I have been reading/hearing a lot lately about the fast-growing concept of "self-sufficiency". I see it in the news (especially Fox), hear it on the airwaves, and often read about it online. What with growing concerns over the failing economy, many are turning towards a more back-to-basics lifestyle to help prepare for potentially difficult times.
What it involves is becoming more proficient in areas like gardening, canning, and even raising poultry and cattle. The emphasis, obviously, is to wean off of depending so much on outside sources (huge industries, government, etc) and modern technology to provide what we need to live. Anyone who has seen the video entitled "Food Inc." can vehemently testify to the shocking behind-the-scenes practices that only fuel our need to move towards a more healthy and informed approach to life.
And I totally agree and am moving in that direction myself. The only thing I would change is the usage of the term "self-sufficiency". Going back to God's original intention and design, I would change the name of this type of lifestyle to mutual sufficiency, which includes all of the above, but also recognizes the need for individuals/families to be interdependant; a way of life that promotes not just individual, but mutual growth. But if we are all doing the same thing, how then can we then learn to depend on each other in a way that makes us stronger as a whole?
I am just finishing up an amazing and highly recommended four-book (novel) series by Teri Blackstock that addresses the fallout that occurs in the wake of an EMP - or electromagnetic pulse. Though it seems to be the material of a great science fiction novel, the fact is, it is a very real possibility in today's world. In the book, the EMP, or "Pulse" for short, is caused by a star gone haywire; yet many experts are now saying that this kind of disaster could very easily be produced by simply shooting a nuclear bomb into the atmosphere. And what this does is basically wipe out all that we have come to so strongly depend upon in our current lifestyles.....electricity, cars, planes, phones, computers, etc. Everything comes to a screeching halt as families are suddenly faced with having to come up with creative ways - just to survive. " Each member has to physically pour themselves out every day - sun up to sun down.
Yet by far the most compelling and scary thing, is witnessing the very real and very human reaction to this seemingly catastrophic change. Most of us would like to think we would "rise above" and learn to cope well without our "toys" comforts, and conveniences (afterall, that's what they are). But the ugly truth of our true nature is often hidden until tested in drastic ways beyond out human control. Bottom line, we really don't know what is in our hearts until the rubber meets the road. And as Jesus taught, it is not what goes into the body that makes it defiled; it is what comes out of it.
And what came out of the hearts and lives of the characters in these books (OMG), yes- Believers included - was both horrifying and unimaginable. And you know what? I could kinda see myself wanting to beat the crap outta some of those jerks! People got violent over bikes, stole, and hoarded food, lynchings occured and the once peaceful neighborhood turned into a war zone. It basically became "each family for itself". And it didn't matter if the single mom next door with three kids was starving......"ya gotta take care of your own" became the norm. Pretty scary thought for any single person.......
Thankfully, most in this neighborhhod eventually came around and the folks they had once merely waved at in passing became closer than family. They learned some major life-changing lessons that required depending on God and each other and also gained tools which ultimately both strengthened the family and community. They learned it wasn't enough to become self sufficient and fend for themselves; they had to pull together as a community. And because money was scarce (banks shutdown), they had to come up with creative ways to make and barter their goods. They learned to become mutually sufficient.
Nowdays, most American families have grown to operate in way that is prone towards isolationism and in doing so, become a self sufficient island unto themselves. Most have pretty much all they need to maintain their homes and yards and independant lifestyles. It's the American way - right?
In recent years, Focus on the Family has been an awesome resource and plumbline for how God intended families to be - especially in the wake of our nation's moral decline resulting in many broken marriages and homes. But the unfortunate ramification from that pendulum swing is that just perhaps, too much energy and resources are poured into the "family", with little left over for "community". As my sister once put it, "It is not about 'focus on your family' but focus on the Lord'". Somehow we got off track.....
