Finding True Satisfaction

Dear Friends,
 
Are you satisfied? It’s a question that resonates with many of us at different stages of life. Satisfaction, that elusive feeling of contentment and fulfilment, is something we all seek in various ways. Recently, I was reminded of this after hearing an old song on the radio by the Rolling Stones, titled “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” This classic tune, first released almost 60 years ago, expresses a frustration that many of us can relate to—the constant bombardment of messages telling us to buy more, to consume more, and the dissatisfaction that often follows when we realise that these things do not truly fulfil us.
 
This sentiment isn’t new. Long before the Rolling Stones captured it in song, others pondered the nature of satisfaction. G.K. Chesterton, a notable English writer, once observed, “There are two ways to get enough. One is to continue to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less.” Chesterton’s words suggest that satisfaction is not just about having more, but about wanting less—about finding peace with what we have.
 
The Bible, too, offers wisdom on this topic. In the book of Isaiah, we read: “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labour on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare” (Isaiah 55:2). This verse encourages us to seek satisfaction not in worldly goods, but in a deeper connection with God. It reminds us that true contentment comes from a source beyond the material, and that our spiritual well-being is what truly nourishes us.
 
So, how do we experience satisfaction in our own lives? It might begin with a simple reflection: Are we content with what we have, or are we always yearning for more? Can we, like Chesterton suggests, find enough by desiring less? Or do we, like the verse from Isaiah suggests, need to realign our desires with something greater than ourselves?
 
As you ponder these questions, I invite you to take a moment to reflect on your own sense of satisfaction. Do you feel content right now? How might your approach to satisfaction change if you sought it in different places—less in the material and more in the spiritual?
 
I encourage you to spend some time in quiet reflection, or prayer if you feel inclined, to seek that sense of satisfaction and peace in your own life. And as we all navigate the challenges of modern living, may we remember that true satisfaction often lies not in what we acquire, but in how we align our hearts with what truly matters.
 
With every blessing,
 
Fr. Paul Wheeler