How to deal with this

[aperture]

I’m having trouble reconciling my own standard of living with the amount of poverty in the world.

For example, the other day I bought a CD for about $10. In purchasing this CD, didn’t I essentially decide that my own enjoyment, through listening to this CD, was worth more than purchasing a meal for a hungry person, or contributing to any of a number of worthwhile charities? Did I not essentially commit a sort of sin of omission.

I don’t obsess over this, but I can’t help but feel a bit guilty whenever I think about all the nice things I have, from the roof over my head to the TV in my living room. Many of these things are luxuries. How can it be okay for me to have them, as a hopeful Catholic?

 

[mark_a]

I’m having trouble reconciling my own standard of living with the amount of poverty in the world.

For example, the other day I bought a CD for about $10. In purchasing this CD, didn’t I essentially decide that my own enjoyment, through listening to this CD, was worth more than purchasing a meal for a hungry person, or contributing to any of a number of worthwhile charities? Did I not essentially commit a sort of sin of omission.

I don’t obsess over this, but I can’t help but feel a bit guilty whenever I think about all the nice things I have, from the roof over my head to the TV in my living room. Many of these things are luxuries. How can it be okay for me to have them, as a hopeful Catholic?

These are very thought provoking questions.

Have you always felt this way?

If not, what sparked these questions?

And not totally disconnected- Did you attend Catholic school as a youngster? If so, were you taught by Sisters?

 

[malachi3]

How I’m dealing with this: I give stuff away. I am often ashamed that I have a 3BR house just for me and a cat, plus all the food I want, etc. I give things to neighbors or the Salvation Army. I try to do this weekly, even some small things.

 

[graceandglory]

I’m having trouble reconciling my own standard of living with the amount of poverty in the world.

For example, the other day I bought a CD for about $10. In purchasing this CD, didn’t I essentially decide that my own enjoyment, through listening to this CD, was worth more than purchasing a meal for a hungry person, or contributing to any of a number of worthwhile charities? Did I not essentially commit a sort of sin of omission.

I don’t obsess over this, but I can’t help but feel a bit guilty whenever I think about all the nice things I have, from the roof over my head to the TV in my living room. Many of these things are luxuries. How can it be okay for me to have them, as a hopeful Catholic?

catechism on giving

memorare.com/reform/giving.html

Learn about the deadly sins of extravagance, gluttony, and greed, and the virtues which counter them: temperance and charity.

I think this would be a good start.
ignatius.com/ViewProduct.aspx?SID=1&Product_ID=2775

 

[Della]

People are not living in poverty because you bought a $10 CD. There is no direct correlation between the two. It is always right to be generous to the poor, but beating oneself up over the ability to buy a few things we enjoy isn’t going to solve the problem of poverty.

Think of all the people who earn their living making “luxury” items. The CD you bought need talented people to do the music, producers to make the CD, and technicians. Someone designed the cover, another person drew the picture or took the photo. Others made the CD case and the materials the CD is made of. Workers put the CDs into the cases and other shipped them to the stores. The clerks in the stores sold it to you, and the list could go on.

When we buy things we employ people and employment negates poverty. Of course, we don’t need to buy outside our means and one can always deny oneself things to give directly to the poor, but the basis of a good economy is business not charity. So, don’t be so hard on yourself but think these things through prayerfully and sensibly.

 

[aperture]

@mark a: It’s not really a recent thing. I’ve just been thinking about it more lately - the disaster in Haiti has had something to do with it. I’ve only been to [am in] Catholic high school, and it’s a fairly liberal one. Certainly not the strict, guilt-heavy one you may be speaking of with the nuns.

@Della: That’s an interesting way of looking at this. I’d not really thought about the people employed in the production of the products that I buy. But even then, wouldn’t it be better for me to, say, contribute a small sum to something like Heifer International? American dollars can be used to greater effect abroad than at home.

I realize this may seem impractical and a bit neurotic, but I have trouble calling myself a good person when I know I’m not doing anywhere near everything that I can.

 

[Detales]

www.storyofstuff.com

 

[mark_a]

@mark a: It’s not really a recent thing. I’ve just been thinking about it more lately - the disaster in Haiti has had something to do with it. I’ve only been to [am in] Catholic high school, and it’s a fairly liberal one. Certainly not the strict, guilt-heavy one you may be speaking of with the nuns.

I’m thinking of the opposite, although it does not seem to apply to you. Most of the favorable qualities about myself, I believe, are rooted in the teachings of the sisters I had in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades.

 

[LilyM]

Put it this way - God required us to take a day out of each week to rest. By resting instead of working on Sundays, we are not earning the maximum amount of money (with which to alleviate the poverty of others) that we could, and we are not creating the maximum amount of jobs (which keeping all businesses open 7 days a week) that we could make available.

