So I’ve been thinking a lot lately about possessions and stuff. We’ve had some really good readings in Ethics class about advertising/consumerism in America, and how wealthy we are here compared to the rest of the world. It’s prompted me to take real measures to become less materialistic and more generous. There are the two sides to this thing. On the one hand, I need to deaccumulate stuff, and on the other hand, I need to give those liquidated assets to people in need. Jesus was pretty clear that what we do or do not do for “the least of these”, we do or don’t do for him. So I’m trying to consider some practical measures. For one, I sold some things at the school’s garage sale, and I also plan to sell my CDs once I can get home and put them all in their cases and stuff. But it really doesn’t help to simplify your life in terms of possessions if it’s just going to go back to the way it was. So I’m going to ask for nothing for Christmas. Not just that I won’t ask for anything, but that I’ll specifically ask for nothing. God has provided all I need, why should I desire more? There’s that verse in the bible that says if we have food and shelter, we should be content with that. But do we really take that verse at all seriously in Western church culture? I want to try it. But I’m sure it will be hard. I don’t think a lot of people will understand. (Probably most of you who read this, as well as my family.) Maybe I’ll redirect them to this website, and tell them if they want to get me something for me, get something here: http://donate.wvus.org/OA_HTML/xxwvibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?section=10024. There was also the sticky issue of, “Should I, who has all I need, give more ensnaring gadgets and gifts to people who equally have all they need?” But I think what I’ll do there is try to find meaningful gifts that don’t really cost money, but instead convey how important these people are to me in a creative way. Still, I’m not very good at being creative on demand.
OK, I think I’ve rambled enough. Now it’s your turn. Please comment.
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^_^ (tee-hee)
The Gourd Reborn 