"Checkbook Storytime"
"Checkbook Storytime"
There is a couple I know who earn very good money, and yet they live simply, without any status symbols or luxuries, with money set aside for charity. It’s a trimmed-down life for them and their six children.
Every month the mother gathers the six children around the checkbook. For each check that she writes to whomever it might be, to whatever cause or charity, she tells them a story: “This is why these people need it more than we need it.” And so those kids actually know where the family money is going and that it isn’t there in the bank account for them to buy a new toy.
The parents themselves are making choices not to have always new, better, more things. When the parents share those choices, the children are more willing to buy into them. They begin a process of solidarity (not without struggle, however!). At this point they are some of the most mature and responsible – and yet alive and real – children I’m aware of in their community.
I think the mother’s check-writing process is probably the best form of religious education. The rubber has met the road. It’s not highly metaphysical and spiritual; it’s “Jesus means this. Commitment means this. Love means this.” That’s religious education.
Our checkbooks are probably our best theological statement about our real values. Jesus said, similarly, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21, JB).
from Letting Go: A Spirituality of Subtraction
There is a couple I know who earn very good money, and yet they live simply, without any status symbols or luxuries, with money set aside for charity. It’s a trimmed-down life for them and their six children.
Every month the mother gathers the six children around the checkbook. For each check that she writes to whomever it might be, to whatever cause or charity, she tells them a story: “This is why these people need it more than we need it.” And so those kids actually know where the family money is going and that it isn’t there in the bank account for them to buy a new toy.
The parents themselves are making choices not to have always new, better, more things. When the parents share those choices, the children are more willing to buy into them. They begin a process of solidarity (not without struggle, however!). At this point they are some of the most mature and responsible – and yet alive and real – children I’m aware of in their community.
I think the mother’s check-writing process is probably the best form of religious education. The rubber has met the road. It’s not highly metaphysical and spiritual; it’s “Jesus means this. Commitment means this. Love means this.” That’s religious education.
Our checkbooks are probably our best theological statement about our real values. Jesus said, similarly, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21, JB).
from Letting Go: A Spirituality of Subtraction
posted by LuisVelasco @ 12:59 PM
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