Simplify your life
Small changes could make a big difference

We go to the gas station and discover the price of gas has jumped again. We shop at the supermarket and our grocery bill is higher than ever.

	Editor's View Mary C. Uhler

But despite all these disturbing changes in the economy, doesn't it seem as if our society isn't that concerned? We continue living our lives as if nothing unusual is happening. We're almost numb to the changes around us.

People continue to drive their cars as much as ever. In fact, it seems as if the roads are even more congested. Shoppers fill their carts. The restaurants are full of diners.

We're used to having it all

So what's going on? I think that people in the United States have been spoiled by our wealthy society -- at least wealthy in comparison with the rest of the world. Most Americans have a nice home, along with plenty of food and clothing. We have cars, televisions, and all the latest appliances and gadgets.

We're used to having it all. And we don't want to give it up. That's why we ignore the warning signs around us. If we don't notice, maybe they will just go away.

But the reality is that our economy is in trouble, in the United States and around the world. Soaring prices for gas and food combined with natural disasters and violent conflicts and wars are making for a lethal combination. We've got to sit up and pay attention to what's happening -- and maybe, just maybe, we can do something to turn the tide.

Simplify our lives

What can we do? One solution is to simplify our lives.

In his recent address at the Overture Center in Madison, Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the pope's representative to the United Nations, suggested that people around the world, including those living in the United States, should consider living with "voluntary simplicity": working less, wanting less, and spending less. He said both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI have said a "change of heart is needed" to help protect creation.

Janet Luhrs in her book, The Simple Living Guide, says: "Simple living is about living deliberately. You choose your existence rather than go through life on automatic pilot. . . . Simple living is about having money in the bank and a zero balance on your credit card statement. . . .When you simplify, you'll have space and time to know and love people in a deeper way."

Examining our lifestyle

Simpler living doesn't mean stripping everything out of our lives. Rather, it might mean examining our lifestyle and finding ways to cut back, recycle, clear away clutter, and give more to those in need.

It might mean keeping a car for more years rather than buying a new one. It might mean carpooling, planning car trips to run errands more efficiently, or walking or biking more frequently.

In an article on "Living Simply" published in Lay Witness, Fr. Thomas G. Morrow points out that many saints lived simply. St. Francis of Assisi, of course, is a classic example of someone who gave up riches to live a simple life.

Father Morrow notes that the most important example of poverty and simplicity is the Holy Family. "Jesus was born in a stable. A stable! The Son of God! Was that a fluke, or was it a message? As St. Francis understood it, we should live humbly, simply. Jesus lived simply, and encouraged His followers to do the same: 'Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God' (Lk. 6:20)."

Giving back to the Lord

But if we have money, is that bad? Should we feel guilty? Not necessarily, especially if we put it to good use. Of course, we should provide for our own needs and the needs of our family.

The Scriptures recommend that Christians give 10 percent of our income back to the Lord. It is sometimes suggested that we give five percent to the Church and five percent to other community needs, especially to help the poor.

In these times of skyrocketing prices for gas, food, and other commodities, it seems as if we can't ignore what's happening. Perhaps we think that one person's efforts can't make a difference. But if many of us simplify our lives even a little bit, the collective strength of those efforts just might have an impact on the economy.

I would suggest that we examine our lifestyles as individuals, families, workplaces, and even churches. What can we do to simplify? What changes can we make in our own lives? How can we help those in need in our country and around the world?

If each of us makes some small changes, we could make a big difference.

Mailbag

	Mailbag policy We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Limit letters to 200 words or less. All letters must be signed. Please include your city or town of residence. Send letters to: Mailbag The Catholic Herald 702 S. High Point Rd. Madison, WI 53719-3522 Fax: 608-821-3071 E-mail: info@madisoncatholicherald.org

Marriage of man/woman under attack in America

To the editor:

Recently, the news media has saturated us with continuous updates on the events regarding the polygamous sect in San Angelo, Texas. While I suspect the scale of this situation makes it newsworthy, I would like to suggest that this is just a larger manifestation of the deterioration of the family in this country.

Marriage, the union between one man and one woman, is under every increasing assault.

Our children and grandchildren continue to get harmful and confusing messages about marriage. Some would like for us to believe that there is no difference between same-sex and opposite-sex unions and that anyone who defends marriage is a bigot.

The pope's parting comment to us was - "May God bless America."

I submit that God has blessed America and he is waiting on us to reciprocate.

Jim Holden, Watertown

Planned Parenthood roots in eugenics movement

To the editor:

Roy Schoeman, an Orthodox Jewish convert to the Catholic faith, authored a book, Salvation is from the Jews. In it he details the founding of Planned Parenthood and its development paralleling that with Nazi Germany promoting "eugenics" properly called "selective reproduction." This is the philosophy Adolph Hitler used to "justify" the Holocaust to rid the race of "undesirable" characteristics.

For example, Schoeman relates that Lothrup Stoddard, a colleague of Planned Parenthood's founder Margaret Sanger and who was on her board of directors for the Birth Control League, the precursor of Planned Parenthood, met with and advised Hitler in about 1926.

Would that this information could be widely disseminated.

Robert C. Sartori DVM, Sun Prairie