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Commentary
COMMENTARY: Simple living a blessing Michael Mortvedt, Mar 11, 2009
Michael Mortvedt
By Michael Mortvedt Special Contributor
When speaking to church groups this past year about simple, sustainable, earth-friendly living, I have often said, “Now is the time to embrace voluntary simplicity, because it will not be voluntary much longer!”
Little did I know how quickly that would become true with the current economic crisis affecting much of the world today.
It doesn’t take a genius to know that it would all catch up to us eventually: high-risk, sub-prime mortgage lending; consumer spending that outpaces income; an economy that relies on paying outsourced foreign workers poverty level wages; human-generated climate change; water pollution; and reliance on foreign oil. It was only a matter of what would impact us first—and when it would happen.
We are living in challenging times, but I am hopeful that we, and our leaders, are starting to come up with constructive ideas and policies. I believe that living more simply is an essential element.
Living more simply is something we can start now; we don’t have to wait for Congress to pass any new legislation. In hard economic times, it makes sense to save money by simplifying and then helping to develop a sustainable green economy, such as purchasing fair trade items, organic produce and compact fluorescent light bulbs.
The idea of living more simply is not easy because we North Americans often equate material things with abundance and prosperity. The bigger the house and the more expensive the car I own, the better I feel about myself. But often, the bigger the house and more expensive the car I own, the less free I am to enjoy true abundance.
Jesus teaches us that abundance is not in material things, but in our relationship to God and to humankind (Luke 6:20-26; Matthew 6:19-21, 25-34). Simple living is outwardly simple but inwardly rich.
Simplifying our lives can help us remember that we were created in the image of God, and that we are deeply and profoundly loved by God. Sub-prime mortgage lenders can do awful things, but they cannot affect or change the love of God.
We can find greater abundance in our lives when money and material goods are not the prime focus of our waking hours. Consider that the average American worker works more days per year than workers in any other industrialized nation. That same American spends five to six hours a day being bombarded with advertising messages and often spends more than he or she earns—thus, going further into debt.
Yet a survey by the National Science Foundation shows that the level of happiness in the U.S. has declined each year since 1971, despite our personal incomes having more than doubled.
Living more simply does not have to be painful. Actually it is quite fun to take your life off “auto pilot” and be more intentional about what is important to you and your family.
If quality time is important, plan several activities that embody freedom from things, such as a neighborhood softball game, hiking or a picnic in the local park. If the environment or personal health is a priority, try a vegetarian diet one day a week.
If you are concerned about sweatshop labor, shop at a thrift store instead of the mall. Or declare next month an experiment in buying nothing new.
Take public transit to work one or more days a week. Or ride your bicycle to work or school. You can enjoy wonderful physical and emotional health benefits as well as helping the earth’s environment.
All these things are a start, and they can save you money.
By living more simply, we can spend our time in ways that more closely reflect the reign of God and our highest values. We can redirect some of our time into the social capital of healthy relationships and families, good neighborhoods, volunteering at the parish, and enjoying and taking care of God’s creation.
Simple living is not the answer to all the world’s problems, but as more people begin to simplify their lives, it will have a positive national impact.
Michael Mortvedt
