I was reading my cousin's blog this evening. She had finished reading "7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess" by Jen Hatmaker and had decided to take principles of the book and plug them into her plan for Lent. I am drawn by anything that highlights our own culture of consumerism (even within the church) and contrasts it against the culture of most of the world. When kids travel to Mexico on missions, the one thing they always comment on is how "happy" the Mexican kids seem even though they have nothing. And here we are in our Great American Culture and depression, suicide, bullying, adultery and greed abound.
Her week two is against materialism. She is abstaining from making any new purchases and also donating 1/3-1/2 of her and her family's clothing. If you have two coats, then you've stolen one from the poor. That is the quote, I think.
I remember coming home from spending a summer in a third world country and I was so incensed by the greed of America. I remember coming home and unloading on my father everything I felt concerning his big screen TV and fancy cars. Although I wouldn't take back my sentiments, I did apologize and regret my words and tone. I cannot tell others how they should live their lives, I should only live mine in the best way I can.
Anybody who's known us for long has seen our progression (and I'm sure some would consider regression) in the land of materialism. My most expensive possession is my camera. It's funny to think that my one little camera body is more expensive than our pickup. We've gone from a house full of stuff (granted, stuff from Goodwill. . .) to a house full of not our stuff to a tiny one-bedroom apartment that could hold little except the necessities (oh, and my elliptical. . . entirely different story there) and finally to the little house we are now living in. Our goal in moving into this space was to keep all unnecessary clutter from our lives. Just yesterday I put up my five coffee shop canvas photos that hung in my show at Black Dog last March. . . and Jered was concerned the front room would look too cluttered. How funny.
What I do spend money on, though, is clothing. Not as much as one might think. I am pleased to say that most of what I own are hand me downs or found for pennies at garage sales or inner-city thrift stores. But then I did pass an incredibly cute spring dress at Target today and I think I do rather need a new light spring dress.
Every day I wake up and my goal of the day is to Honor God. Next, Honor my Husband. And in those things, Honor myself. The world is large and loud and to focus on these two first things can be difficult at times. I did not buy the dress at Target. And after reading my cousin's post, I took out a plastic sack and filled it with clothes I don't wear.
When we moved from Grandpa's house into our tiny apartment, I went though all my clothes and gave away about half of them. There was simply no room. We donated half our library to the church. We packed up boxes full of kitchen appliances and told my mom to pick them up with her SUV.
None of those things do I think of now nor do I miss.
There's something about loosening the ties that bind.
I realize that's hilarious coming from a girl who owns thousands upon thousands of dollars in photography equipment. Not to mention two desktops and two laptop computers.
And an elliptical.
So, I love the idea of limiting our consumerism and our greed. But I need to remember that the Lord brings blessings into our lives at times and who am I to turn down a blessing?
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