Being Content in a Discontented World
Ever wondered what it would be like to live with much less "stuff"? To try on a new lifestyle?
Well, we have spent the last month living in our 33 Foot RV traveling across the State of Texas all the way down to the Mexico border. We have stopped at some pretty nice RV parks, and seen some pretty AMAZING Rigs, 44-foot trailers, and Motor-coaches, and I just couldn't help but be jealous, part of me, longs so much for that fancy rig, with the amazing storage options and comfy room, and places to sit. When we bought ours I thought this is pretty fancy stuff, but there is always that next best thing right, the better gaming device, phone, computer, car, etc, etc.
The list of "I want" grows, and the list of "I need" seems to be a sliding measurement. I caught myself saying a few times I need a bigger trailer, and yes, a bigger one would be nicer, more roomy, and perhaps a little less claustrophobic, but do I need it. No.
Did I want it, Yes! There is such a stark difference between wants and needs in our western civilizations, we can have the wants because they are right at our fingertips, credit cards allow us to spend money we don't even have, to fulfill our desires for things that simply will fade away with the next lastest, and better "things".
I remember a mission trip I took many moons ago, we went to an orphanage, where many children, lived. Many had parents who dearly love them, but simply could not afford to raise them. This orphanage is a stone throw away from the US/ Mexican border. I mean, you could walk to the end of the street and lob a rock in the US. Children, who were sold into the sex trade because it was a way to put food on the table, many were abused, neglected or lost parents, who tried to cross into the US. This orphanage was nothing fancy, Rooms with bunk beds, Many bunk beds, the older girls help with the little ones, and everyone is up for breakfast way before dawn. They did not have toilet paper, something that to us, seemed outrageous. We had to each bring 5 rolls of toilet paper we thought it was for the kids, but it was for us. The building we were helping to build was cinderblocks covered in cement and plaster, we had an earthquake, while there, and the plaster would shake loose and fall on our heads. This building was was nothing fancy, no earthquake technology. It was the boys' dorms, most of the children were girls, they were making room so they could get more boys off the street. Yet the children were so filled with Joy to be where they were. A warm bed, with blankets, food, although very simple, it was warm, and it filled their bellies. On this same mission trip, I witnessed first hand what poverty actually looks like in the face of a little girl. A little girl no older than 3, stood on the side of the road, alone, no parent keeping watch over her, she wore an old t-shirt from the size of it, it had to be an adult shirt, but it was once white, now it was full of holes and filthy. She had no shoes on her feet, and she stood in green sludge, that ran down the dirt/concrete road, just across from a primitive graveyard. Behind her the seagulls soared overhead the dump below them, where hundreds of people roam, scrounging for anything and everything they can, old food, anything that they can use or eat. The house this little girl stood in front of, was not a house. It was Tires stacked up in rows covered with old plywood, or other things that her family had found in the dump, this was home. What really got me, was the doll head she had in her hands.
We( most) of us, will never know what life is like for these people. A simple hotdog and clean bottle of water were worth more than gold, the bandanas we had on our heads, were a coveted item for the workers in the dump. They have Nothing. A mother, gave her little girl a doll head because she couldn't give her a whole doll, but she took the time to clean the doll head, and give her daughter something to play with. We have it so good, yet we have no idea, how to be content. We spend our lives racing to get the best grades, the best colleges, and the highest paying jobs. So we can have that fancy car, and fancy house, and yet, we never seem to be satisfied, there is always something more we "need" to have. Yet we live in a time where families are at the least happy ever. Why?!?
We have been brainwashed into thinking we need those things to feel happy. What do we truly need to be happy?
Social media ads are constant, the TV commercials tell us that what we have isn't good enough, there is always something better, that you "need". What if we stopped for a moment put down our phones and spent time talking to our kids, our parents, our siblings. Living with less so we could live with more freedom.
I was in my daughters' room, and rocking her to sleep, and I looked around, we were gone for 2 months, and everything was as I left it. We lived in a tiny space, it was NOT easy, but cleaning was easy, laundry was easy, the vast amount of toys to clean up was just a small mound on our trailer floor. It was while we were traveling that I realized, just how much " my Stuff" controls me. My house is a beautiful home, and it is loaded with things, that might have an emotional connection for me, but I know that with much less of it, I would be happier. Before we left on our trip we did a major purge in my house, and as the stuff went out the door, my head and heart felt so much lighter. Our unsatisfiable thirst for more stuff is damaging to our mental health, physical well being, and it destroys our ability to be content.
I find it fascinating that I left, and lived without much of our stuff, and it was freeing and frustrating at the same time, I became very aware of our "needs" and our "wants" and the difference between the two. We had a water leak happen and then our water lines froze in the cold, and it became very clear, that water was most definitely a need, and you don't realize just how much you depend on water till you can't get it from the tap. I don't know what it will take to make us more contentment, that seems to be a never-ending battle.
I think by starting with the simple things, realizing the "water" in your life.
What is it that you "need" vs what you "want" Fill in your needs first, and be precise about what those needs truly are. God longs so much for us to have our needs filled, and bless us with the desires of our hearts too. As long as those desires, don't take away from your needs being filled first.