Hilary Clinton was not that far off in saying, "It takes a village" to raise children. We have somehow lost that primitive yet sustaining way of life, and traded it for a fast-paced treadmill that rarely slows down and never stops. We aren't involved enough in each other's lives to help to raise one another's children much less be dependant on one other. And because we have the option to not need each other, many are left with scars, dysfunctional fears, and a general mistrust that does not breed a healthy and life-giving dependance. I really believe that what God had/has in mind is a form of interdependance both within and outside the family structure whereby "life" cannot be sustained apart. It is a mindset and an inclusive place where we recognize we are stronger together than apart. It's called mutual sufficiency.
But the greatest enemy to this type of lifestyle is something we have all unwittingly bought into. We blame our lack of involement on the fact that we don't have enough "time". I find that rather ironic given we as Americans live in the most technologically advanced nation in the world with by far the most "time-saving" devices ad forms of communication - ever. So why is it we don't have "time"? And why are we more distant and disconnected than ever before when at any given time, with the simple touch of a button, we can reach out -and touch someone?
And why is it when you visit certain "underdeveloped" nations, people who work from sun up to sun down - every day of the week - will drop everything to to give a warm welcome to outsiders - complete with a big meal from their meager supplies. Why is it that people who have so much less - seem to give so much more? Hard questions.....
God's idea of "community" was put in place so that we could truly share our lives, be involved, and connect in a deeper way - not just to feel good, but because it is "life" sustaining. Church on Sundays, a midweek Bible study and occasional barbecue with friends does not fit this definition. We need so much more - and yet we don't see it. We read about it in the early church and like starving children in Africa, we don't know what we are missing; we just see the after effects of starvation in a world that is getting darker every day. Like reading tons of fitness books and never exercising, we consume Bible studies and the latest teachings thinking that will change us....but our lifestyles remain the same.
The fact that the Apostle Paul used the analogy of the "body" to describe how Christian community should look is very telling. If we are all members of one body, then each member has a different function that is both needed and valued, and without which, the "body" would suffer. Paul goes on to say that even if one member were to say "I don't need you!", the rejected member would not therefore cease to be a part of the body. The deeper message here is that we as Believers, belong to each other and will spend eternity together. And the sooner we figure that out and learn to be mutually sufficient, the better and stronger the Body will be as together we face the coming crisis with the kind of grace that cannot help but glorify God.
Let our failures in relationships and love lead us to that greater place of dependancy on God and each other, the way He intended us to be.
What it involves is becoming more proficient in areas like gardening, canning, and even raising poultry and cattle. The emphasis, obviously, is to wean off of depending so much on outside sources (huge industries, government, etc) and modern technology to provide what we need to live. Anyone who has seen the video entitled "Food Inc." can vehemently testify to the shocking behind-the-scenes practices that only fuel our need to move towards a more healthy and informed approach to life.
And I totally agree and am moving in that direction myself. The only thing I would change is the usage of the term "self-sufficiency". Going back to God's original intention and design, I would change the name of this type of lifestyle to mutual sufficiency, which includes all of the above, but also recognizes the need for individuals/families to be interdependant; a way of life that promotes not just individual, but mutual growth. But if we are all doing the same thing, how then can we then learn to depend on each other in a way that makes us stronger as a whole?
I am just finishing up an amazing and highly recommended four-book (novel) series by Teri Blackstock that addresses the fallout that occurs in the wake of an EMP - or electromagnetic pulse. Though it seems to be the material of a great science fiction novel, the fact is, it is a very real possibility in today's world. In the book, the EMP, or "Pulse" for short, is caused by a star gone haywire; yet many experts are now saying that this kind of disaster could very easily be produced by simply shooting a nuclear bomb into the atmosphere. And what this does is basically wipe out all that we have come to so strongly depend upon in our current lifestyles.....electricity, cars, planes, phones, computers, etc. Everything comes to a screeching halt as families are suddenly faced with having to come up with creative ways - just to survive. " Each member has to physically pour themselves out every day - sun up to sun down.
Yet by far the most compelling and scary thing, is witnessing the very real and very human reaction to this seemingly catastrophic change. Most of us would like to think we would "rise above" and learn to cope well without our "toys" comforts, and conveniences (afterall, that's what they are). But the ugly truth of our true nature is often hidden until tested in drastic ways beyond out human control. Bottom line, we really don't know what is in our hearts until the rubber meets the road. And as Jesus taught, it is not what goes into the body that makes it defiled; it is what comes out of it.
