We don’t need to plunge into abject poverty to simplify our lives. But we can take a huge step by distinguishing between wants and needs. Here’s a simple formula you can use:
- Food is a need. But a medium rare T-bone steak smothered in onions is a want.
- Clothing is a need. But a Ralph Lauren suit with matching patent leather shoes is a want.
- Housing is a need. But a split-level ranch house with a semi-attached garage, walk-in closets, and three bathrooms is a want.
Not all wants are bad or destructive. But when we don’t try to distinguish between the two, we can create all kinds of problems in our lives and our budgets.
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Here’s a Franciscan perspective on some of the key areas of our lives.
FOODWhat’s wrong with this picture? North Americans spend billions on food and billions more on diet books, programs, and drugs. In fact, most Americans spend more on diets than people elsewhere spend on food.
The Book of Sirach, a classic Jewish wisdom literature, makes a case for the virtue of moderation:
“Moderate eating ensures sound slumber and a clear mind next day on rising...
In whatever you do, be moderate, and no sickness will befall you.”
Here’s how we practice simplicity in food at our Little Portion community in Arkansas.
1. Do it naturallyWe take advantage of our rural location to grow our own vegetables and raise our own chickens and goats, which provide us with fresh eggs, meat, and milk. This enables us to produce healthy and affordable food while avoiding the hazards of an agribusiness-dominated food industry that depends on high-tech equipment and large doses of chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides, which harm the food supply and pollute our fragile environment.
While it may be impossible for you to begin a mini-farm in your front yard, you may be able to grow small amounts of lettuce, tomatoes, or strawberries in a garden.
And if you can afford it, your body will appreciate naturally grown fruits and vegetables.
2. Promoting proteinWe derive the majority of the protein in our diets from beans and rice. These foods are inexpensive and easy to prepare. This has cut the average cost of our meals to around fifty cents per person.
Beyond nutrition and cost issues, we believe there are two powerful ethical reasons to cut down the amount of meat in our diets. First, producing meat requires much more land, water, and other natural resources than does growing vegetables and grains. Second, large meat-producing facilities often subject animals to horrible conditions. Animals are God’s creatures and deserve ethical treatment.