The poorly-kept secret that money and possessions do not satisfy offers thin cover to the hurting.  It’s not because the belief is untrue or unaccepted, rather that it is unfelt in the moment.  When people are experiencing loss is not the time to look at the big picture.  Even though it’s there.

Looking back, each of us sees how God worked things together for good and blessed our lives in difficult circumstances.  It’s easier to take in the view from behind when intemperate emotions have cooled.  Credit to the many who have maintained staunch faith in adversity as, indeed, is the correct response.  It’s just that this approach must come from within and not be opined by those in more favorable states.

We can brace for struggles in advance.  It is true that edifices have crumbled under pressure, but it is also true that houses with foundations have withstood tempests.  There is a great deal of wisdom in planning for deficits in times of plenty.  It can be that loss increases our ability to appreciate maintained reserves, and forethought may lead to preparation and not pessimism.

Abundance, however defined, can lead to humility and generosity.  Though there can be proud and miserly aspects of benefit, this is not always the case.  I have come to understand veterans that bear a share of guilt for having survived battle through sufferings in my community.

Millions upon millions of dollars and the works of lives (if not the lives themselves) have been lost recently in our area.  One day, as my wife and I drove through devastated communities, I began to feel a great heaviness, almost shame, at our preservation in the midst of heartbreaking calamity.  We most appreciate our blessings in comparison. 

Studies have shown that, after catastrophic loss, people will be less grieved by further loss.  It is as if the baseline for tolerance recalculates and priorities are reassessed.  The harmed will reevaluate their concerns becoming more thankful for what remains.  We stand amazed at gracious appraisals of the hurting and fail to understand how they (or anyone) could endure the pain. 

These new perspectives on acquisition, felt by the affected and onlookers alike, are only reached when life is viewed at its core and near the bone.  We find that things perceived as important are not important at all when trials come, and we face essential elements of existence.

There is a sense in which those with less to lose are better prepared for deprivation.  As we all become accustomed to life at a level, those with much may become petulant when faced with inconveniences which are matters of course for others.  Add to this the plain fact that people of “lower” stations in life frequently exhibit greater grace, and we truly understand Jesus’ encouragement to contentment with necessities and avoidance of excesses.

Proprietary rights are given by the true Owner of all things and only for specified times.  None of us can have anything not allowed by the Creator whatever pride may say.  With these in mind, we understand that decorum and decency must accompany dividends.  These engaging qualities engender friendships and bind us to the Giver.

The things we hold in our hands are on loan and will pass others at our demise.  Contentment is not found in heft or weight, and we all could use lighter burdens in life.  A ship lightened in a tempest stands a better chance of survival, and we might be better served with less received with thanksgiving.

Sterl