I’ve been reflecting on the section “Spending money as if life really mattered.” There are many parts of my life that have evolved and grown because of faith, age, and being a parent. How I view spending is but one aspect. I agree with the book that we have to spend money on necessities and such in life. Yet, I have witnessed first hand how people have put money first in their lives. In my career before seminary, I watched people go from living a simple and loving life to doing anything they could to make another dollar no matter who it hurt. These lives were soon consumed with buying houses, cars, boats, and the like. I am not against these things, for I have a home, land, and nice vehicles under my care at this point in my life as well. But these things are not what make my life complete. Instead, my relationship with God, my faith in the promise, my wife, my kids and people I love are ultimately what makes me happy…even though I struggle with all of the other material things as well—— but it is this shift in focus that has given me a negative feeling toward the secular business world.
I don’t necessarily think that my view of that world is healthy either, but thinking about a simpler life does change how I view big business. I grew up in a rural, dairy farm area. Both of my grandfathers were family farmers. My parents did not farm full time, but I was around it still the same. While I was in high school I watched as both of those farms were sold and family identities suddenly were left to find a new direction, a new title. Many times I have wondered if I am behind the times, for I yearn for the days of my grandparents and small family farms that helped sustain small town America. I know that we will not turn back to this as a nation, but I can’t help but wonder and hope that we can refocus. Perhaps this focus is not so much on our chosen occupations, but rather as we read on page 63 of the book: “The only place for me to turn—the only source left of comfort, solace and meaning for my life—was God.”
A little rambling regarding “Simpler Living, Compassionate Life” by Schut:
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