out each day with purpose, thankfulness, and with joy is an ideal belief, culture has perverted it. They want to “live for the moment.” For those who live by that ideal, this is the best life possible. Life is short, so wouldn’t it be appropriate to indulge in a little irresponsible fun? Culture is presenting this view as truth to youth. If culture is right, this is our only life; this is our best life.
If this is our best life, then what should stop us from indulging as much sex as we want? Recent movies and television shows have a very irresponsible attitude toward sex. The recent Oscar nominee “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” describes his various adventures, which also include his numerous one night stands. He certainly does not care (or think about) any consequences his actions might bring him. He’s only thinking about what makes him happy and what feels good. ABC Family’s newest t.v. series, “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” also holds a very similar view. It claims that teenagers are always thinking about sex, and although there are serious repercussions from the lack of self control, it certainly doesn’t preach abstinence. Instead, the show seems to say that if you’re going to indulge in it, don’t get caught. It is this attitude of living for each moment that allows these characters to endulge in carnal passions. None of these mention diseases that come from promiscuity. They are swept under the rug, as if they were insignificant trash and dust that does not need to be noticed by people. If this pleasure seeking ideal is true, youth is being led down a road of pain, heartbreak, and crippled lives.
Culture certainly makes light of becoming high. If one believes that you should live for happiness and pleasure and seizing the day, then why not get high? Party hardy, right? There are songs that talk about getting high, such as Afroman’s “Because I Got High” and Ben Harper’s “Burn One Down.” Of course, films about pot have also been made. These movies have come out in the last decade or so, but the most recent and probably well known by youth today is “Pineapple Express.” It’s a comedy involving two stoners while being chased by a drug lord. The movie is clearly pro-marijuana; it talks about smoking, buying weed, and selling weed. It even has a scene where teenagers are purchasing pot from these two characters. Audiences eat up every minute of it. They enjoy it whole heartedly. If media can cause youth to think less on condemning themes, and start accepting it, they’ve won new fans over. Although, in both Afroman’s song and “Pineapple”, the effects of drug use are devastating to the user’s life, the more obvious theme is this: that smoking pot is fun. It’s promoting a message of live it up and pursue the moments that make you happy, despite the dangers. As stated already, the effects of drug use are devastating. When someone takes a hit of any drug, they become addicted to it. They are unable to think clearly about things but only on what they want now. They will do whatever they can to get the next high. Families, relationships, and people have been torn apart just because they want to feel good and to “seize the day.” How pleasurable and happy!
Certainly people that live for the moment, who live for every self indulging passion cannot be possibly satisfied. They live an empty life, a destructive path, filled with debauchery and sin. There is more to life than sleeping around and trying to get a temporary high. Hearts yearn for much more. Popular artist John Mayer could not say it any clearer in his song, “Something’s Missing”: “Friends (check), money (check), well slept (check), opposite sex (check), guitar (check), microphone (check), messages waiting for me when I come home (check)…How come everything I need, always comes with batteries? What do you think it means?” This yearning and search of purpose can only be satisfied in the Author of true joy. It cannot be found through endless sex, highs, and comfort. This eternal thirst can only be quenched by living for a Creator, the very same Creator who formed you. This is not our best life: there is eternality, our souls know it.
The current youth is being bombarded with messages of seizing moments that make you happy, that brings in a sense of joy and pleasure. However, it is apparent that it is not possible to be satisfied in filling up your days and pursuing the next hot girl or the next high. The entertainment and fun that the culture is presenting to the youth is empty. Seize God, instead of the day. That, my friends, is not a wasted life.
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