Years ago, when I first began my career in real estate,
one of my associates, gifted as he was connecting with clients and of delightful demeanor, was easily breaking 6 digits every year. He was new to the industry, but exceptional with clients and a great fit for the industry. In that one year where we both worked for the same company, I saw my associate purchase one new luxury car, and then another (owning two simultaneously), a luxury home, a new wardrobe, and the list went on and on.
I set up my associate with a charming girl friend in my social group, and the two hit it off and became an "it" couple. It seemed to me my friend had everything.
There was only one thing that was troubling to me. My associate talked endlessly about what he was going to purchase for himself.
As I sit here contemplating, asking myself what life is really about, what Christmas is really about, and as I have pondered this year the same question, I've thought back to how Christmas came to be. A little over 2000 years ago, a baby boy was born into the world, grew up, and his public life changed the course of the world to follow. What was his basic premise?
Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light." Matthew 11:28-30
I spent years of my younger life working hard to acquire. Acquire, pay bills on what is acquired. Acquire more, pay more bills to maintain what is acquired! I had bought into the basic premise my associate believed. More things would make me happy, more things are what I needed. More = success! Success equals others thinking well of you. And that equals...happiness...? But there was no rest for my soul. I became depressed under this burden. There had to be more...
Bono of U2 volunteered in Ethiopia with World Vision. Bono promotes volunteering as the cure for depression. How can he do this?
How can someone propose giving of oneself to others as the cure for loss of purpose, loss of meaning in life?
Jesus, that little boy who grew up to forever change the world, had something to say about this. When a rich young man asked Jesus what he must do to to have eternal life, Jesus responded that he must keep the 10 commandments. The young man replied,
"I've obeyed all these commandments. What else must I do?"
Jesus told him, "If you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, and follow me."
But when the young man heard this, he went sadly away because he had many possessions. Matthew 19:20-22
The United States is panicking, now.
What is in the future? People are losing homes, and many are hording money. Fear is seeping into nooks and crannies. What happens if we lose all those possessions that we deem so crucial for our "happiness"? What hope is there?
Let me pose another question... What is the purpose of our life? Is it to live, acquire, and die?
Some asked, upon hearing of a rich man's death, "what did he leave behind?" The grim response...... "all of it."
How can we make our life meaningful, purposeful, and enriching? How can all our toil amount for something?
No matter what you believe about Jesus' teachings, I challenge you to something...
"Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means caring for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refusing to let the world corrupt us." James 1:27
What are you willing to do with your life, your money, to shake off the "more stuff, more stuff" mantra and to give something or help someone that will leave a lasting legacy? What burden are you tired of carrying? What exchange, from burden to joy, do you want more of?
In the true spirit of Christmas, Merry Christmas everyone!!!! Merry Christmas. May your heart be light, and your walk be gentle, and may you be blessed as much and more as you bless others, and may your cup "runneth over" with true and lasting joy.
With love,
Sara Washburn
Very Nice Sara, I'm one of the people that has had enough of the materialistic Christmas crap but it's difficult to reverse the momentum. The crowd always calls you a grinch if you're not into More, More, More! Have a Merry Christmas and hope to see you in NYC after New Years!
Merry Christmas Sara. Very heartfelt Christmas post. In the end it's really the simple things that matter...at least for me. Joy, Peace, a roof over my head and a warm bed and people I love to share it with.
Wonderful wonderful post! You are so right. Materialism is so empty and we are so blessed in this country even when things are not that good. Have a terrific Christmas! and a very blessed New Year! :)
Sara, It is the giving to others, that really brings the gifts back to us. Jesus led the way in giving his all for us and we got the resulting blessings.
Merry Christmas to you and all the rest of your family. And everybody at the AR office too.
List and Sell (and World Vision does great work) Gary @ RentonHomeFinder.com
Sara,
You look adorable! Great pic! Merry Christmas to you, and a Happy New Year.
Sara - thank you for a wonderful holiday message. It's so easy to forget what Christmas is all about, surrounded as we are by non-stop commercialism and consumerism. Have a wonderful holiday season and Happy New Year.
Jeff
Hi Dan!
Believe it or not, I captured that picture last Christmas (07) at the downtown Seattle Westlake [shopping] Center Christmas Tree lighting. A group of young adults came out to protest materialism...
Monika, I second you. The people to share it with, especially!
Hi Ricki! We are so blessed!!
Hi Gary, Merry Christmas to you too! =) God's abundant love!
Ardell, it is always a pleasure when you visit my blog. I had a wonderful time working with you this year! Please send Kim my love. I hope your Christmas is beautiful!
Jeff, blessings to you!
