For a year of my life, I’ve chosen to leave materialism behind. I chosen to live out of a backpack, literally carrying my home and my closet on my back. It hasn’t been easy by any means, but it’s been entirely worth it. Over the past 9 months, I’ve picked up an item or two, and consequently mailed home a few packages. Nothing too extreme or, really, unexpected as far as I’m concerned.
And then we hit Asia.
As I sit here in Vietnam, I can’t help but be overwhelmed with thoughts of the many things I can buy. The impulses within me are going crazy, telling me to buy it all. I mean, it’s only $5; it’s only $2; it’s only $15. Why wouldn’t I buy that brand new North Face backpack when it’s so cheap over here? Aside from many moral convictions I’m trying to look into, my answer is simply this, “Because I don’t need it.”
I’ve managed to survive over 9 months in 10 different countries without many of these things and suddenly, with it all at my fingertips, I think I need it again. I think I need all the luxury foods-the Goldfish, the Baby Ruth, the Dr. Pepper. I think I need all the North Face gear and the box set DVDs and new CDs. Suddenly the consumer within me is on overload with everything right there.
I understand this trip is intense. I understand I may even deserve a Baby Ruth or Dr. Pepper every now and then but where do I draw the line from rewarding myself and falling back into the mindset of a consumer society? After all, isn’t that one of the things I chose to leave behind while going on this trip?
When we stepped into Asia, we stepped back into a culture that could provide us with pretty much anything and everything we wanted-and probably for cheaper than back home. It took some time for the conviction to hit, but boy oh boy is it heavy on my heart right now. These are things. Things. I don’t need these to make me happy, nor does anybody else; yet based on our reactions to this “land of milk and honey” known as Asia, you would think we do.
As I go about this month and my remaining time in Asia, I hope this would stay on the forefront on my mind and ever burning within my heart. I hope the things I buy have meaning behind them and are not simply being bought because I can or they’re cheap. I hope there’s legitimate thought put behind each purchase I make and a person in mind each time I buy it. I hope I realize what that line is for myself-that I don’t feel guilty in rewarding myself, yet don’t by into this materialistic culture. This is my hope and prayer for me and for everyone I’m with as we finish out our Race.
