Missionaries of the Sacred

In a consumer society, it is easy to become caught up in a spirit of consumerism and materialism. We may start to think we “need” products and services that are actually only “wants”, perhaps because more items have become widely used and more readily available (such as cell phones, expanded TV programming packages, flat screen TVs, etc.) or perhaps because we see other people or families buying these products and we feel pressure to “keep up”.

When trying to live beyond our means, our intentions may be good. For instance, perhaps we spend too much on extracurricular activities for our children or on family activities and vacations. While extracurricular involvement is generally good for children, that doesn’t mean that you have to pay for music, art and horseback riding lessons as well as summer camp. If money is tight, rather than charging everything to your credit card, have your child pick his/her favorite activity or look for free or low cost options through the local park district, library, community center or YMCA. Community colleges also often offer programs for children, especially in the summer. Similarly, your family doesn’t have to go on expensive trips in order to spend quality time together. If going away for a week is just too expensive for your family right now, plan a day or weekend trip taking advantage of what is in your area, including state parks, art fairs, local beaches, campgrounds, etc. Or simply set aside time to play board games, make homemade ice cream, or go see a sports match at the local high school.

Sometimes we may need to take a step back and reevaluate what is really important in our lives, and distinguish between what we need and what we want. We may need to ask ourselves, why do I want to buy this item? Is it because I really enjoy it and/or could use it or is it because I feel that it is “expected” or I need to “keep up” with someone?  While “things” can be very nice, we need to keep them in perspective so that material possessions do not come to dominate the focus of our lives.