How Much Is Enough?

I came across the title of a book the other day, One Hundred Ways to Simplify Your Life. I didn't read the book, of course—it sounds far too complicated—but I thought it was a truly amazing idea. A hundred ways to simplify? If I were to simplify my life, I think I would probably work on three ways, max! Actually, after seriously thinking about it for awhile, I decided that for most of us one thing would do for a start:

Learn how much is enough.

How much is enough food, enough sleep, enough pairs of shoes?
How much is enough house to live in? Enough car to drive?
How much is enough money?
How much is enough commitment of personal resources to the job?
     To the Church? To the community?
How much is enough time to spend with family and friends,
     how much with toxic people?
How much is enough solitude?
How much is enough talk? Enough being silent?
How much is enough electronic entertainment?
How much is enough exercise? How much doing
     absolutely nothing?
How much is enough reading? Or writing?
How many are enough issues laying around of a magazine
     I subscribe to?
How many are enough knickknacks that have to be dusted?
How many perfectly good Christmas bows that can be used again
     are enough?
How many plastic grocery bags, not-quite-empty bottles,
     and little boxes too good to throw away are enough?
     (Yes, I'm supposed to recycle and reuse, but really now . . . )

Balance is the key. We tend to be excessive consumers, having too much or wanting too much of some things, while we are paupers in other ways. We need not be either ascetics or gluttons, but rather examine our possessions and priorities to check for imbalance. "Learn how much is enough" implies less of a singular decision than an ongoing process. What is the right amount? We will need to weigh and re-weigh that, as the seasons of life change and we ourselves grow and change.

MaryMartha
(All rights reserved)

Email: mrymrtha@gmail.com