Virtue Unfettered: The ABC's of a Momentary Monk; E is for ENOUGH

When is enough, enough?  I ask myself that question daily. What do we/I/my family really need?  We  really produce alot of garbage and trash. That is one of the emergent questions that seems to make alot of sense right now. I do like that this economic correction is forcing us to ask that question more frequently. Coming from a place of global power we certainly have enough food, water, and adequate health care compared to nearly 90% of the rest of the world.  When 20,000 children die every day because they don't have food and another 15,000 children die due to unclean potable water---we certainly have enough--as I reach into my mini fridge to grap another bottled water to drink--and fill the landfill up with one more thing that we certainly have enough of--empty plastic water bottles. I am reminded of an image that burns in my mind  from my most recent trip to Africa.  I see lots of children  using old empty water bottles as sandals to protect their feet from the ground and the sharp reminders of those who have enough and those who do not. It sure makes me wonder what we are doing.  And and even more pertinent question is how should I live as a Christ follower in light of this sampling of images?  For one thing I think i will bring water in my reusable water bottle. I cannot change the entire world but I can change this one thing today. Will you join me?  In the triumph if the therapeutic the feeling of happiness has certainly replaced the notion of happiness as being a by product of a larger communal good. Enough is enough. Maybe it is time to return to a Edensitic happiness and set aside our hedonistic happiness....Enough already!

Comments

[Neil]

Jenny and I are wrestling with just that question as we plan to make our move back to Minnesota next month. How big of a house do we need (want)? How much of our stuff should we take with us versus donate to a local relief agency? Our "enough" will still be luxury compared to the living standards in most of the world, but our hope is to be able to free up time and money to devote to making life better for everyone in the world.

As Eugene Peterson translates Ephesians 4:25 "What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ's body we're all connected to each other, after all." So if my brother or sister is starving to death and I'm wasting food, or other resources then the blood of my own family is on my hands... I have no desire to be like Cain!

[Julie Klover]

Your post this week made me think of a project that we are doing with the youth group for Lent. I never really understood the idea of giving up something for Lent. All my friends in high school did it because that's what you do for Lent. (I went to Kennedy). But this project makes sense to me. Drink only water for two weeks and give the money that would have been spent on the drinks to help build a well.

Here is the link to the website with all the details:
http://www.water.cc/initiatives/lent/

[Tobin Wilson]

Julie- This is a great idea! How is the new baby? We think about you quite a bit. Please greet Joe for me!

[Tobin Wilson]

Neil- This is always a tough issue especially when our children require so much of our resources. May you have wisdom for the journey. God speed on the move and your first few weeks -- what a great ride you are on!