I read an article in the New York Times this morning that has been rolling around in my mind. It’s called What Could You Live Without and it’s the story of a family that decided if they had less nice things, they could help many more people. Inspired by their 14-year-old daughter’s observation of our imbalanced world, they sold their house and moved into a smaller one, using the extra money to help a charity. In so doing—as so often happens when others choose to give rather than receive—they discovered a happiness money can’t buy. And in the process, grew closer (literally). From the article:
Mr. Salwen and his wife, Joan, had always assumed that their kids would be better off in a bigger house. But after they downsized, there was much less space to retreat to, so the family members spent more time around each other. A smaller house unexpectedly turned out to be a more family-friendly house.
“We essentially traded stuff for togetherness and connectedness,” Mr. Salwen told me, adding, “I can’t figure out why everybody wouldn’t want that deal.”
It’s such an easy concept, isn’t it? Spend less on one needless thing so you can spend more on something that makes a difference. But why is it so hard? For example, I am often surprised to hear people (including Christians) talk about “needing” a bigger house. Really? Need? Why exactly? (I mean, who in the world said that every child needs their own bedroom? It’s certainly not a law, and it’s most definitely not a requirement, seeing as how most of the entire world doesn’t get that luxury. It’s food, water, shelter—not my food, my water, my shelter.)
The Salwens are quick to point out that they are not telling everyone to go sell their house for something smaller, but “…the aim was to encourage people to step off the treadmill of accumulation, to define themselves by what they give as well as by what they possess.” They added, “Everyone has too much of something, whether it’s time, talent or treasure. Everyone does have their own half, you just have to find it.”
Wow, can you imagine a kingdom of Christians that defined themselves by what they give as opposed to what they have? Unfortunately I know I fall into the trap of “needing” things that have nothing to do with need, and when a challenge like this comes along that has no stated Christian affiliation, I get a little embarrassed. As should we all.
The book the family wrote about their adventure, The Power of Half, is due out next month and I think I’d like to read it. I think I need the embarrassment.
January 26th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
love this. . . . been trying to think of what i can get rid of instead of needing a bigger place to PUT it all :) if i only had a bigger house, it would’t feel so cluttered. . . well, if i only gave away a bunch of it, it wouldn’t feel so cluttered! every child doesn’t need their own room. . .we have four people in one room here :) and one room for playing and laundry. . .it’s given me perspective, something i seem to be getting HEAPS of this week!
January 26th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
In spite of the fact that we’re looking for a bit larger of an apartment at the moment, I’d say that as we approach a year and a half for our family of four in under 900 square feet, I’ve been able to recognize the blessings of it too. Of course, like you mention, living space is just one possible application of the subject at hand, but in Ukraine it’s been a pretty necessary sacrifice.