life happens: Needs vs. Wants

Friday, February 13, 2009

Needs vs. Wants

We live in a country of indulgence. For years we have been living beyond our means—on this thing called credit.
We have fancy cars,
big homes
and nice clothes.
We have tables full of food from different parts of the world
—at our disposal—
and that is where a lot of it ends up—
in the disposal.
We don’t think about where our next meal is coming from—or if it is coming.
We are blessed beyond measure and yet we still complain…
This recession is hitting everyone-jobs are being eliminated…
businesses closed and yet we still have so much more than most…
but many are choosing to focus on seeing the things they don’t have or can’t afford.
This is not to minimize the real problems that our country is currently having—
but to make us think about where our focus is in relation to what others are doing without.

Today as I was driving I drove by several high end car dealerships. It appeared that they did not have as many cars on their lots. Even your normal cars sales (those would be for the common people—like us)are down—WAY down—but we are still driving…other parts of the world don’t even have cars…and we are complaining that we can’t get/afford new ones? Some of these cars are the prices of homes—some would support families for years—and some would be willing to live in a car thinking it was a step up from what their current living conditions were. I guess it is all relative….

I know we are accustomed to a certain standard of living in our country- I have six grocery stores within a two mile radius of my home—I can shop for just about anything I want…and yet in other parts of the world people stand in line to wait for a simple loaf of bread or some grain. I can turn on my faucet and clean water comes out…and while I choose not to drink it because of its taste—I could if I had to. That is a luxury that others do not have and yet I take it for granted.

We complain about the cost of medical care—yes it is expensive but have you heard of anyone dying of Tetanus in our country as of late? I recently watched a nightline documentary and they spoke of the fact that one out of every four children are dying a painful death of tetanus in Tanzania, Africa—all because they can’t/don’t receive that simple vaccine. One out of four—that is not acceptable when we have the knowledge and we have the where with all to prevent those deaths…

We complain that our standard of living is not the same as it was because we are not able to indulge like we have in the past—our wants are not being met---not our needs—our wants are being impacted. It is time to focus on what is really important…to focus on those things we do have—those things we are blessed with, because if we were to walk a day in someone else’s shoes (providing they even had shoes)we would realize how indulgent our lives really are….
We are Blessed
---Oh so blessed….

When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed

When you are discouraged thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings;name them one by one

And it will surprise you what the lord has done

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings; ev'ry doubt will fly,

And you will be singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold

Think that Christ has promised you his wealth untold,

Count your many blessings; money cannot buy

Your reward in heaven nor your home on high.