SO … why rest? As human beings, rest is important. God knows this. But even HE rested to set an example to us. Why? What is the lesson we are supposed to learn? That our FIRST obligation is not to work - not in any fashion - but to glorify God. That only He can supply all needs, and not any amount of work we could do would cut it. Nor any amount of charity we could give to others - as Our Lord pointed out to those who criticised the ‘waste’ of the costly ointment which the woman used to anoint His feet.

By working 24/7 and thinking we need to give every spare cent to charity we fall into the trap of thinking that we are self-reliant, responsible for everyone and everything and capable of relieving the needs of everyone around us. By trusting God to fill in the gap when we rest that seventh day, or when we spend the occasional bit of money on our own recreation, we are showing that our reliance is actually on Him, not ourselves. It’s an act of humility, trust, faith and hope.

So, rest, relax, buy the occasional CD. Remember that by buying that CD you’re helping create gainful employment and pay wages for many other people - record store employees, musicians, record company employees and the like. Your money isn’t going into a vacuum or anything, and it IS being put to use to put food into peoples’ mouths.

 

[bpbasilphx]

\For example, the other day I bought a CD for about $10. In purchasing this CD, didn’t I essentially decide that my own enjoyment, through listening to this CD, was worth more than purchasing a meal for a hungry person, or contributing to any of a number of worthwhile charities? Did I not essentially commit a sort of sin of omission.\

Buying the CD provided work and food for the artist, the studio musicians, the recording studio staff, the manufacturers of the record, and the minimum wage retail rep. from whom you bought it, and who knows how many others along the line?

 

[laura_kathleen]

Considering that rationally you will solve the problem of poverty nor will you ever be doing eveything you possibly could, I would suggest that once in a while when you want that CD for your entertainment that you find a charity and you donate that 10 dollars instead of getting that CD. Also on days off from school perhaps look into serving your local community in some way that makes a difference even on a small scale. No one person will ever solve poverty, but today is MLK day and I spent the day serving in a Boys and Girls Club in Philadelphia, and I like to think that that helped both the people who run it as well as the children who will enjoy the fruits of my labor, and these are low income students who dont always have dinner on a regular basis. So you should never stop being concerned about the poverty in the world but there a little ways that you can make a difference and you can helpthose less fortunate than yourself. Try takng my suggestions or try thinking up a few of your own that allow you to help some of those that are less fortunate. But in the end I wouldnt lose sleep over this.

 

[Della]

@Della: That’s an interesting way of looking at this. I’d not really thought about the people employed in the production of the products that I buy. But even then, wouldn’t it be better for me to, say, contribute a small sum to something like Heifer International? American dollars can be used to greater effect abroad than at home.

I realize this may seem impractical and a bit neurotic, but I have trouble calling myself a good person when I know I’m not doing anywhere near everything that I can.

The point is you don’t have to donate to charity INSTEAD of enjoying a few simple pleasures. There’s nothing wrong with having such things as long as you don’t neglect the poor and become selfish. Unless God calls you to a life of poverty in a monastery, you’re not expected to give all your extra income away if some of it is spent on refreshment of mind, body, and/or soul–yours or those of others as you think best. Don’t become scrupulous about such things. Learn how to budget your money, your time and your talent so that you are getting what you need as well as helping others.

 

[cecilia97]

Put it this way - God required us to take a day out of each week to rest. By resting instead of working on Sundays, we are not earning the maximum amount of money (with which to alleviate the poverty of others) that we could, and we are not creating the maximum amount of jobs (which keeping all businesses open 7 days a week) that we could make available.

SO … why rest? As human beings, rest is important. God knows this. But even HE rested to set an example to us. Why? What is the lesson we are supposed to learn? That our FIRST obligation is not to work - not in any fashion - but to glorify God. That only He can supply all needs, and not any amount of work we could do would cut it. Nor any amount of charity we could give to others - as Our Lord pointed out to those who criticised the ‘waste’ of the costly ointment which the woman used to anoint His feet.

By working 24/7 and thinking we need to give every spare cent to charity we fall into the trap of thinking that we are self-reliant, responsible for everyone and everything and capable of relieving the needs of everyone around us. By trusting God to fill in the gap when we rest that seventh day, or when we spend the occasional bit of money on our own recreation, we are showing that our reliance is actually on Him, not ourselves. It’s an act of humility, trust, faith and hope.

So, rest, relax, buy the occasional CD. Remember that by buying that CD you’re helping create gainful employment and pay wages for many other people - record store employees, musicians, record company employees and the like. Your money isn’t going into a vacuum or anything, and it IS being put to use to put food into peoples’ mouths.

This is fabulous, LilyM, thank you for posting this!