time and treasure

I've been spending some time thinking about last Friday's quote from Margaret Anna. In case you missed it, I'll repeat her words of wisdom here:

Even those who do not altogether deny Christianity are living far from it. What is the meaning of this ardent desire for wealth? What is the meaning of this mad craving for pleasure? What is the meaning of this reckless waste of precious time? What is the meaning of this gross neglect of the poor; of servants, of dependents? What is the meaning of this selfish expenditure of money on personal comfort, even on personal luxry; while Lazarus is dying at the gate?

-Women's Work in Modern Society, 1874

What would she think ... I wonder ... if she stumbled into today's world? What is the meaning of how we waste our time. What is the meaning of our preoccupation with things rather than people? Perceptive questions in her day, even more so I think today.

I was interested to read an article in Parade magazine last week, that little magazine that always falls out of the Sunday paper: "How the Economic Crisis Changed Us." Here are some of the interesting (to me) numbers:

• 79% of respondents have been impacted by the economic downturn
• 80% have been "forced to do more with less"
• 68% have found "creating a more meaningful life" and "giving back" important
• 83% are reconsidering what they actually need
• 30% are volunteering
• 58% are spending more time reading for pleasure
• 46% are reconnecting with friends
• 35% are rediscovering community or religious groups

And then, this paragraph:

Over the last decade, observers have sounded the alarm that the definition of the American Dream has become distorted and equated with consumerism and homeownership at any cost. Now, more people seem to be turning back to the Dream’s original meaning—67% of respondents strongly believe that it’s about the opportunity to achieve through education and hard work, and 60% say that it’s the liberty to do what we want. While many believe the Dream has been somewhat broken by the crisis, 68% say it’s still within their reach—and their children’s, too—and 89% are proud to be Americans. No matter what challenges lie ahead, 89% feel we can overcome them “as long as we come together to support one another.”

Are we adjusting our vision of the "American Dream" from, as Margaret Anna would call it "the ardent desire for wealth" to it's "original meaning" of achieving through education and hard work? Or the liberty to do what we want? I would hope that maybe we're learning more about the power of relationship. The joy to be found in family and friends, in participating in our community and making the world a better place.

Margaret Anna's words do not only help me to critique society. They are also a challenge to me. To be honest, I personally haven't been that impacted by the economic crisis. I had already shifted to a simpler lifestyle and tight budgets--at least compared to my single girl life. Our community has lost money in our investments like everyone else, and in our last budget process we were asked to tighten our belts where we could. So I am living a little more frugally. But still, I don't have to worry about a roof over my head or food on the table or health insurance. I've written before about the luxury of the vow of poverty, of living in community and sharing our financial lot.

But I am still part of the culture, our society which is so focused on things and pleasure and provides oodles of time wasting opportunities (like the computer on which I am presently typing this blog post). As I begin my second year of vowed life, how do I spend (or waste) my time? How much of my energy is focused on personal pleasure or comfort?

Those are my thoughts this Wednesday evening. What do her words make you think about?

A different kind of balancing

This evening - while I've been waiting for my laundry to dry - I've been balancing my checkbook. Yes, even nuns have to spend time on these daily tasks.

I've written before about how interesting it is to me that, having taken a vow of poverty, I'm actually living a bit of a life of luxury, especially in these uncertain financial times. No, I don't mean that I'm spending frivolously on luxury items. I'm actually being quite frugal these days, and finding it easier as times goes by. The luxury comes more in terms of financial security. I know that, in the end, I have the support - prayerful and financial - of my religious community. If a big unexpected medical bill or car repair bill comes up that it outside of my budget, the money will be there.

Now, this doesn't mean that I don't need to be a good financial steward. In fact, I now have a deadline each month to submit my personal financial statements to our finance office. Now, we're not talking about a lot of money here - it's my personal budget for my allowance, gas, phone, spiritual direction, etc... But still, it's a new experience for me to have to account for every penny to someone else every month!

Every religious community handles their finances somewhat differently. Even my own community varies when it comes to the different provinces! But in each situation there is the common value of sharing. For example, the salary that I earn through my ministry goes into the common pot. In return, I receive my personal budget. I'm definitely taking out less than I'm putting in, even with my modest nonprofit salary. But that's the beauty of it! Some sisters might be working in a ministry that doesn't pay at all, while others make enough money to share. It's like a religious version of communism - to each according to their needs, from each according to their abilities. Or, as the Acts of Apostles puts it ...

All who believed were together and had all things in common;

they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one's need. (Acts 2: 44-45)

I like to think that we're trying to live that out. But, in this day and age, it means spreadsheets and monthly reports to be good stewards of the common pot!

