LET THERE BE LIGHT

This post will be brief because of time-constraints (yes, even Minimalist Sojourners are pressured for time at times). I'll delve into this deeper later when I talk about basic human needs and SCANCAPS, but for now I'd like to introduce you to two companies that are working to bring light to what the good people at mpowerd call "energy impoverished" areas of the world. Their contribution is the Luci Light. We ran across it at an outfitter's in Boone, NC and fell in love with it immediately (https://www.mpowerd.com/). The other company is Nokero (www.nokero.com). We ran across them at the Global Health Initiative at Yale last year when they were just starting-up. We still have the solar-powered light they sold us then. We gave it to the Young Padawan and it has held up well under very strenuous conditions. I'm afraid growth or success may have gone to their heads, though: the responses to our last emails to them were stock "go to our website to make your online purchase" replies. Oh well.

I encourage everyone to do what they can to shine the light. Patients die in the dark; women give birth in the dark; horrendous crimes are committed in the dark.

THE VICTROLA WILL NOT SAVE THE DAY, The Wooden Calf

Way back in April during our first garage sale, we had an antique Victrola (that's the first green audio gear for those of you too young to know) appraised by an antique dealer for $1750. He unfortunately could not take it since he already had too many in his shop. He did advise us to take the first offer above $750 even if it felt painful.

It felt painful to let it go at any price. MY value for it was considerably higher than $750 so even an offer for that would've seemed like a jilt to me.
Now it's garage sale time and no offers over $150. What's preventing me from selling it at $150? Pride. How DARE anyone even consider that offer? This is an antique after all. This gorgeous piece of early 20th Century craftsmanship has adorned the living spaces of several homes and has lasted through two marriages and 7 children. No garage sale offer could come close to the value I placed on the Victrola.

So I am trying to figure out how my "desire" to have this piece of merchandise fits in with my true needs. I really valued it yet what was the driving force behind that?

I think we felt  the large amount of truly wothless stuff we accumulated was a form of insurance. Surely selling all this stuff would help propel us forward into the next chapter in our familys life. Selling this amazing stuff would help us financially meet our basic needs.

The Victrola among other things had become a golden calf. I realized this clearly when selling it for far less than appraised value made me angry and upset. Instead of trusting in Gods provision, I had mistakenly placed all my bets on that Victrola. That Victrola should have paid for several plane tickets. It couldnt. It was just an old, decorative piece of wood.  It wasnt created or designed to support the heavy weight of all my needs and desires.

However God does promise us a future and a hope.  Our hope and faith had been mistakenly and momentarily misplaced.

All these idols get in the way of an incredible and intimate relationship not only with God but it also interferes with our relationship with other people. We are excited about living a life of simplicity, one that focuses on time-relishing relationships with people, not with stuff.

We can't wait to take all of you with us.  Imagine the places we will go!

PS: For those of you interested in what most professionals consider "true needs" you can continue reading here:

Recently, psychologists and cross-cultural anthropologists have generated lists of basic human needs. Notice there is no mention of a Victrola anywhere on the list.

From Wikipedia: " Doyal and Gough point to eleven broad categories of "intermediate needs" that define how the need for physical health and personal autonomy are fulfilled:
Adequate nutritional food and water
Adequate protective housing
A safe environment for working
A supply of clothing
A safe physical environment
Appropriate health care
Security in childhood
Significant primary relationships with others
Physical security
Economic security
Safe birth control and child-bearing
Appropriate basic and cross-cultural education.

More later.