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Family + religion17
FAmIlY FAITH
Less breeds appreciation
THERE’S one certain way to empathise with those suffering from drought or a general lack of water.
Empathy is found when you’re “out” of water your- self.
That’s the situation we found ourselves in again, this past week.
I write “again” because it’s the second time in as many years on our reasonably sized parcel of land.
Our four water tanks had literally dried up and, while we knew we were almost running out of water and there was little or no rain on the way, the inevita- ble “lack” caught us on the hop.
Being a Sunday, it wasn’t possible for water to be delivered by the usual means, until the following after- noon. Right, best get on with it, we thought.
My Dearly Beloved was his normal prepared self with supplies that had accumulated, although not so fit for drinking.
Drinking water could be purchased and was nec- essary in a quantity less than thousands of litres at a time, so that was do-able.
Still, it was a challenge to live as a family of five, often with visitors, and have no running water.
Think about it – hand-washing, teeth-brushing, water-boiling and everything in between wasn’t as automatic as usual.
We made do but were so grateful when the water tank arrived, us girls doing a little celebratory dance.
What did we glean?
Well, you know I always try to demonstrate to the teenage Misses and Master Four that there are les- sons to be learnt in everyday life.
Our lack of “normal” flowing water for 36 hours was a lesson in “less is more”.
Less water helped us each appreciate the “more” and usual run of things.
Less water allowed for a greater insight into those who go without, and to have all those helpful discus- sions. Less water meant some ferrying of the avail- able stores, in buckets and other contraptions. It was all an effort.
It’s helpful for young people to connect with going without and, as a Church, we have the penitential season of Lent to assist.
But it doesn’t only have to come down to the 40 days of Lent. Life provides many opportunities to value “less” as “more”.
We can consume less and instead, give more away. I am sure you can think of ways and, if not, Vin- nies could help.
Another helpful insight for me personally is to speak “less”. As an extrovert, I’m compelled to talk and give opinions.
It’s been a growing understanding to learn when to be silent and particularly when to listen more.
Pausing in conversation, even with the written word, is a refined art too, at least for me.
Taking time to think and reflect before responding or simply using gestures to communicate is valu- able to the giver and recipient. Sometimes words just aren’t needed as much as actions.
I think of each of my children when I say this.
There are often times when something will happen and it’s easy to react immediately, in any which way, with a raised voice at times too.
Appreciation: “Let’s pray that in the complexity of life, the busyness, and the consumption, that we remember to get back to basics.”
BY SElInA VEnIER
It’s not how I want to parent.
Master Four can be highly strung, stretching his vo- cal chords as those of his age often do.
If I respond to him with the same vigour, the outcome is so much “more”, volume-wise, when in essence it’s helpful for it to be “less”.
Yesterday we were at a local café and he scored a babycino but nothing to eat with it, as it was ap- proaching a meal time.
Ready to leave, he piped up, “But I’m waiting for my food to come”.
“You had a marshmallow,” I replied calmly about the babycino inclusion.
He made a beeline for the pastry cabinet.
“But I want one of those strawberry cakes.”
His selection did look good for the eating, I’ll give
him that, and it took 10 minutes for him to start insist- ing. We made a hasty exit and he wasn’t happy but it was a good lesson, even at four years, in less is more; he simply can’t “have” every indulgence that happens to come into eyesight.
Neither are the Misses given everything they long for.
I hope we are building the importance of waiting to purchase items and being grateful for what they have, certainly part-time jobs are a helpful means of encouraging saving to that end.
When considering Jesus Christ as a model of “less is more” I can’t help but think of him facing crucifixion and being questioned by Pilate.
Taunted and coerced, Jesus suffered in silence, barely and purposely saying anything.
What he did say was truth.
Simon Peter spoke truth in today’s Gospel (Mat- thew 16:13-20) when he affirmed that to him, Jesus was “the Christ, the Son of the living God”.
The apostle didn’t embellish and we know that Jesus responded by giving him “the keys to the Kingdom of heaven” (v.19).
Those were some pretty important keys, the foun- dation of the Church, the gateway to eternal life.
Let’s pray that in the complexity of life, the busy- ness, and the consumption, that we remember to get back to basics.
And that may be as simple as turning off the tap.
By Selina VenieR
Selina Venier is an author and works in faith education.
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