My moral dilemma with the thing...
Today's blog is about moral dilemmas. We all face them. Sometimes we all are faced with having to do something we don't WANT to do, but have to do. So how do we deal with them?
My story this afternoon is kind of stupid because it involves a thing. In this case, it's a car. I own this car and it's a good car. I got what I thought was a really good deal, but the last two cars I thought were really good deals I wound up putting transmissions in. Not so really good deals anymore. I didn't want to get this car fixed but unfortunately, I won't have the money I thought I would to replace it. There were more pressing things that needed attention in my life. It was cheaper to just get the car fixed than it would have been to just replace the car and take a chance on another vehicle.
The dilemma isn't getting the car fixed. It's a spot of contention in my life with the Mrs. and I want to get rid of the car; to take that contention out of my life. I can't keep driving my truck the way I have been though. It's costing me a small fortune in gas and what I save on gas will pay for the repairs in three months. It was a tough choice but in the end I wound up doing something I didn't want to do because the need I have now outweighs the want I have. There will be time down the road to replace the car. I have a 15 year old who's going to be screaming for some wheels in about a year so we'll look at getting me something later on and giving him the car when the time comes.
I know you're thinking, what's the big deal? It's a car. But sometimes, things in our lives become representations of other events in life. This would be true with the car. It really bothered me to have to make this choice but in the end, I think it'll be OK because when it comes right down to it, it's only a thing and not a thing I plan on keeping for any reason other than it meets a need I have right now.
I sometimes think we place too much emphasis on things for what they do or don't represent. It's just part of our nature as human beings, I suppose. I used to be very materialistic. Not so much anymore. Both of my big screen TVs are broken. I may get the big one fixed one more time, or I may just be happy with the TVs that I have that work. It's not that big a deal to me anymore.
I'm blessed to find out today that I have the money to keep my home from foreclosure. This was looming large and it's a blessing to be able to get back on track. I'm still keeping it listed for sale. It's a great house, but it's just a house. I could be just as happy in something smaller, more affordable. There's no moral dilemma with the house other than the one with my mother-in-law. She loves the yard and dotes on the wife's flower beds. The house really serves as a place to sleep, to keep warm from the weather, and keep my dry and safe. It's the people in the house that make it "home", not the things I fill it with.
I heard a pastor say this on the radio last night, well something like this: Jesus Christ lived the most significant life ever lived on our planet...and He didn't own a thing. Quite the analogy. Really kind of puts things in perspective doesn't it?
I always thought I had to have this or that when I was angry at the world. I always wanted to show the world "I belonged". I was as good as the rich people I used to resent when I was growing up poor. I wanted it all. I had a lot of it, but not as much as others. I certainly have more than most and somehow it was never good enough. What a terrible way to live, looking back on it. I became sort of a slave to the house, the bills, the things I want and never took the time to be really grateful for what mattered.
Boy has my outlook on life changed! I don't care about the stuff. I have what I need, more, really. Slowly, though, and deliberately, I'm downsizing. I'm keeping the car because of economic reasons...the car gets fixed. I can save money by not driving the truck. Then the money I save can go to helping me get my stupid butt out of debt and start saving for a different car. Instead of a knee-jerk reaction, I actually put some thought into this. That's another little milestone for me.
Well, guys, the clock on the wall is telling me it's time to get going for work, so let me close with this...
Why did I share this story today? Because for once, it's all there IS to talk about in my life today. And besides, maybe there's a lesson in there for all of us. Look around at your own life and in your abundance, is there something maybe someone else could use that you could share with someone who has less than you?
We'll talk about this more tomorrow!
God Bless, dear readers!
Coop
My story this afternoon is kind of stupid because it involves a thing. In this case, it's a car. I own this car and it's a good car. I got what I thought was a really good deal, but the last two cars I thought were really good deals I wound up putting transmissions in. Not so really good deals anymore. I didn't want to get this car fixed but unfortunately, I won't have the money I thought I would to replace it. There were more pressing things that needed attention in my life. It was cheaper to just get the car fixed than it would have been to just replace the car and take a chance on another vehicle.
The dilemma isn't getting the car fixed. It's a spot of contention in my life with the Mrs. and I want to get rid of the car; to take that contention out of my life. I can't keep driving my truck the way I have been though. It's costing me a small fortune in gas and what I save on gas will pay for the repairs in three months. It was a tough choice but in the end I wound up doing something I didn't want to do because the need I have now outweighs the want I have. There will be time down the road to replace the car. I have a 15 year old who's going to be screaming for some wheels in about a year so we'll look at getting me something later on and giving him the car when the time comes.
I know you're thinking, what's the big deal? It's a car. But sometimes, things in our lives become representations of other events in life. This would be true with the car. It really bothered me to have to make this choice but in the end, I think it'll be OK because when it comes right down to it, it's only a thing and not a thing I plan on keeping for any reason other than it meets a need I have right now.
I sometimes think we place too much emphasis on things for what they do or don't represent. It's just part of our nature as human beings, I suppose. I used to be very materialistic. Not so much anymore. Both of my big screen TVs are broken. I may get the big one fixed one more time, or I may just be happy with the TVs that I have that work. It's not that big a deal to me anymore.
I'm blessed to find out today that I have the money to keep my home from foreclosure. This was looming large and it's a blessing to be able to get back on track. I'm still keeping it listed for sale. It's a great house, but it's just a house. I could be just as happy in something smaller, more affordable. There's no moral dilemma with the house other than the one with my mother-in-law. She loves the yard and dotes on the wife's flower beds. The house really serves as a place to sleep, to keep warm from the weather, and keep my dry and safe. It's the people in the house that make it "home", not the things I fill it with.
I heard a pastor say this on the radio last night, well something like this: Jesus Christ lived the most significant life ever lived on our planet...and He didn't own a thing. Quite the analogy. Really kind of puts things in perspective doesn't it?
I always thought I had to have this or that when I was angry at the world. I always wanted to show the world "I belonged". I was as good as the rich people I used to resent when I was growing up poor. I wanted it all. I had a lot of it, but not as much as others. I certainly have more than most and somehow it was never good enough. What a terrible way to live, looking back on it. I became sort of a slave to the house, the bills, the things I want and never took the time to be really grateful for what mattered.
Boy has my outlook on life changed! I don't care about the stuff. I have what I need, more, really. Slowly, though, and deliberately, I'm downsizing. I'm keeping the car because of economic reasons...the car gets fixed. I can save money by not driving the truck. Then the money I save can go to helping me get my stupid butt out of debt and start saving for a different car. Instead of a knee-jerk reaction, I actually put some thought into this. That's another little milestone for me.
Well, guys, the clock on the wall is telling me it's time to get going for work, so let me close with this...
Why did I share this story today? Because for once, it's all there IS to talk about in my life today. And besides, maybe there's a lesson in there for all of us. Look around at your own life and in your abundance, is there something maybe someone else could use that you could share with someone who has less than you?
We'll talk about this more tomorrow!
God Bless, dear readers!
Coop
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