Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions. Luke 12:15.

In 281 BC, Cineas, a Thessalonian who served as chief advisor to Pyrrhus, King of Epirus in Greece attempted, without success, to dissuade him from invading Italy. 'Sir, when you have conquered the Romans what will you do next?' 'Sicily is near at hand and easy to master.' 'And after Sicily?' 'Go to Africa and take Carthage.' 'And after Carthage?' 'Then Greece and Macedon.' 'And after Greece and Macedon?' 'Then we will sit down and enjoy ourselves.' 'Sir, may we not do it now? You have a kingdom. If you cannot enjoy your kingdom you will not enjoy the whole world.'

As an old proverb has it, life is like the ocean - it is not fuller after flooded rivers have entered it. Earning/achieving/succeeding more will not guarantee happiness. The greed for 'more, more, more' tends to be addictive; it is never satisfied.

So enjoy your life - now! (You will never get out of it alive!).

Lord help me to distinguish between addictive and appropriate desires. And to understand what 'living in the present moment' means. Thank you. Amen.