My needs to today, are to be loved, to love, food in my belly, a bed, a roof over my head, I need to realize that contentment is a daily choice. If I put down my phone, get off Facebook, and start engaging in fulfilling my personal needs, to the best of my ability, I think contentment or at least a little more peace in my heart can be found.
Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
God Bless You and keep you!
Deeds K
The list of "I want" grows, and the list of "I need" seems to be a sliding measurement. I caught myself saying a few times I need a bigger trailer, and yes, a bigger one would be nicer, more roomy, and perhaps a little less claustrophobic, but do I need it. No.
Did I want it, Yes! There is such a stark difference between wants and needs in our western civilizations, we can have the wants because they are right at our fingertips, credit cards allow us to spend money we don't even have, to fulfill our desires for things that simply will fade away with the next lastest, and better "things".
I remember a mission trip I took many moons ago, we went to an orphanage, where many children, lived. Many had parents who dearly love them, but simply could not afford to raise them. This orphanage is a stone throw away from the US/ Mexican border. I mean, you could walk to the end of the street and lob a rock in the US. Children, who were sold into the sex trade because it was a way to put food on the table, many were abused, neglected or lost parents, who tried to cross into the US. This orphanage was nothing fancy, Rooms with bunk beds, Many bunk beds, the older girls help with the little ones, and everyone is up for breakfast way before dawn. They did not have toilet paper, something that to us, seemed outrageous. We had to each bring 5 rolls of toilet paper we thought it was for the kids, but it was for us. The building we were helping to build was cinderblocks covered in cement and plaster, we had an earthquake, while there, and the plaster would shake loose and fall on our heads. This building was was nothing fancy, no earthquake technology. It was the boys' dorms, most of the children were girls, they were making room so they could get more boys off the street. Yet the children were so filled with Joy to be where they were. A warm bed, with blankets, food, although very simple, it was warm, and it filled their bellies. On this same mission trip, I witnessed first hand what poverty actually looks like in the face of a little girl. A little girl no older than 3, stood on the side of the road, alone, no parent keeping watch over her, she wore an old t-shirt from the size of it, it had to be an adult shirt, but it was once white, now it was full of holes and filthy. She had no shoes on her feet, and she stood in green sludge, that ran down the dirt/concrete road, just across from a primitive graveyard. Behind her the seagulls soared overhead the dump below them, where hundreds of people roam, scrounging for anything and everything they can, old food, anything that they can use or eat. The house this little girl stood in front of, was not a house. It was Tires stacked up in rows covered with old plywood, or other things that her family had found in the dump, this was home. What really got me, was the doll head she had in her hands.We( most) of us, will never know what life is like for these people. A simple hotdog and clean bottle of water were worth more than gold, the bandanas we had on our heads, were a coveted item for the workers in the dump. They have Nothing. A mother, gave her little girl a doll head because she couldn't give her a whole doll, but she took the time to clean the doll head, and give her daughter something to play with. We have it so good, yet we have no idea, how to be content. We spend our lives racing to get the best grades, the best colleges, and the highest paying jobs. So we can have that fancy car, and fancy house, and yet, we never seem to be satisfied, there is always something more we "need" to have. Yet we live in a time where families are at the least happy ever. Why?!?
We have been brainwashed into thinking we need those things to feel happy. What do we truly need to be happy?
Social media ads are constant, the TV commercials tell us that what we have isn't good enough, there is always something better, that you "need". What if we stopped for a moment put down our phones and spent time talking to our kids, our parents, our siblings. Living with less so we could live with more freedom.
I was in my daughters' room, and rocking her to sleep, and I looked around, we were gone for 2 months, and everything was as I left it. We lived in a tiny space, it was NOT easy, but cleaning was easy, laundry was easy, the vast amount of toys to clean up was just a small mound on our trailer floor. It was while we were traveling that I realized, just how much " my Stuff" controls me. My house is a beautiful home, and it is loaded with things, that might have an emotional connection for me, but I know that with much less of it, I would be happier. Before we left on our trip we did a major purge in my house, and as the stuff went out the door, my head and heart felt so much lighter. Our unsatisfiable thirst for more stuff is damaging to our mental health, physical well being, and it destroys our ability to be content.
I find it fascinating that I left, and lived without much of our stuff, and it was freeing and frustrating at the same time, I became very aware of our "needs" and our "wants" and the difference between the two. We had a water leak happen and then our water lines froze in the cold, and it became very clear, that water was most definitely a need, and you don't realize just how much you depend on water till you can't get it from the tap. I don't know what it will take to make us more contentment, that seems to be a never-ending battle.
I think by starting with the simple things, realizing the "water" in your life.
What is it that you "need" vs what you "want" Fill in your needs first, and be precise about what those needs truly are. God longs so much for us to have our needs filled, and bless us with the desires of our hearts too. As long as those desires, don't take away from your needs being filled first.
My needs to today, are to be loved, to love, food in my belly, a bed, a roof over my head, I need to realize that contentment is a daily choice. If I put down my phone, get off Facebook, and start engaging in fulfilling my personal needs, to the best of my ability, I think contentment or at least a little more peace in my heart can be found.
Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
God Bless You and keep you!
Deeds K
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