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As Doug mentioned last week in kicking off this series, the idea behind the Squirmin' Sermons is to address some of the theological, biblical, and social concerns of importance to you on your spiritual path. Today we address Squirmin' questions about keeping life simple, giving back, being an example to children, how much is enough.
Doug, Barb and I have summarized our approach to these questions in the sermon title for today, On Lifestyle and Simplicity. Our theme is Keep It Simple. And that's one of the themes from our scripture passages. Simplicity in living, in possessions, willingness to share with and care for others who are less fortunate. Simplicity as an example of Christian living.
Holding On and Letting Go: That's what I'll call my thoughts on discerning simplicity and looking at one's relationship to material things.
Several years ago I listened to the founder of Habitat for Humanity speak at a church in San Francisco. He described being a very successful businessman with all the outward signs you would expect: head of his company, big house, nice cars, boat, second home. One day he was challenged by his wife and by Jesus words to "care for the poor" to think about his faith and how it showed up in the world. What came to him was a vision of affordable housing for the many who don't have a roof over their heads. He did what the rich young man was challenged to do by Jesus. He sold everything and used the proceeds to begin Habitat for Humanity. At first, people thought he was nuts: "you're doing what?" In the early years it was a tiny operation. Gradually he and others worked out the approach and funding process for Habitat projects. Famous people like Jimmy Carter found out and got involved. You know the rest of the story. Millions of people have been involved, either as volunteers or as beneficiaries. Some of us here have been volunteers.
The founder of Habitat is an extreme story of devotion, giving back, choosing a life of simplicity and social responsibility. Not many of us follow the path to such a degree. What about those of us who are living less extremely? We are still invited by Jesus and by life to look at what we are holding onto, and letting go of, so that spirit can grow. This isn't a rule, a "should," it's a description of spiritual and psychological reality. Letting go helps you grow.
I remember the first time I filled a house with furniture and stuff, and the time came to move. Not everything could move. I had to let go of that favorite chair, and that great lamp. It changed me. Many times a loved one has said "that shirt's gotta go, even if you love it." I thought that my youth was important, but then I lost my youth and here I am. I loved that new car, and it got old. And so did the next car. Getting that job or that promotion was important. But then there was another job, another possible promotion or position. Or someone else came along after me and got the promotion. In these and many areas I've had to learn to let go, hold more lightly, understand what passes and what doesn't. Understood somewhat better what true treasure is. It isn't simple: I keep wanting to hold on, and keep getting invited to let go. You may have experienced some of this, done some of this, in your own life. Jesus core teaching is clear: it is central that we honor the spirit and not let anything stand in the way.
Doug, we've talked so far about the importance of freeing oneself from attachments or what has a hold on you. Would you broaden the focus and speak to some of the other questions that were asked, such as how can we help our children learn simplicity and compassion. This relates to the squirmin' questions: Do we serve our children well by giving them everything? And do we as parents give back enough to society by volunteering enough?
Ted, a favorite African proverb offers sage advice for parents and youth, for any of us. It says that there are three things a person must know to survive long in the world: what it too much, what is too little, and what is just right.
A number of the questions asked us about the Christian way of helping children learn to know what is enough, to adopt simple lifestyles, and learn compassion through volunteerism. Part of the identified concern behind these questions is that we live in a county with a significant proportion of parents who do not want to hear those questions because they have very different answers.
Instead of wrestling with the irresolvable conflict of values in Marin County, I want to start with the assumption that youth are inherently empathic, good-willed, compassionate, and fair. They need positive role models to forge those inherent qualities into dominant values that direct lifestyle choices. They then need to have experiences that empower those qualities and values.
I found from my research and writing on the moral and spiritual development of Nazi-era rescuers that articulately moral and articulately Christian parental role models had the greatest influence on those who grew up to be rescuers. Bottom line: if we want our children to have a Christ-like lifestyle we must bear witness in our lives to the links between compassion, empathy, good-will, and balanced lifestyles -- our children and youth will best learn those values in dialogue with and by working beside their parents or parent.
An illustration: my children look back and name as their best Christmases, those when we got up early, went to the fledgling mobile homeless shelters, cooked a hearty breakfast, sat and leisurely talked with the residents, and shared simple gifts. The kids understood why we were doing it, but their experiences around the table taught them about humanity, fueled their empathic compassion, and forged what seems, at this point, to be a lifetime of good deeds.
Among the greatest lessons we can teach our children is that no one needs "everything" and at the end, the "winner is not the one with all the toys."
We began with the proverb of too much, too little, and just right. I close with another wise proverb that counsels, "If you have much, give from your wealth; and if you have little, give from your heart." Between those proverbs is a life worth living, for adults, children, and youth.
Barb, would you pick up on this, perhaps sharing your thoughts on what's God's calling here: Why as people of faith and Christians are we looking at these issues of simplicity and giving back?
Ted, one of the Squirmin' Sermon questions that particularly intrigued me was, "How can Christians be true to their faith in dealing with poverty and hunger here and around the world?" The question does make me squirm. It is hard to imagine that anything I do will make much of a difference. I feel guilty when I am reminded that the income of the poorest 57% of the world's population is equal to the income of the richest 1%. How did we get so out of balance? I help with a shelter meal occasionally, offer boxes of granola bars to hungry people at freeway exits and hope that I've done my share. Then, I make a trip to Safeway and find I'm spending $150 for a few days worth of groceries for only two people. As Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, "Is there a fair balance between my present abundance and the need of others?" Paul referred to the passage from Exodus when the Hebrew people were wandering through the desert hungry. God let manna fall from the sky. As long as people collected only what they needed to eat for one day, there was enough for everyone. Our routine in Marin County in 2003 is certainly not like the simple life of Hebrews in the desert. We plan ahead, do a monthly Costco run, and yet the concept of taking only what we need might really simplify our lives. Do we, as individuals or as a community, really need all that we buy?
Our world produces much more food than is required to provide everyone with an adequate diet, yet 800 million people - almost one person in seven - does not have enough to eat. The United Nations reports that each year, 6 million children under the age of five die as a result of hunger1 because we haven't figured out the best way to get available food to those who need it. Even here in Marin the situation is more serious than ever observed in the past. For the last several years, on average, 2,000 hungry families have been helped each month with a four-day supply of food from the Marin Food Bank. These are not homeless families but people like you and me who have rent or mortgage payments to make and are unable to work due to disability or temporary unemployment. Executive Director Anne Rodgers reports that there has been a huge jump in need, 500-600 more households per month just since January. Did you know that there is a Food Bank collection barrel in the narthex hungry for your donations to help our local neighbors?
So what are faithful ways to deal with issues of poverty and hunger and at the same time simplify our own lives? Many of you already offer food for the Hot Meal program here on Thursdays or monthly meals for the Shelters. We might also pick up several extra cans of food each time we cross the threshold of Safeway or Costco and involve our children in the purchase. We can volunteer at the Food Bank sorting or filling bags or help here at the Thursday lunch. Even more important, we can take seriously our congregational commitment to be a "Bread for the World" church and write letters to elected officials who are in a position to change government and budget priorities. As we asked last week, is the Bible relevant today? Paul quoted from Exodus, "As it is written, ‘The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little.'" In the words of Gandhi, "Let us live simply so that others may simply live."
Following this portion of the sermon, questions answers were exchanged among the "preachers" and with the congregation.
1. State of Food Insecurity in the World 2002. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.