Living in the Land of Plenty

In last week's sermon, the pastor alluded to some statistics he quoted in the sermon prior to that, which we missed. He mentioned where he'd gotten them, but I didn't write it down. I was intrigued, however, and resolved to Google it. I had not yet gotten around to Googling (can you believe that I'm using that as a verb?), and came across it in a book I just picked up from a stack of books I was thinking of donating. The book--an appropriate one to donate--is entitled 'Tis a Gift to be Simple, by Barbara DeGrote-Sorensen and David Allen Sorensen. These are the statistics the Sorensens quoted, taken from yet another book entitled Taking Charge of Our Lives--Living Responsibly in a Troubled World, by Joan Bodner:

"If the world were a global village of 100 people, one-third of them would be rich or of moderate income, two-thirds would be poor. Of the 100 residents, 47 would be unable to read, and only one would have a college education. About 35 would be suffering from hunger and malnutrition, at least half would be homeless or living in sub-standard housing. If the world were a global village of 100 people, 6 of them would be Americans. These 6 would have over a third of the village's entire income, and the other 94 would subsist on the other two-thirds." (p. 14, 'Tis a Gift to Be Simple)

After finally "Googling," I learned that variations on "If the world were a global village" have circulated on the web for some time, and several people have been suggested as its author. In other words, I can't prove the source or the figures, but its overall message is sobering. It causes us statistic-hungry Americans to stop and think about the reality of how rich we are. Things we consider normal aren't normal at all for most of the world's population. My college education, my computer, my ability to read, my big house that I complain about cleaning...all of these things are privileges. I am one of the 6. Recognizing this, how then shall I live?

I am pondering all of this today, wondering how to live simply, generously and gratefully in the land of plenty.

This stood out to me as well:

"The world cannot support a North American life-style for all who call this planet their home. Our goal cannot be to raise the standard of living so that everyone might live the way we do. there aren't enough resources. Something has to give in order for others to get. We must voluntarily, one by one, learn ways to live simply so that others may simply live. A collective action, family by family, that will challenge the 'norm' can bring balance to a lopsided world...in 2 Corinthians we find one of many Scriptures that asks us to look past our own doorsteps: 'Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. A the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little"' (2 Cor. 8:13-15)...This is not a new form of socialism. it is asking those who have been blessed with many resources to be generous. It is voluntary, life-giving, and freeing--a consequence of compassionate living." (p. 54-55)