President Barack Obama, in 2008, said the following: \u201cI was so obsessed with me and the reasons I might be dissatisfied that I couldn\u2019t focus on other people\u2026 Whenever I take wrong steps a lot of the times I protect myself instead of trying to do God\u2019s work.\u201d I\u2019m not sure whether he realized it or not, but this might be the most profound statement outside of Scripture speaking to the human condition that I think I\u2019ve ever heard. It\u2019s loaded with insight. It speaks of our addiction to self, failed or unmet expectations and its effect on us and our relationships, the adverse consequence of resulting behavior, the fear that drives us into self-preservation mode, and finally, the distraction from fellowship with God necessary to know and do His will.<\/span><\/p>\n We all want that feeling of self-satisfaction even though we have never really experienced such a feeling. What we have experienced, and continue to experience is the feeling or sense of dissatisfaction. We experience dissatisfaction within our physical bodies, our thoughts and feelings, our circumstances, our relationships, and in the world. Such dissatisfaction is derived from unmet and failed expectations. The scope of these failed expectations can range from the discomfort of a mosquito bite to extreme physical pain; from not getting that bike as a kid to not getting the promotion you felt you were in line for; from being teased by a sibling or friend to physical, emotional and sexual abuse from a parent; from being stuck in traffic to being a victim of a crime; from catching a cold to falling prey to a debilitating disease; from that boy or girl not going out with you as a young person to the experience of divorce and custody battles. You get the idea.<\/span><\/p>\n Please continue this week’s activity and go to this week’s TWRAC<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n