If I may synthesize the words of Blaise Pascal, a great thinker of the 17th century, and a theory of Dr. Mehmet Oz, contemporary America’s most trusted doctor, there is a God-shaped hole within us that we are forever restless in trying to fill. And in order to fill that hole, we long for something in our lives that is greater and deeper than our everyday reality of sleep, eat, work, home, repeat; knowing that filling that longing will give us a sense of purpose and raise our self-esteem. Some try to fill that hole with money, some with achievement, others turn to alcohol or drugs, still others to shopping and accumulating things, and some to food.
Scientists say there are biochemical reasons for this need for soul level satisfaction we seek, that we need oxytocin or nitric oxide, two chemicals that give us a feeling of satisfaction and reduce anxiety and stress. And although this soul- level of satisfaction is biochemical, it is still a drive, not for food or things, money or drugs, but a drive to fill the needs of our soul, the need to put God in the God-shaped hole deep within us.
And when we have placed God in His rightful place in our lives and continue to see Him there, we no longer crave the money, the fame, the luxuries, the food in amounts far beyond our needs.
