It's difficult for me to articulate
many of my own ideas and beliefs, so it's exciting and affirming to
find that someone else has already done it so well!
Living More with Less – a pattern for
living with less and a wealth of
practical suggestions from the
worldwide experiences of Mennonites.
By Doris Janzen Longacre, author
of More-with-Less Cookbook
This book was recommended and loaned to
me by a wonderful woman. I started reading it thinking “I'm
already on board with the philosophy of voluntary simplicity, and
maybe I've heard this all before.” But it was still so very
eye-opening and I'm now even more convinced than before that simple
living is just better for everyone and everything on this
earth.
The book examines in a Christian
context (and of course applies to anyone with any kind of concern for
health, humanity, and our environment) how we live, what we eat and
where it comes from, what we wear and who made it (and in what kind
of conditions), how much house we have to maintain, and just
generally what we spend our time, energy, and money on.
There
is a section in the book that was especially jarring and
uncomfortable, addressing our failure to comprehend the full meaning
of Christians overeating together at a time when so many go hungry.
(1 Corinthians 11:20-22) The book, Rich Christians in an Age of
Hunger by Ronald Sider was referenced, and is now on my to-read list.
It's
hard to reconcile our lifestyle and religion. I hear the verses about
how it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than
for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. (Matthew 19:16-24) I
think “oh yes, those rich people across town in their huge houses
and perfectly manicured lawn, those rich people on the screen, they
just don't get it.”
But then I realize, no, I am with them. I am rich. Globally speaking (and how else should we speak?) I AM IN THE TOP 1% of the richest people on the planet!!! And I bet you are pretty high up there too, find out here at the global rich list.
But then I realize, no, I am with them. I am rich. Globally speaking (and how else should we speak?) I AM IN THE TOP 1% of the richest people on the planet!!! And I bet you are pretty high up there too, find out here at the global rich list.
It is
especially humbling and all the more urgent being that this book was
written in the 70's when dishwashers and central air conditioning
were the new household luxuries. The topics addressed are still
perfectly relevant concerning politics, international relations,
energy use/production, environmentalism, and social justice. Really,
not much has changed.
This book is
eye-opening, potentially life-changing, and I strongly recommend it.
I'm trying to make changes in my life, and be more conscience about who/what we are supporting through our consumerism (or better – the lack
thereof). Consider the lilies of the field, y'all!
