This last week has shown us a lot about ourselves—we are definitely a country, a society, a people of excess!  Wall Street’s debacle is just one example– we are spending more than we can afford to — the news media continues to interview men who have lost millions of dollars this week, yet they still live in giant homes.  I really am not sure that the they are really hurting all that much–and do they really need to be living in those homes that are 20 to 30 rooms?  A picture of excess!

The last two summers, upon returning from Africa, I have reflected on how lucky we are to have so much!  Do we really appreciate all that we have or do we expect to have all that we do?  What would happen if we had to exist on one or two meals a day, and sleep at night without air conditioning or go without running water?  Most of the world is not as fortunate as we are.  I feel very sorry for those folks in Houston who are still without power, yet most of the world lives that way every day!

One example of excess a little closer to home is homecoming!  In Texas we have gotten absolutely ridiculous in how we spend gobs of money on pieces of plastic to put around a fake mum for a child to wear for one day!  What are we teaching our children?  More is better?  The amount of money spent for that one frivolity is more than most African families spend in one month–and that includes food!!!

I know we’re not going to change Wall Street overnight or cure world hunger this month, but one thing we can do is take a look at what we are doing ourselves.  If each one of us would look at our own excess—instead of eating out this week, could we take food to a shelter to help the Ike refugees?  Instead of buying another new shirt, could we use that $36 to sponser a child for Family Legacy Missions  so that the child could go to school?  Could you make two dinners and share one with your neighbor who is without a job?  How we spend our money is a reflection of our hearts!  What is your heart?  What are you teaching your children?