Smell the Onion

Well.  We’re back in Searcy.  On to Baton Rouge
tomorrow.  I am so very ready to be home, and back to my
baby.  (*not Maya, she’s with me…the other one)  Let
it be known:  I am ever so proud of my husband-boy.

So, it seems there has been a lot of hubbub lately originating from
another orange site (which will remain nameless) about such things as
assets and income and such.  And, with no offense intended to the
author or propagator of said material, I figured that my own orange
site would be a proper forum for me to air my grievances about the
subject. 

First, I would like to clarify that no one in the Louisiana chapter
of Wylie’s feels anything other than abundantly blessed
materially.  Whether we count dollars before buying apples, or buy
them with reckless abandon, we are more than adequately provided for,
and indeed feel very blessed. 

Second, I believe that good stewardship of material resources is a
responsibility not to be taken lightly, and that is a reflection of our
gratitude to the Giver of all things…who, in the end, (and the
beginning) is really the owner of whatever it is that we think we
own.  It is God’s money to be used for God’s work (as Jacoby
pointed out, our talents and abilities and opportunities are God’s to
be used for his work too).  I think that’s a good thing about the
book that Nick has been sharing with us.

Three things that bother me are–the consistent reference to saving
the first 10% to invest, and then the next 10% for church; the
pervasive emphasis on “getting”; and the condescending tone that I
perceive towards the poor and middle class. 

Perhaps it is just semantics, but really, I think our sacrifice for
benevolence or church related giving needs to come off the top. 
(I also think that it doesn’t have to always end up in the collection
plate, but of course, that has nothing to do with the book in
question.) 

While I believe it is absolutely our responsibility to provide for
our families, I don’t think the pursuit of more money is always the
best use of our time and resources.  That is not to say that if
you are gifted in that area, that it is wrong for you to use that gift
(in fact, I suppose it would be wrong not to use it in some cases)–or
that it’s wrong to be educated about ways to invest, etc– just
that I don’t think everyone is called to use their money this
way. 

I don’t have anything to say about the third thing, except  that it annoys me. 

Here’s a cool, semi-related quote by Andrew Carnegie: “He who dies rich, dies disgraced.”

In other news:  I miss my husband a whole stinking lot. 

                       It’s
raining here in Kansas, and it sounds lovely.

                      
I had a great time in York.  (More to come).

                      
There’s a fruit fly on my computer screen.

                       You
should visit here .  As long as you can handle the cuteness.