It's not snowing in SoCal is it? (That would be true global warming!) In downtown Seattle, the temps got into the teens, and there weren't enough emergency beds for homeless people. It broke my heart to see people sleeping on the streets in temperatures than hurt my fingers to not wear gloves. I think a lot about what matters most to us, and sometimes I wonder how it is that we relegate human life to such a low value in our country... How much can we rationalize? Does it really matter how someone got there? Loving others is one of the few things that can never be in vain. Love is never wasted...
Sara,
Just a little catch up. My sister had breast cancer surgery a few days ago at Evergreen. No spreading and no chemo needed. Just radiation treatments. We are ecstatic!
Jacquie, my middle child who lives in Sixty-01 in Redmond with her husband, Peter, are having a baby girl in Janauary, also at Evergreen. Her name will be Savannah Jane. My second grand daughter. The first was here for Thanksgiving.
Financially it's been an awful year, but personally it's been GREAT! Kim's as wonderful as ever. Still pampering me like a Princess.
Glad to hear all is well with you. Please give my best to Ovid. He's a special guy.
Dear Ardell,
I'm so glad there's no spreading! What a battle for your sister to go through..
Savannah Jane is a lovely name! "Savannah" happens to be one of the girl names I'm fond of myself. Congrats on your second grandchild, and the first for Thanksgiving! Jacquie and Peter must be so excited!
Ardell, LOL, this was certainly not the year for financial riches! ;) Oh well... [sigh] Just goes to show life is about so much more..
Sara, this is right on! Being of service to someone else is always the cure. Getting out of myself and helping another is the best thing I have found to counter worry, depression and hurt. It has never failed me! Bless you, today and every day for the reminder~
Sara I'm from a famiy that had way too much. This year, lets just say things are different. But I don't want any "more" than what I have. Great post and contrats on the special feature.
Sara - thank you for a wonderful holiday message. Have a great holiday!
Sara,
WOW! What a wonderful post to Honor Our Savior!
Thanks!
Merry Christmas!!!
Lucky :)
I needed to read your post today. It has fed my spirit. Thank you for the words of wisdom and truth.
Wonderful Message
AMEN!!
Sara,
Thanks for a great start to my Christmas Eve Day! I slept in because tonight is Midnight Mass and I want to be really awake to help usher in my Savior's birth.
May the true peace and joy of Christmas continue to glow in your heart as it is today.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Sara, Thank you for the lovely words and pictures.
Sara,
What a beautiful message! And what an appropriate year to reflect upon your message with. I do believe our materialistic society was due for a "check" and a "force" to learn to balance itself again! In our coming year, we must all pose to ask ourselves a question, "What legacy will I leave behind?". We can not depend on any sole segment of society to bring upon the desperate needed changes that will hopefully lie ahead. It is up to all of us to promote positive change.
Merry Christmas To All, and Thank You Active Rain, for allowing a forum, in which we can all support each other.
I love that you mentioned my fav charity - World Vision. They have this great gift catalog, where you can buy some chicks or a cow, or even a whole farm, for a village. It's so much more fun than just sending money, I asked for something from their under $20 list from my husband, and I see two gift cards under the tree. I can't wait to see what they are! (A couple of years ago, while on a road trip in Oregon, I fell in love with alpacas. It didn't take long to realize that my spontaneous dream of owning an alpaca farm wasn't going to happen, but I've always thought it would be so great to give an alpaca to a village full of people in need. That's not on the under $20 list, but maybe . . . ?)
Sara, what a well written and timely blog. I had just told my office that my intention is to live more simply with less. We only need so many toasters and shoes. I would like to suggest to everyone that they check out Thach Nguyen's http://www.contributionnetworkingparty.com/, In a nutshell, Thach Nguyen is a real estate businessman and a philanthropist. His vision is to inspire and empower billions of people to live their bold dreams and show that ANTHING IS POSSIBLE through his own life experience. One of the ways Thach is expressing his vision is through his Contribution Networking Party and teaching people how to play the Contribution Game with everyone they meet.
Your blog would be perfect for that community. We can educate each other on ways to help in the world.
I agree with you. I think we should use things, and love people, not love things, and use people. Many people confuse those two things.
Your message is both seasonally timely and profound given the economic circumstances of our world. I believe this whole recession/depression thing is going to have a profound impact on how our society values material things. It is the heart that matters most. Thank you for sharing that.
Aloha from Kauai
Thank you Sara for expressing yourself and reminding us all of what is really important...
Sara,
Just surfing and found your site via other active rain groups. Great message, one in which can easily get lost during this season of the year. Small world. Learned you attended Northwest. Lynlee and I met at SPU.
Here's to a blessed 2009!
Tim & Lynlee Kane
That was a beautiful post Sara and it brought tears to my eyes. I have felt for quite awhile now that we have lost the whole meaning of Christmas of sharing and loving and giving of ourselves. Thanks you for reminding me once again.
Hope you and your family had a fantastic Christmas.
Chris