The flu bug bit me earlier this week. Eeew. It was not pretty. I was not up for blogging and am trying to play catch up in the office. Look for new blog posts soon. In the meantime, blessings to you!
-- Leah
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Shopping will Not Save Us, Part 2
Today's blog post is a reflection on the section entitled "The Gospel of Consumption" from the chapter on "Happiness" in Wayne Muller's book "Sabbath".
So...when I wrote the blog post called "Shopping Will Not Save Us" a few days ago, I had no idea that there would be a "Part 2". But, here is it all the same.
I was so taken be this statement from today's reading: Americans now consume twice as many goods and services, per person, than we did in 1945. "Oh, my God," I want to utter under my breath, both as a cry of disbelief and as a cry for help. What are we doing? Why is this statement true?
I am very bothered by our consumerism, as you may have already guessed by reading other blog posts. I am bothered on a personal, communal, spiritual and environmental level. Our Gospel of Consumption will not save us. It is not good news. In fact, it is very bad news. It is not sustainable. Every time I walk through a store, all I can think is, "Some day...this will all be in a land fill." And, then, when I turn a something over to see where it was made, usually, my response is, "What impoverished person had to work for pennies to make this piece of plastic crap for me to buy?" Really. Truth be told, that's how I feel when I go shopping.
So, I keep wondering how we can turn this tide of consumerism around in our culture. How can we turn away from shopping as gospel and turn towards actual good news, life changing good news? Ideas?
So...when I wrote the blog post called "Shopping Will Not Save Us" a few days ago, I had no idea that there would be a "Part 2". But, here is it all the same.
I was so taken be this statement from today's reading: Americans now consume twice as many goods and services, per person, than we did in 1945. "Oh, my God," I want to utter under my breath, both as a cry of disbelief and as a cry for help. What are we doing? Why is this statement true?
I am very bothered by our consumerism, as you may have already guessed by reading other blog posts. I am bothered on a personal, communal, spiritual and environmental level. Our Gospel of Consumption will not save us. It is not good news. In fact, it is very bad news. It is not sustainable. Every time I walk through a store, all I can think is, "Some day...this will all be in a land fill." And, then, when I turn a something over to see where it was made, usually, my response is, "What impoverished person had to work for pennies to make this piece of plastic crap for me to buy?" Really. Truth be told, that's how I feel when I go shopping.
So, I keep wondering how we can turn this tide of consumerism around in our culture. How can we turn away from shopping as gospel and turn towards actual good news, life changing good news? Ideas?
Friday, January 22, 2010
Need VS. Want
Today's blog post is based on the section "The Pursuit of Happiness" from the chapter on "Happiness" in Wayne Muller's book "Sabbath".
What do you really need?
Think about it for a moment. What do you really, truly need?
And what is it that you think you need because you want it so badly you don't know how you'd live your life without it?
Those are the kinds of questions I started asking myself when I realized I wasn't happy in life. It is hard, in our consumer driven culture, to focus on what we really need versus what we really want. Our lives circle so much so around our material desires that we get lost there. The Buddhists call this material desire the "hungry ghost" and it must be satisfied. It must be, unless, we learn how to tame it.
How are you attempting to live intentionally through this study of Sabbath? What new ways of living have you adopted so that you can be at peace and dwell in joy? What Sabbath practice ought you to adopt so that Rabbi Heschel's words ring true in your heart: Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy.
What do you really need?
Think about it for a moment. What do you really, truly need?
And what is it that you think you need because you want it so badly you don't know how you'd live your life without it?
Those are the kinds of questions I started asking myself when I realized I wasn't happy in life. It is hard, in our consumer driven culture, to focus on what we really need versus what we really want. Our lives circle so much so around our material desires that we get lost there. The Buddhists call this material desire the "hungry ghost" and it must be satisfied. It must be, unless, we learn how to tame it.
How are you attempting to live intentionally through this study of Sabbath? What new ways of living have you adopted so that you can be at peace and dwell in joy? What Sabbath practice ought you to adopt so that Rabbi Heschel's words ring true in your heart: Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Honoring Worth
Today's blog post is based on the section "A Deeper Wealth" from the chapter on "Time" in Wayne Muller's book "Sabbath".
"Be sure they pay you what you're worth." Have you ever received that advice. I have. And the truth is, that's a statement of privilege. Only a minute percentage of people can make such demands. And even then, even when people are paid "what they're worth" they aren't really. Even the wealthiest person in the world is worth more that their net worth.
If we had to simply do the math, and determine each person's worth according to their pay check, the truth would be this -- most people in this world are not paid what they're worth in the least. Moreover, we've tended to organize our pay scales in a bizarre fashion, paying entertainers, athletes, and CEOs exponentially more than those who teach our children, feed the hungry, care for the land and tend to the infirm.
Regardless of how much money you make, though, the truth is this: we are worth far more than our pay stubs reflect. We must remind each other of this because, in our culture, where success, self-worth and self-esteem often have a direct tie to our status in the working world, we often end up feeling less than. Maybe this is the greatest gift Sabbath gives us. Muller states, "during Sabbath, we specifically honor those precious things -- courage, creativity, wisdom, peace, kindness and delight." It is "only in the soil of time" that these things grow. Only when we honor Sabbath time are we able to see richness all around us.
"Be sure they pay you what you're worth." Have you ever received that advice. I have. And the truth is, that's a statement of privilege. Only a minute percentage of people can make such demands. And even then, even when people are paid "what they're worth" they aren't really. Even the wealthiest person in the world is worth more that their net worth.