Those are my rambling thoughts for this evening. Now, time to go check the laundry!

on poverty

Just over two months ago I vowed poverty, celibacy and obedience for 3 years in accordance with our Constitutions. Among other things, the section on the vow of poverty says:

Our poverty involves a life of dependence
and of limitation
in the acquisition, use and disposition
of material goods,
in accordance with these constitutions.
This vow commits us to a simplicity of life
in which necessity rather than desire
guides our choice and use of material goods. (CSJP Constitution 50)

The sharing of ourselves and our resources
which is integral to the vow of poverty
is central to our mission as peacemakers.
We try to make our own
the concerns of the human family
and work to bring about the well-being of others,
especially those who are poor and oppressed. (CSJP Constitution 55)

With reverence for the blessings of creation,
we use our resources,
both individually and collectively,
in a spirit of stewardship.
The spirit of poverty also calls us
to work for a more just society
so that all may be enriched
by a more equitable sharing in the
goods of the earth. (CSJP Constitutions 56)

Our Constitutions are beautifully written, and I often reflect upon them. This past summer we had John Dear, SJ as a speaker at our Congregation Chapter. He was talking to us on non-violence, and periodically in his talk he would quote our own Constitutions to us, waving the book and saying "I'm not making this up, it's in YOUR Constitutions." He challenged us to live out who we already say we are.

How are things going, vow wise, 2 months in? Well, really 2 years and 2 months as I lived in the "spirit of" the vows during the Novitiate. To be honest, in terms of poverty, I've been feeling the luxury of the vow of late.

For those of you who wonder what I mean by that, it's not that I'm living a lavish lifestyle. There is definitely, as our Constitutions put it, "limitation in the acquisition, use and disposition of material goods." It all comes down to choices. For example, do I want to spend 1/3 of my monthly stipend on a hair cut at my old hair dresser? Or do I want to take a chance at the Aveda Institute (aka Beauty School) for a $14 shampoo, haircut and style? I decided on the latter, and after spending 2 hours with a very chatty student and her "learning leader," my hair looks quite nice.

So yes, there is limitation and simplicity of life. But these days, many are faced with "limitation in the acquisition, use and disposition of material goods." With the recently declared recession rapidly turning into a depression, more people are having to make choices based on necessity rather than desire.

That's where the luxury of the vow of poverty comes in. Yes, I am living simply and have limited personal spending money. But I also have a roof over my head, a car to drive, food, utilities, health insurance, etc... As part of a community, there is a certain amount of worry that I just don't have. I'm noticing this especially these days, as the economy continues its downward spiral. In the life I've chosen, with its built in mechanisms of "sharing of ourselves and our resources," it's almost like I've got a safety net in the groovy community of women with which I've put my lot.

One could become complacent or take it for granted, I suppose. But I find myself feeling very blessed, and more than that, I feel some responsibility. As our Constitutions say, we are called "to work for a more just society so that all may be enriched by a more equitable sharing in the
goods of the earth. "

The question, I suppose, is what one does with their situation. Most of you reading this post have not taken a vow of poverty. Perhaps you're doing just fine financially. Most likely you're wondering about your 401K or possibly your mortgage. You may even be on the verge of a personal financial crisis.

Every situation can be a growing opportunity for us, individually and collectively. What if, as a nation and as a community, we took this financial situation as a reminder that we're all in this together. What if we "make our own the concerns of the human family and work to bring about the well-being of others,especially those who are poor and oppressed."

Food for thought this chilly winter evening.

budgets

I just submitted my first budget request as a sister. Should I call it a groovy budget request I wonder???

My finances in the novitiate were fairly simple - I received a monthly personal allowance, everything else was covered. There was a budget, but it was approved before I arrived. I actually did the finances for the novitiate as my "charge" and was involved in budget preparation the 2nd year, but that was a different process and less personal. This time it was MY budget.

Financial practices vary from religious community to religious community. We even have differences between our two provinces! The way it works out here is that my salary goes directly to the community. Household expenses are covered. I don't pay rent or room and board for my food here at the house. But every year I'm responsible for preparing a budget for my personal expenses - allowance, retreat, vacation, car maintenance, health care etc... Once approved, I receive the budgeted amount each month and can request budgeted amounts "on request" for bigger ticket items like car repair or to pay for retreat.

It's a pretty good system I think, but it was a bit challenging working on my first budget. The only experience I can compare it to is when your teacher wanted you to grade your own papers in college. Did you give yourself an A? Or an A-? Or a B+?

In the case of my budget preparation, I tried to spend some time in prayer and reflection on the vow of poverty and my commitment to simple living. What does that mean? What does it look like? Do I need a cell phone (I decided I do but went for a modest plan). What kind of vacation do I plan on taking and how much will it cost? What's a reasonable amount of spending money each month? The end result is reasonable I think, and though I just submitted it for the official ok I'd already asked our treasurer to take a look and let me know if I was on track.

By chance, I've been working with articles for the upcoming issue of the journal I'm editing at my new job. The topic? Money & Spirituality! There's even an article about budgeting as a spiritual exercise! Talk about timely.

Hopefully I estimated my expenses correctly and will have enough money for everything I need and for some of what I want! :)