The Environment is a hot topic these days and if there is any motivation for people to get organized and simplify the environment should be at the top of the list. I often speak about how with the great wealth that we have in this country that we have not developed boundaries for how much we consume or acquire. Whether that consumption is food product, clothing, electronics or household goods with resale shops, garage sales, discount houses, warehouse memberships, biggie size jumbo everything we can have it all and more. Did you ever stop to think with every purchase what happens to the environment? Did you know that the United States eats up 1/3 of the world’s resources?
When you brush your teeth do you run the water? Did you know that when we you turn on a light you use water? It takes water to run electricity an exorbitant amount of water. On the contrary we do have a boundary. Our boundary is the natural resources we have been blessed with. The water we have today is the water that we had 2 million years ago. The air we breathe is the air we have. The earth we have is the only one we will ever have. These are rare commodities and yet we treat them as if they are bountiful.
John Muir a legendary writer and environmentalist who inspired President Taft to protect the National Parks wrote, “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world." He also dreamed that there would come a day when everything that was man made had the same properties as God made. Everything we do everyday effects the environment, our children, our grandchildren, etc. The American Indians believe that we should base our actions on how they impact 7 generations. We may never be able to replicate God’s creation in man made items but we can ask ourselves this question “What can I do today to make up for the damage I have caused to the environment today by the gasoline I used, the lights I turn on, the garbage I throw away?”
So when you go to purchase something ask yourself if it is something that is causing excess in your life. Will that excess affect the environment? Is it toxic to your life? Does it require batteries or electricity that is not necessary? When you discard something ask yourself if it can be recycled, serve a purpose for someone or something else? Am I honoring creation and the gifts that God gave me when I discard this? If you are not sure then look at the resources below and perhaps you will find your answers. There are also some statistics that might really shock you. The one on food is from my friend Theresa. I am amazed that those that spend the least amount on food eat the healthiest. Food for thought!
I want to thank Kay McKeen for much of the information in this newsletter. I must confess, I plagiarized a lot of it but I know that given the intent she would not mind. Her calling is to save the earth and all its resources. I encourage you to take a class that she gives or just read her messages on the SCARCE website at http://www.bookrescue.org. You will be inspired. I also encourage you to read anything by John Muir. His writing is truly breathtaking and spiritual.
Many Blessings
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Use People Love Things
Mathew Kelly in his book the Rhythm of Life has a very poignant quote near the end of the book that I would love to share with you.
“We were meant to use things and love people. If we could live by these two simple principles of life we would be better off but unfortunately our society promotes a fasted passed world and therefore we have a tendency to love things and use people.”
When I read that I was enlightened. So often this simple concept is something I strive to share with my clients but somehow it doesn’t always come out this articulately.
How often do we identify ourselves in the things we own? The car we drive, our clothes, the things we have in our home. We allow our lives to revolve around acquiring. We have to work to pay our bills. We have to work to get those things that we need, yet too often we work toward the things we want when our needs are not satisfied. We clutter our homes and our lives with things that don’t have the same meaning as the people in our lives. These economic times are causing us to really look at this concept. If it hasn’t touched you yet it very well may.
When I was a little girl my family lost just about everything that we owned in a fire. We were poor, nearly homeless and stressed. My mother, God bless her, kept her faith. It was her faith and her belief that if we had nothing else we had each other that not only made us survivors but imparted a value that is instilled in me to this day many years later.
I believe that we must be cautious about what we allow in our lives. Our global environment allows us to be exposed to so much, so many choices. It is perhaps our blessings and our curse to have the ability as humans to choose. Choose wisely with your time, your money and your things. I believe that all things come from our maker and we are to be good stewards of these blessings. We own only our choices, everything else is on loan from the Almighty. Love the people and relationships you have and with regard to things, bite off only what you can chew, anything else is gluttony…
“We were meant to use things and love people. If we could live by these two simple principles of life we would be better off but unfortunately our society promotes a fasted passed world and therefore we have a tendency to love things and use people.”
When I read that I was enlightened. So often this simple concept is something I strive to share with my clients but somehow it doesn’t always come out this articulately.
How often do we identify ourselves in the things we own? The car we drive, our clothes, the things we have in our home. We allow our lives to revolve around acquiring. We have to work to pay our bills. We have to work to get those things that we need, yet too often we work toward the things we want when our needs are not satisfied. We clutter our homes and our lives with things that don’t have the same meaning as the people in our lives. These economic times are causing us to really look at this concept. If it hasn’t touched you yet it very well may.
When I was a little girl my family lost just about everything that we owned in a fire. We were poor, nearly homeless and stressed. My mother, God bless her, kept her faith. It was her faith and her belief that if we had nothing else we had each other that not only made us survivors but imparted a value that is instilled in me to this day many years later.
I believe that we must be cautious about what we allow in our lives. Our global environment allows us to be exposed to so much, so many choices. It is perhaps our blessings and our curse to have the ability as humans to choose. Choose wisely with your time, your money and your things. I believe that all things come from our maker and we are to be good stewards of these blessings. We own only our choices, everything else is on loan from the Almighty. Love the people and relationships you have and with regard to things, bite off only what you can chew, anything else is gluttony…
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