And what came out of the hearts and lives of the characters in these books (OMG), yes- Believers included - was both horrifying and unimaginable. And you know what? I could kinda see myself wanting to beat the crap outta some of those jerks! People got violent over bikes, stole, and hoarded food, lynchings occured and the once peaceful neighborhood turned into a war zone. It basically became "each family for itself". And it didn't matter if the single mom next door with three kids was starving......"ya gotta take care of your own" became the norm. Pretty scary thought for any single person.......
Thankfully, most in this neighborhhod eventually came around and the folks they had once merely waved at in passing became closer than family. They learned some major life-changing lessons that required depending on God and each other and also gained tools which ultimately both strengthened the family and community. They learned it wasn't enough to become self sufficient and fend for themselves; they had to pull together as a community. And because money was scarce (banks shutdown), they had to come up with creative ways to make and barter their goods. They learned to become mutually sufficient.
Nowdays, most American families have grown to operate in way that is prone towards isolationism and in doing so, become a self sufficient island unto themselves. Most have pretty much all they need to maintain their homes and yards and independant lifestyles. It's the American way - right?
In recent years, Focus on the Family has been an awesome resource and plumbline for how God intended families to be - especially in the wake of our nation's moral decline resulting in many broken marriages and homes. But the unfortunate ramification from that pendulum swing is that just perhaps, too much energy and resources are poured into the "family", with little left over for "community". As my sister once put it, "It is not about 'focus on your family' but focus on the Lord'". Somehow we got off track.....
Hilary Clinton was not that far off in saying, "It takes a village" to raise children. We have somehow lost that primitive yet sustaining way of life, and traded it for a fast-paced treadmill that rarely slows down and never stops. We aren't involved enough in each other's lives to help to raise one another's children much less be dependant on one other. And because we have the option to not need each other, many are left with scars, dysfunctional fears, and a general mistrust that does not breed a healthy and life-giving dependance. I really believe that what God had/has in mind is a form of interdependance both within and outside the family structure whereby "life" cannot be sustained apart. It is a mindset and an inclusive place where we recognize we are stronger together than apart. It's called mutual sufficiency.
But the greatest enemy to this type of lifestyle is something we have all unwittingly bought into. We blame our lack of involement on the fact that we don't have enough "time". I find that rather ironic given we as Americans live in the most technologically advanced nation in the world with by far the most "time-saving" devices ad forms of communication - ever. So why is it we don't have "time"? And why are we more distant and disconnected than ever before when at any given time, with the simple touch of a button, we can reach out -and touch someone?
And why is it when you visit certain "underdeveloped" nations, people who work from sun up to sun down - every day of the week - will drop everything to to give a warm welcome to outsiders - complete with a big meal from their meager supplies. Why is it that people who have so much less - seem to give so much more? Hard questions.....
God's idea of "community" was put in place so that we could truly share our lives, be involved, and connect in a deeper way - not just to feel good, but because it is "life" sustaining. Church on Sundays, a midweek Bible study and occasional barbecue with friends does not fit this definition. We need so much more - and yet we don't see it. We read about it in the early church and like starving children in Africa, we don't know what we are missing; we just see the after effects of starvation in a world that is getting darker every day. Like reading tons of fitness books and never exercising, we consume Bible studies and the latest teachings thinking that will change us....but our lifestyles remain the same.
The fact that the Apostle Paul used the analogy of the "body" to describe how Christian community should look is very telling. If we are all members of one body, then each member has a different function that is both needed and valued, and without which, the "body" would suffer. Paul goes on to say that even if one member were to say "I don't need you!", the rejected member would not therefore cease to be a part of the body. The deeper message here is that we as Believers, belong to each other and will spend eternity together. And the sooner we figure that out and learn to be mutually sufficient, the better and stronger the Body will be as together we face the coming crisis with the kind of grace that cannot help but glorify God.
Let our failures in relationships and love lead us to that greater place of dependancy on God and each other, the way He intended us to be.
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