In an article she wrote for the Faith and Money Network some years ago, Killian Noe told the story of Rose, a formerly homeless woman who did the most amazing thing: she gave away her entire $10,000 inheritance, choosing instead to live more simply that others might simply live.
“Rose (not her real name) was one of seven children,” Killian said, “who grew up in fear of their abusive father.“ When she was 12 she began hearing tormenting voices and eventually began using drugs to quiet them. In addition Rose became an alcoholic, but eventually she found the sobriety and help she needed at the Recovery Café in Seattle.
Killian said they tried to talk Rose out of giving all of her money away but she was determined. “I belong to this community, which gave me my life back,” Rose said, “and I want to be part of giving someone else their life.”
“I believe with all my heart that we are deeply connected to each other,” Killian said, “that we cannot become all we were created to become when members of our human family lack opportunities to become all they were created to become.” “And yet,” she added, “I struggle with fully living that belief day in and day out because we live in an addictive culture that constantly bombards us with messages that we need more. We need more possessions, more experiences, more activities and more opportunities for our children, even when they are already over-scheduled.”
And there we have it once again: the pursuit of more which can keep us from being the people God created us to be. Rose chose to do less for herself so she could do more for others. At the time Killian wrote this article, which she titled, “Living as Though We Belong to Each Other” Rose had been sober for seven years, had just received her national certification as a yoga instructor, and was teaching at a local Psychiatric Clinic.”
“We can reflect on what we need,” Killian said, “including our material possessions, our need for vacation and recreation and the education of our children; and then we can put a cap on our spending. Otherwise, we become trapped in an ever-escalating cycle of desire for more and more of that which can never satisfy our deepest longing.”
Where will you step off the merry-go-round called MORE?
Blessings on your reflections,
Judy Osgood