If we had to simply do the math, and determine each person's worth according to their pay check, the truth would be this -- most people in this world are not paid what they're worth in the least. Moreover, we've tended to organize our pay scales in a bizarre fashion, paying entertainers, athletes, and CEOs exponentially more than those who teach our children, feed the hungry, care for the land and tend to the infirm.
Regardless of how much money you make, though, the truth is this: we are worth far more than our pay stubs reflect. We must remind each other of this because, in our culture, where success, self-worth and self-esteem often have a direct tie to our status in the working world, we often end up feeling less than. Maybe this is the greatest gift Sabbath gives us. Muller states, "during Sabbath, we specifically honor those precious things -- courage, creativity, wisdom, peace, kindness and delight." It is "only in the soil of time" that these things grow. Only when we honor Sabbath time are we able to see richness all around us.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Beyond Measure
Today's blog post is based on the section entitled "Why Time is Not Money" from the chapter on "Time" in Wayne Muller's "Sabbath".
Did you ever see the movie "Say Anything"? It's the last of the great 80s teen flicks. In it, John Cusack's character, Lloyd Dobbler, gives a memorable dinner table speech in response to a question posed to him by his love interest's father. Lloyd's response goes like this:
"I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that."
"Basically," Lloyd continues, "I just want to take care of your daughter, sir."
Lloyd Dobbler's admission would fit well into this section of Muller's book. Here, we are reminded that our modern tools for measuring worth do not take such ventures into account. Caring for those we love and tending to those in our communities, unless it is a job we are paid to do, has no way of being accounted when it comes to measuring a nation's riches. But, how poor would we be without our common care for one another. After all, there are a million ways to be rich; having money is just one of them.
How do we measure our kindness? Only in what our kindness produces -- which is love.
Did you ever see the movie "Say Anything"? It's the last of the great 80s teen flicks. In it, John Cusack's character, Lloyd Dobbler, gives a memorable dinner table speech in response to a question posed to him by his love interest's father. Lloyd's response goes like this:
"I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that."
"Basically," Lloyd continues, "I just want to take care of your daughter, sir."
Lloyd Dobbler's admission would fit well into this section of Muller's book. Here, we are reminded that our modern tools for measuring worth do not take such ventures into account. Caring for those we love and tending to those in our communities, unless it is a job we are paid to do, has no way of being accounted when it comes to measuring a nation's riches. But, how poor would we be without our common care for one another. After all, there are a million ways to be rich; having money is just one of them.
How do we measure our kindness? Only in what our kindness produces -- which is love.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
I need the Time
Today's blog post is based on the section entitled "Seize the Day" from the chapter on "Time" in Wayne Muller's Book "Sabbath".
I lived in Battle Creek Michigan for the past 5 years -- birthplace of the corn flake and home to Kellogg's. I was fascinated by Muller's explanation of Kellogg's six-hour work day. Believe me, there's no remnant of that left in Battle Creek today.
What was most fascinating to me was the quote from plant workers in the mid-forties. When given the chance to return to a shorter work week, as opposed to working a standard 40 hour week, many of the workers replied, "I need the extra money, but I need the time at home more." Isn't that the truth!
Considering our current economy, many folks may find themselves in the category of needing more money, but when given the choice between more money or more time, I wonder which one people would really choose.
In my experience, when I've had less money, I've found ways to make ends meet. And, through a little creativity and ingenuity, I've always found a way. But, that's not the case when I've not had enough time. It seems like there's no good way to make ends meet when there's a lack of time. When I am pressed for time, my creativity gets zapped. I become hurried and careless. It seems that I can find ways to cut corners and still live a full and robust life when I don't have enough cash. But, when I don't have enough time, my like seems thin -- how strange since it is so full!
Having time to sit and be with the people I love is important. it is something money cannot buy. What about you? What has been your experience with time and money? Would you agree with the Kellogg's workers that having more money would be nice, but you need the time more?
I lived in Battle Creek Michigan for the past 5 years -- birthplace of the corn flake and home to Kellogg's. I was fascinated by Muller's explanation of Kellogg's six-hour work day. Believe me, there's no remnant of that left in Battle Creek today.
What was most fascinating to me was the quote from plant workers in the mid-forties. When given the chance to return to a shorter work week, as opposed to working a standard 40 hour week, many of the workers replied, "I need the extra money, but I need the time at home more." Isn't that the truth!
Considering our current economy, many folks may find themselves in the category of needing more money, but when given the choice between more money or more time, I wonder which one people would really choose.
In my experience, when I've had less money, I've found ways to make ends meet. And, through a little creativity and ingenuity, I've always found a way. But, that's not the case when I've not had enough time. It seems like there's no good way to make ends meet when there's a lack of time. When I am pressed for time, my creativity gets zapped. I become hurried and careless. It seems that I can find ways to cut corners and still live a full and robust life when I don't have enough cash. But, when I don't have enough time, my like seems thin -- how strange since it is so full!
Having time to sit and be with the people I love is important. it is something money cannot buy. What about you? What has been your experience with time and money? Would you agree with the Kellogg's workers that having more money would be nice, but you need the time more?
Monday, January 18, 2010
Sermon posted: There's a Rhythm to It
Pastor Leah's sermon from Sunday, January 17, 2010 on rhythm entitled "There's a Rhythm to It" (part of the Remember the Sabbath series) is now on our Community U.C.C. YouTube channel. Unfortunately, there was a problem and the sound quality is poor (there is a buzzing sound).
Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/user/communityucc#p/a/u/0/J4gBxgMV_Pk
Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/user/communityucc#p/a/u/1/7NccRFpLwRE
Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/user/communityucc#p/a/u/0/J4gBxgMV_Pk
Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/user/communityucc#p/a/u/1/7NccRFpLwRE
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