Thank you very much!!!

It just hit me today (I know some of you have known this all along!) but I'm spoiled.  There, I said it.  I've admitted to one of the cardinal sins-- I'm a spoiled brat.  I love a clean house; I just don't want to be the one cleaning it!  I love to eat well; I just don't want the one to be cooking it!  I want nice things; and yes, I'd be more than happy to buy all of them (problem is, the bill comes due each month-- a hard reality when you're living on a pastor's salary with 3 in college!).

On the way home from taking Boy to college, I turned on the Broadway channel.  Fiddler on the Roof is celebrating its 50 years.  "If I were a Rich Man" played and instead of singing along (something I usually do) I really listened to the words.  He's right!  Would it change some vast eternal plan if I were rich????  Don't you just love Tevye?  He seems to be spot on.  If he were rich that would leave time to do the very things he wants to do....pray ..... and sit with learned men discussing the holy books.  "That would be the sweetest thing of all."

The grass is always greener....

If I had time, I'd.....

If I had more money.....

If I were skinnier....

If I were...

If things were different...

If....

If....

If....

Christians celebrate the season of Lent.  It is 40 days leading up to Easter.  It is a time of reflection.  Most Christians focus on giving something up for Lent.  I've always questioned this practice.  I know we give it up because Christ gave up so much for us, but Christ died once.  The resurrection happened.  Does Christ really want us to suffer for Him?  The answer is no.  Do we really need to give something up only to start it back after Easter?  I give up chocolate for 40 days and then pig out on chocolate in my Easter basket.  What have I done?  What happens when I fail at giving up chocolate for 40 days?  What if it winds up being like those New Year's Resolutions?  I tried.  I fail.  I feel guilty.  No, I really don't think that is the type of reflection and giving something up that is fruitful.  We have enough guilt going on, don't we?

What if instead of focusing on giving something up, we focus on adding something?  If I give up chocolate for the 40 days, then I'll add giving the money to an organization that works with addictions.  If I give up eating red meat, then I'll use the money I'd spend on a steak and give to stopping animal cruelty organizations.  Or something like that.  If I'm focused on giving something up, I'm focused on myself.  If I give up and add, that focus is shifted to another.

Getting back to Tevye (and me for that matter), he (we) are already rich.  We have loving families.  We have loving friends.  We believe in a God who loves us unconditionally and blesses us in our wealth and in our poverty.  I'm not so sure that Tevye would have spent more time in prayer or sitting and discussing holy books, just as I'm sure I wouldn't either.  Oh yes, I'd have money to pay someone to do the cleaning and the cooking and the organizing and the...... but then maybe I wouldn't.  I might spend that money on myself and never even think of the other.  Wouldn't that be a shame?

You don't need lots of money to help others in need.  How we spend our limited time; how we spend our limited money is representative of who we are.

Sorry, didn't mean to get all preachy this morning.  Thank you very much Broadway channel and Tevye!!!!  :)