Have you seen the Sumo Wrestlers washing the car??

I am a great television fan. Nowadays I enjoy the humour and cunning of the advertisements as much as the programs themselves. Last night I was humoured while watching a bunch of sumo wrestlers washing a car and frolicking as if they were swimsuit models. It was hilarious. If it is not cars that are being sold it might be one of my favourite beverages – “WILSON!” When I’m not sure from whence I came there is always a colourful ad asking me to visit Newfoundland a Labrador – no adverting necessary. Perhaps someone should send one of those Cialis couples to Newfoundland for a vacation so they can stop running over their bathtub – lots of places in good old NL to settle down for a good long…. Ok enough of that. Each of these adverts keep calling out to me that I can have more, be more, store more, live more.  It all got me to thinking last night.

Too often the world convinces us that we are not valuable. Too often we accept the assertion of the multitude of ad campaigns that are written and produced with the assumption that we have less than what we need to get through our day, less than we need to look good, less than we need to love well, less than we need work well, play well or sleep well. Some mega-churches and TV evangelists have got in on the cat as well and are selling the idea that we do not have what we need to pray well or live well spiritually. Essentially, the whole consumer society that we live in is feasting on our insecurity. What is worse is that the advertising indsutry preys on the worse parts of us.  

Og Mandino wrote in his bestseller The Greatest Salesman that Ever Lived, “Count your blessings. Once you realize how valuable you are and how much you have going for you, the smiles will return, the sun will break out, the music will play, and you will finally be able to move forward the life that God intended for you with grace, strength, courage, and confidence.”

Imagine that! Instead of looking into the screen at what we might have, how about being cognizant and grateful for what we do have first. Instead of buying into the notion that something external can fill our internal angst, how about we take stock of just how valuable we are, how much we do have going for us. Then perhaps these adverts can take on a new dimension of humour for us and less of a hook to buy.

God has intended so much for us. Now hear me right. I am not suggesting as some prosperity gospel preachers do, that God has intended that we would have great wealth or riches beyond imagination. I may as well be selling "THE SECRET" if I revert to that. What I am suggesting is that Og is right when he suggests that the ‘life’ that God intends for us is full, that is to say that we will be able to live and feel and love in the midst of all things, pain, joy, sorrow and jubilation. God will give us strength and courage and confidence in the midst of triumph and defeat.

Perhaps we can dream up and advertisement for God’s promise to be faithful to us.  How would it look I wonder?

And how do you think they will get that "Momma Burger"  on the roof?"