I saw Jimmy Buffet in concert. I can’t say when, but I can say where—in Margaritaville.
Like so many fans enjoying the show, so was I. What I remember were scores of people dancing, wearing tropical hats, and generally being friendly to one another. It was a party, and everyone was invited. We were there for Jimmy and Jimmy was there for us.
This was and is the connection we share with music, personalities, and gatherings. For a few moments, we are away from the office, away from our responsibilities, and away from our burdens. We sing along with the artists; we celebrate with strangers, and somehow, we know for an instant that we are not so different. Ah, the magic of those brief encounters.
Then, we return to our regularly scheduled programming.
I cannot remember where I recently heard this, but someone said that once a person reaches a certain amount of financial autonomy, there are only three things he/she craves: experiences, buying time, and philanthropy. So, props to whoever said this. However, it may not be the whole story.
Let me explain.
First, if you are still grinding it out trying to keep your head above water, these desires will seem rich to you—privileged even. But remember, with effort and time, you can become more independent and less beholden to the company store.
So, why the choices of experiences, buying time, and philanthropy for the financially secure among us?
If money is not an object and material possessions are just a swipe away, these “things” become not only uninteresting over time, but potentially a burden. If I could buy expensive sports cars, I would need to have a garage, regular maintenance, insurance, someone else to appreciate them etc.
For the person unsatisfied with more stuff, their attention turns to experiences. Skydiving, sporting events, spelunking, travel, the theater, and yes, Jimmy Buffet concerts. Why? Because there is adventure in each—something only a moment can capture.
In addition, those who are well-off tend to buy time. They will farm out activities that expend time. All types of household help are hired, laundry and lawns are farmed out, and any other sundry duty will be delegated to others. For them, their time needs to be of the best use and greatest availability.
Then, when these things are satisfied, they will often turn to philanthropy. Social causes, pet projects, university endowments, and medical research entities, all benefit from the “big” donors. And thankfully, there are many wonderful wealthy people investing in us.
I would argue, however, that when a human soul has all the benefits of a life without financial worries and has shifted gears to experiences, buying time, and philanthropy, they may still have a feeling of lacking—an unfilled hole in their heart that even Margaritaville will only satisfy momentarily.
All of us need a break every now and then and until recently, Jimmy would collectively take us there. But until we find that missing piece beyond the trappings of this world, no matter our worldly wealth or status, we may never truly find the experience that awaits us, the eternity that never ends, or the joy of knowing that we mattered.
Just watch out for pop-tops along the way.
Kent Simmons is the pastor of Canyon Community Church in Kingman, AZ.
