Purchases Versus Practices...

Andy Crouch wrote a great article about the difference between obtaining satisfaction through purchases versus practices.

The essence of the article is that we often seek satisfaction through repeated and necessarily escalating purchases.  Crouch uses the example of buying music.  When a song or album is first purchased, there is great enjoyment from listening to it repeatedly.  However, the satisfaction soon wanes and is quickly replaced by the need to purchase again.

The alternative is satisfaction through the long and boring process of practices.  This is an initially frustrating situation that only results in satisfaction over the long haul.  But, when the real satisfaction finds it's genesis it grows exponentially.  For this side of the coin, Crouch uses the example of learning to play the violin.

Purchases are the easy route, with very little long term value.

Practices are long and hard, but with incredible long term return.

I want to invest in the practices.

And...

I want to be surrounded by people who are obsessed with practices.