Friday, May 29, 2026
Geneen Roth, author, lost all of her life’s savings in Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme. She had a meltdown and called a friend who said, “You may have lost all your money, but you didn’t lose anything of value.” Roth replied, “NOW, is not the time to be spiritual!”
Now is the time to be spiritual. Take time to be holy. Take time to be still. Take time to slow down enough to notice why life seems unsatisfactory. The midnight oil can be burned no longer.
The senses are deprived.
Taste buds have missed so many freshly prepared meals. They aren’t getting a chance to taste and fill up. Meals are wolfed down while watching YouTube or the News—slurping, gobbling. Ears are missing what they long to hear—good lectures, music, a trickling fountain, or just silence.
Olfactory nerves are shriveled, never noticing the fruity fragrances abounding, the honeysuckle, the magnolia, or fresh-cut grass. Poor, depraved nose! The eyeballs can’t see anything they wish to see. They are too busy flitting about computer screens with malaise, never getting to wander, stare into the horizon, or lose themselves in a lover’s romantic gaze.
Touch is depraved. It never feels the softness of skin, silky sheets, or the coolness of dirt beneath feet. Touch never feels the breeze of an approaching rainstorm, cool water, or the soapy softness of a steamy shower.
Have we lost anything of value? It’s not money, Mr. Madoff. It’s our basic senses.
They are bereft of the kaleidoscopic panorama of sight, the healing of soothing sound, the ooze of taste, the luxury of smell, and the variation of touch.
How gratifying! How satisfying! When we come to our senses.
What makes sense is not in a life’s savings, but in life’s savoriness.