Comfort, money, luxury can be likened to things that we unconsciously seek for a means to a better and more "fulfilling life". Is that true? We'd ask ourselves. How much of luxury, security, money, status, power, knowledge, clothes, shoes, houses, cars or wealth do we really need? Are they needs or wants? The extreme pursuit of anything can be in itself a means to an end, an obsession that will control us, instead of us having a foothold of the things we pursue, the very things we pursue end up controlling us.
Shelter, clothes, shoes and bags are material capital that enables us to be warm, covered and give us a helping hand for the things we need to trudge along. Things are neither good nor bad, money is neither good nor bad, it's how we act upon them that make the difference.
Comfort, money, luxury can be likened to things that we unconsciously seek for a means to a better and more "fulfilling life". Is that true? We'd ask ourselves. How much of luxury, security, money, status, power, knowledge, clothes, shoes, houses, cars or wealth do we really need? Are they needs or wants? The extreme pursuit of anything can be in itself a means to an end, an obsession that will control us, instead of us having a foothold of the things we pursue, the very things we pursue end up controlling us.
Shelter, clothes, shoes and bags are material capital that enables us to be warm, covered and give us a helping hand for the things we need to trudge along. Things are neither good nor bad, money is neither good nor bad, it's how we act upon them that make the difference.
I recall an encounter in Chicago 3 springs ago, I was debating to put up at a motel that I could afford, or pay more for a room that could give me more comfort and luxury. I checked in to the former and found myself in a motel with a window view facing a tower of concrete, where the heater would not keep me sufficiently warm at night and it's sheets - a tad bit thin. It was unbearable for the most part of it and I contemplated switching to a hotel, just so I could get a better night's rest. I was roaming the streets after my dinner one night and found myself chancing upon a lady on the side of the pavement looking a little lost. I could not resist leaving without speaking to her.
I sat beside her, we spoke and I had soon come to learn that she had come to Chicago to seek a better life but had lost her job 2 months after. I offered Gracia dinner and as we dined, she shared her life with me intimately in the corner of the fast food joint. I still recall her enthusiastically sharing her resume and her plans for getting a job at the local telco shop the next day.
There was however a more pressing need at hand - Gracia had missed the time to enter into the public shelter for that night. It dawned upon me that the motel I was staying in probably had vacant rooms. We proceeded to book her a room for the night - the least I could do for a friend I had just met.
Something as basic as a warm shower for the night - we so often take for granted, taught me the lesson of gratitude for the ease of access to our very basic needs. I would have never been able to afford to share a night of my savings with Gracia, if I had chosen to stay at the luxury hotel. It was a moment of grace that dawned upon me, that our basic needs could teach us so much about service and sharing with strangers. Are we really strangers to each other? We are truly bonded in our common humanity with our very basic needs. You and I - we aren't very different from each other are we?
I sat beside her, we spoke and I had soon come to learn that she had come to Chicago to seek a better life but had lost her job 2 months after. I offered Gracia dinner and as we dined, she shared her life with me intimately in the corner of the fast food joint. I still recall her enthusiastically sharing her resume and her plans for getting a job at the local telco shop the next day.
There was however a more pressing need at hand - Gracia had missed the time to enter into the public shelter for that night. It dawned upon me that the motel I was staying in probably had vacant rooms. We proceeded to book her a room for the night - the least I could do for a friend I had just met.
Something as basic as a warm shower for the night - we so often take for granted, taught me the lesson of gratitude for the ease of access to our very basic needs. I would have never been able to afford to share a night of my savings with Gracia, if I had chosen to stay at the luxury hotel. It was a moment of grace that dawned upon me, that our basic needs could teach us so much about service and sharing with strangers. Are we really strangers to each other? We are truly bonded in our common humanity with our very basic needs. You and I - we aren't very different from each other are we?
