Thought for Sunday, October 5, 2014: Less is More

"The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less."

-- Socrates

I grew up in small houses.  As I got older my parents continued to prosper and "upsized" our life style to larger and nicer digs.  When I finally struck out on my own I found that I was always to busy to worry about upsizing my life, but that did not deter me, or my ex-wife, from collecting mounds of crap.  I finally discovered two life lessons, larger isn't always better and beware what you wish for.

"Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like."

-- Will Rogers

Houses require maintenance and logic dictate larger homes require more maintenance.  Actually, they require more of everything; heating and cooling, electricity, water, water for irrigation, and heaven forbid you upsize to a pool with all that entails as anyone with a hot tub and a the requisite chemistry set well knows.  You also find the extra cabinets and storage require you to purchase more crap to fill them, and not just any ol' crap, useless crap.

After my divorce I promised myself that everything I owned would, forever more, fit in the back of a pickup truck.  If it didn't fit, I didn't need it.  I have been much happier.  I found that, along with knowing where everything I owned was, I began purchasing less crap and focusing more on quality.  Glass tumblers for bourbon gave way to crystal and stock dishware gave way to Portuguese ceramics, and functional replaced impressive flamboyance.  The flowery silverware with the heavy ended handle which always felt the need to prove gravity works by hitting the floor at every turn was replaced by simple, balanced, steel flatware that could withstand being run over by a tank.  The spoons also didn't bend when you scooped well-frozen ice cream.

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."

-- Leonardo da Vinci

 My parents and I have just finished designing my new house.  Dad balanced his idea of minimal with my requirements for functionality.  The guest room is my study.  How often you have guests should dictate the size of the guest bathroom or closet.  The house still ended up being 1200 square feet, including the large screened-in back porch, but it is a very functional space.

So, everyone reading this is probably waiting for me to get to the point.

Well, in life this philosophy of "less is more" is a way to keep everything in some semblance of manageable order.  For instance, if you have no credit card debt, or bills, you can pretty much do away with the need for check registers and a monthly budget.  No debt means you own the money you earn, not the bank.

"Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated."

--Confucius

As you look around at your own life, ask yourself how you are doing with "less is more."  Be honest, you only lie to yourself.  Now, ask yourself how this philosophy relates to your spiritual life.  Have you given your minister everything he wants you to give, to God and the church, for the everlasting salvation of your soul?  Or, have you finally realized that the new roof for the church is not as important as feeding your children, or the starving children of others?  Maybe God really doesn't require "tithing" as much as the church does?  Maybe you can't really buy your way into heaven, or rely on the minister to get you there, because God expects more from you than this.

Remember what I said about the larger house?  Churches are just building that require expenditure of funds better spent on taking care of your own family and doing God's work.  $50 directly feeding the needy and the homeless is more bang for the buck that paying someone else to do it, or roofing the old church.  Oh, and "administrative fees" on your donation is just another way of saying they are a "for profit" charity.

How about your "love" life?  Is it really loved?  I always like to ask the women if the stud they're dating has possibilities.  Has he let you see his books? And I don't mean the latest novel he bought, if he can actually read.  Is he in debt to purchase crap just to impress?  Is he here today and gone tomorrow or is he concentrating on a developing a quality future with a life partner?  Personally, I'd go with a good stock portfolio, property investments, and cash in the bank, over "fast and furious" with good looks and a hot car any day.  If he's that exciting is he really going to want to be bogged down with relationships?  But, that opinion is because I'm older, and never had a mid-life crisis.

Well, that's all I have.  Isn't that enough?  I guess the sermon is all about making the more out of life with less; making the best of your particular situation by simplifying your life.  We all want more, but at what price?  How much of our immortal soul are we willing to trade for society's, or religion's, definition of happiness?  Or, as I stated in a previous post on monetary debt, whose slave are you willing to be for the rest of your life?  Visa?  Mastercard?  Ford? The mortgage company?

Is more really making you happy, or is it just another lie that makes life easier to bear?

"Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are.  When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you."

-- Lao Tzu

Note from the founder, author, and editor:  

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, understand that this is just an opinion and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion.  It doesn’t make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other.  An opinion in this context is a way to incite others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own if they haven’t already done so.  It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion and debate in an arena of mutual respect concerning them.  It is in the arena we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.  

Frank Villari, Pastor