I started this blog, then ironically got distracted by Groupon. I
didn’t want to write this, now I don’t want to post it. It’s scary and
challenging and once this is public I have to follow through.
The other day I made a solid attempt at cleaning off my desk, which for
me is always a daunting task. One of my finds was a supplement to Relevant magazine
called Reject Apathy. I’m always easily distracted when attempting to
organize and begun reading articles. The following quote seared it’s
way into my consciousness like a cattle branding iron.
to reject lurks within our very DNA and the DNA of our culture – we are
consumers. From infancy, culture has told us we are deserving,
advertisers have told us what we want and our friends…have confirmed
these messages with their purchases and lifestyles.”
Those words sparked a crazy idea. I wanted to ignore it, relax and let
my self continue to be pulled into the undertow of consumerism. In the
middle of a capitalistic society could I give up materialism? How would
I begin to fight that intense tide? My desire to consume is so deeply
rooted, is it even possible to cut it off?
I realized that I needed a finite challenge, something to break the
buying habit. After some prayer, and a lot of avoidance, I decided to
fast from consumerism for three months.
I love getting new things. When I find something I want or need,
especially a sale item, a rush of excitement surges through me. I HATE
to admit this but sometimes when I’m feeling low, I’ll stop by TJ Maxx
and a new soy candle or great sale on a pair of shoes really does lift
my mood. My shopping habit is compulsive and honestly, I don’t want to
deal with it. This is embarrassing to be public about. I’m a
missionary, I work in Africa, I’m supposed to have way more altruistic
things on my mind than finding a cute new dress.
Not having my needs met terrifies me. One thing I love about my
consumer society is that anytime I feel like I need or want anything I
can just run to the store and get it. Out of shampoo, take a quick trip
to CVS. No more mascara, the Clinique counter is just a few miles away
at the mall. Frustrated by not having a keyboard on my iPad, run by
Best Buy and pick something up. If I get a hankering for frozen yogurt I
can swing by any number of stores with in a mile of my house.
I’m so
deeply impacted by the materialism of my culture that I don’t know the
difference between a craving, a want and an actual need. That’s why I
desperately need to take a break from consuming. Sometimes a season of
intense discipline leads to healthy moderation.
I don’t want to quit, which is why I’ve avoided posting this blog. So
what does the challenge look like. Is it possible to give up something
so deeply ingrained in me for three months?
In order to really do this I’ve got to have some rules. Here are the ones I’m thinking about…
Rule 1 – No buying things. Ok, sounds easy enough. Exceptions include
medical stuff like contacts, groceries, necessities like gas and car
maintenance, experiences with people and volleyball/gym membership.
Things I can’t buy: clothing, books, music, Groupons, electronics,
cute things for my house, gifts, etc. If I want to get someone a gift
I’ll have to make it out of the things I already have, which is
daunting. In a world full of Pintrest happy, project loving people I
sometime feel like the only craft adverse person on earth. (This is my
official advance apology if your wedding or birthday is in the next
three months.)
Rule 2 – No spending extra money on food out, if it’s a social event
that’s ok, but no stopping for Rubios because I didn’t make time to pack
a lunch.
Rule 3 – I’ll blog about this journey and I promise full disclosure, ouch.
Rule 4 – Use what I have.
Rule 5 – Use this to increase my ability to give to ministry.
While I was in South Africa I talked with some missionaries who recently
lost half their funding. They were struggling to buy groceries. One
of my best friends is an amazingly gifted campus minister who has had to
work part time for over a year until she reaches full support. The
ministry on campus is exploding and they need her full time but she has
to have enough support to live first. I want to use this fast to do my
part, however small, to help enable people like that to do the
ministries they are called to do.
I look at my rules and it doesn’t seem too hard, but how many little
things do I buy with out even noticing it. Just this week… A song on I
Tunes, a $2.50 cookbook on my Kindle (as if I’m really going to make
meals and freeze them ahead of time like the cookbook teaches me, but
sometimes overestimating my domestic abilities makes me feel better), a
$25 pair of shoes for Fall, some gourmet spices from Grocery Outlet for
gifts (they were originally $15 and I got them for $3, go me), and
coffee at Peets… twice.
Here it is, once I hit post there is no going back. Would anyone like to
join me in this journey for a week, a month or even the whole three
months? Is this completely crazy? Does anyone else share this struggle? Leave a comment and let
me know what you think.
