I just returned from a missions trip with my church group from Ambassador Presbyterian, in Apex, NC. It was a wonderful opportunity to see another corner of the world, that doesn't have all the modern conveniences we have in the U.S. We used cut bamboo stalks for the sign and painted them - talk about rustic! :) I appreciate running, drinkable water a lot more now after spending a week brushing my teeth with bottled water, and I appreciate concrete floors over mud floors any day! I KNOW that most Mexicans would love to have anything we would normally throw in a landfill because most of what they have looks like it has been used for decades and is long overdue for replacement - yet they are happy to have it. They make due with whatever they have, and their emphasis is not on STUFF but on RELATIONSHIPS. What a breath of fresh air! They appreciated every little thing we did for them, and we were happy to contribute to the kid's campground we were working at, and going to the 2 Mexican churches that were full of truly thankful people that we met there in Rio Verde.
Is that our attitude? Are you happy with stuff that you got 5-10 years ago? Or are you craving the latest greatest gadget? The landfills are full of tons of 'stuff' that we throw away without a second thought, and yet people all over the world, and in poorer areas in America, would love to use whatever you have deemed to be 'ready for the trash heap'. I try to keep, reuse, repurpose anything I can, and appreciate what I have, over getting new stuff, partly out of necessity, and partly from a sense of responsibility to do my part in this consumeristic economy. I secretly enjoy going on Craigslist, or to Listia.com, or to Goodwill, just to see if I can use something that someone else has decided they no longer need - I love bargains! And I love saving money, and knowing I can help give something a "second life" by using it again.
What do you value? Things or relationships? Think about it and decide to do an inventory - a spring cleaning - of your house. And then give some others an opportunity to use your 'old' stuff and know you are helping them in ways you don't even realize :)
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HI Laurel,
ReplyDeleteIsn't so true that when you give away or sell something to someone, you get reciprocated and not necessarily in $$.
What I like to do, is go around and send smiles, or grateful messages and recommendations to people. It's like being a secret santa.