Content in simplicity

Recently I heard a story which prompted me to write this sooner than I wanted. A factory was built in one of South America’s countries and the local people became workers there. After a few months of work, they received their pay and the next week no one showed up for work. The
employer was surprised and visited the local people to solve this surprise. People replied to the factory owners that they have enough money and they don’t need anymore. The clever company leaders decided to mail a Sears catalog to the people who used to work at the factory. After this, there was no problem with shortage of employees there. This is a clear example of not desiring things until someone shows us what we are missing. Most likely we are missing unessential things but over time they become essential.
I was always thankful of how God let me begin my life and hope to slowly go back to this lifestyle especially when I raise my own family. As we grew up in 1990s, we had just enough of everything a child may need in life – food, clothes, a modest home (40 by 40 for 5 people), a few toys,
neighborhood of friends and parents. I never remember complaining that I don’t have something others have. Maybe the problem in this country is that people have so many extra things so we start thinking we need them. In Ukraine, most people lived similar to us so we didn’t know there is so much more. It was a simple life of contentment and we didn’t ask parents for things we knew they couldn’t afford. There actually wasn’t much we could want – we had all we needed. Our bedroom/dining room/living room consisted of 3 beds which turned into sofas during the day, a dining room table, a desk, a dresser and 2 big armoires since there are no wall closets in Ukraine. Our kitchen had a refrigerator, gas stove, wood stove, 2 small tables and a hutch. We didn’t know a microwave or a food processor or a toaster existed so we didn’t need it or think it was so essential. Everything was simple and easy – imaginations were used more and books were devoured quickly.
I am realizing more and more how much commercialism and consumerism take over our lives if we aren’t careful. Also, our mind can be so convincing and make us thing we need something. The children of today desire everything they see and then it lies around in corners of the house. Material things are only new for a little while and bring us happiness for a little while. I am worried that children are going to turn into adults who trained their minds to want everything quickly without waiting patiently and often paying with credit cards which put our country more in debt. I am trying to train my mind to live simply and think about how I lived before never lacking anything. I never “needed” a DSI or an IPod or a Wii or so many items kids have
today. And it will never be enough because these things make us happy for a short time. Only God can help us see fill the emptiness with joy and help us be honestly content every day with our work, our belongings, our home, our situation. And I hope someday we can be happy that we achieved life that is simple and doesn't demand much.
I hope we can thank God for giving us just enough.

Food made with love

As I worked at a potato chip plant this past summer, I realized that I was not enjoying making food for other people. The conditions at the factory are very fair and the pay is great but I didn't want to be there. I looked around me every day and saw faces of people who did not enjoy preparing food for others to consume. The combination of monotonous tasks, set speed(often too fast), windowless work building and third shift schedule make the job unpleasant, tedious and undesirable. Everyone was counting down hours and minutes till morning. When did producing food become a factory job? It used to be a job of a farmer or the family itself to grow produce or raise livestock. The parents and children then worked to creat food from the main basic ingredients. Why has the world changed so much? How come I didn't notice?
It was hard for me not to be able to look outside at the nature surrounding the building. There are no colors, no soft materials, nothing to challenge my mind. It felt like the prison of my mind and I was appaled to be eating food from such a workplace. I realized I want to eat food which was produced with love and the person making it put their heart into making it. I hope they worked at their own speed with time to think or daydream or imagine. I promise if I ever make food to sell or to give as a present, I will do that with all my love and all my heart. I know food is simply a nourishment and what goes in simply goes out, but for some people food is their livelihood because they produce it in many different ways. I hope people will realize this without having to work at a plant or factory.
It is very sad that people have to depend on the job of packing chips in order to provide for their families. I will most likely be back there next summer but I do not wish for anyone to make food in such a way. I hope this post made sense. I hope the world is changing. I hope I find a way to bring a change to the food culture in US.

Two Days of Peace

It started with a hailstorm. The power was out within minutes and candles lit up our house as we wondered how many hours it will be until we can turn the lights on and get on with our usual routine. Well, it was 48 hours before we see alarm clock blink and the refrigerator hum. In the past, these inconveniences happened for short periods of time and these were exciting hours of watching and waiting in the candle light. However, this time we could not use water so there had to be few adjustments for the two days.

I spent my day cleaning up the backyard and reading since the school district where I substitute teach closed and therefore my job disappeared for that day. It was exciting to finally have time to read as much as I wanted since my sister Annie still had school. It was a little hard to realize I can't go watch TV or use the computer whenever I wanted, but after a while it was more of a relief to finally have no technology around and I was used to it. My sister played the piano and read books after school - the only activities she could enjoy without TV and computer. She complained for a little but soon understood we had no control over the situation.

It was quiet until Saturday night and I was amazed to see how much peace a storm can bring. I can't wait to do it again sometime but it will be hard knowing the TV and computer are actually working and I am telling myself to take a break from technology.